quilted baby jackets

For someone who sews, its kind of funny how little sewing I do for my kids. Because you see, I also work in retail and what with the discount and my thrifting addiction, there are so many beautiful ready-made children's clothes that I kind of don't need to sew for them. Of course, I know that most of the people who do sew for their kids these days don't need to, strictly speaking. But honestly, clothes sometimes just appear in our house out of nowhere (thank you magic hand-me-down bags!) so we are literally awash in lovely clothes. And my meagre spare time is generally earmarked for quilting or art-making anyhow. And the boys do get the occasional mama-made sweater, so its not like I never make them anything. But I was just sort of mentally tut-tutting at myself over the lack of adorable quirky hand-sewn clothes in the Baby's wardrobe when I stumbled on the most wonderful items at the local Value Village.
I have a pretty good eye for the unusual, if I do say so myself, and can just quickly scan down a rack as I troll the aisles and can quite quickly identify the handmade or vintage items amidst all the mall cast-off dreck. And these two little beauties literally leapt off the rack from almost half the store away. They looked so different from all that was around them, I just had to go in for a closer look. 

Though it was obvious they were handmade, upon closer inspection I could see they were in fact hand-sewn, which is another thing entirely. You wouldn't believe the amazing button holes on this one. I'm actually having a hard time figuring our how they were done so neatly. And they've got this simple quilting, with a very short stitch on the front and a very long stitch on the inside. Really interesting. 

The styling and the exterior fabric choices have a very Asian feel to me, and you know how I'm a sucker for anything blue and white. But what really gets me are the linings. 

The mishmash-y way that they don't really go, but were chosen instead because they were warm, soft flannels and would feel good against the baby's skin, and keep him or her warm. Or perhaps, they were made on a deadline (the baby will be here soon!) and the fabrics were what was on hand. Or possibly, they were chosen out of necessity, as thrift was of the essence. Who knows. That is what always draws me the most when I find a vintage item. The fact that this fabric was lived in by someone else, who had a life entirely separate from mine, a life that I can never know, but can only imagine. And of course, whenever I find and purchase a second-hand, hand-made item, I feel that I can honour the love and labour that was put into that garment by the original maker, but letting that item continue to have use in my life and the lives of my children. And so, I feel connected to the woman who once spent her evenings carefully putting the stitches into these little jackets. She reaches forward through the lives of her child or grandchildren and now gently lays her hands into the lives of mine. 

Because really, how sweet it that? You see how it comes to life on our Baby? (though you must excuse the less than stellar pictures. Taken in the ugly corner of the kitchen, with bad lighting in the ten minutes before dinner was ready, in between the chopping and the stirring with a less than co-operative model who kept running over to me to look at the picture on the back of the camera. Sigh, I suppose he's a child of the digital age. Anyhow, definitely not my best effort. But it was a very busy day, with no time for a proper photo shoot, so we make do where we have to.) 

He's not entirely sure about it.... And I will admit its a little tight and short. He sort of looks like a small, sweet blue and white sausage. Cutest sausage ever though, am I right?

Ah but that's better! Now that's a fit. This will be such a perfect little fall coat for running and playing outdoors when the air begins to turn crisp (not that I'm done with summer yet... we still have a few more weeks, right?

Comments

[isabelle]

Andrea, I enjoyed your post & love the last photo of James. Every time I see photos of your boys, I think of how much fun my girls would have with them. take care xoxox isa

[brooklyn_codger]

Amazing find.

[finger thumb]

Aw Isa, I have the same feeling. We'll get back to Montreal for a visit one of these days, I'm sure of it.
And Codger, I totally thought of you as I speed shopped the household linens sections of the V.V.

[Anna]

They do look Chinese! Nice find.