Bella of the Ball - Dog Coat

How sad does she look? And good gravy - those ears! LOL!!!

My Bonus Daughter was going out of town for the weekend and we offered to watch her little Bella.  My bonus daughter had complained that she couldn't find clothes to fit Bella because she was soooo small.  So of course - I had to make her something while I had her - a coat would be great since we hit -5 this morning!!

I used a coat that I had for my dog as a pattern.  It was way to big, but at least I had the shape I needed.

I used graph paper to draw out the pattern.  I only drew 1/2 and folded the paper.

I cut it out.

I had the shape...

I put it against Bella...just a tad small, so I adjusted and redrew a pattern.

I laid the pattern on the fabric...

and cut about 1/4" around for the seam allowance.

I wanted the coat to be reversable, so I cut the pattern out of another fabric...hot pink minky!!

 (did not realize what a PITA minky is!!!  but it's soooo soft!!)

I just made a long rectangle to make the 'flaps' that attach under the belly.

I folded it in 1/2 to find the center and cut my fabric.

I sewed the wrong sides together, then on end open to turn it right side out. Then I snipped the corners so there would be room for everything once turn out.

I used a pen to help get the fabric turned right side out...this was a little difficult because it was so small, but be patience...it will go!  No need to finish the raw edge...it will be sewn in the next step.

I pinned the 2 large pieces together, wrong sides together.  I marked where I wanted the belly flaps to go and put the sewn pieces in between the large fabric pieces.  Make sure pink goes to pink side and black to black side, unless of course you want a mismatch which would be cute too!

Here is everything pinned and almost ready to be sewn.  I left one edge open by the neck, so that I could turn the piece right side out.  I then did a top stitch all the way around the piece to 'finish' it off.  I used pink thread on top and black thread in the bobbin...worked well.

I notched out small triangles around the curves so when the piece is turned right side out, the fabric will lay flat. 

I added velcro to the neck and belly flaps...I ended up having to add just a little bit more for a better fit...but still it was fine.

Here's the black polka dot side.

And the hot pink minky side!

Here's Bella sporting the pink side.

And the black polka dot side. - She's not a big fan of the coat - OH WELL!!  She still looks CUTE!!!

Cost of supplies - 0 (I used what I had in the house)

Making somehting adorable for this little girl = Pricele$$

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