Embroidered Botanical Coat

You saw a glimpse of this coat in my Handmade Wooden Button Tutorial, and I loved making this wee coat so much.  Let me tell you the tale behind it - as it is made from entirely recycled materials!

Firstly the fabrics:  The main body of the coat is made from a lovely cream woolen blanket which I found in a thrift shop in Whangamata with my cousin over the summer.  Although the lining isn't photographed, it is a combination of a soft pink cotton and a pink and purple floral print which coordinate nicely.

Embroidering botanicals is one of my favourite things to do, but this is the first time I have stitched imaginary blooms.  I wanted something pretty and feminine but still rather bold.

I bought a knotted up bag of tapestry wool over the Christmas break during an op shopping trip with my honey. Over time, bit by bit, I untangled all the threads which was quite a labour of love!  

There was rather a good selection of colours in the bag, but only a few strands of each, so I needed to use a combination to embroider my design.

If you look closely at the flowers you will see I have embroidered each one with a little smiley face :) French knots made the eyes and the remainder of the embroidery is worked in a simple chain stitch. 

Lastly came the buttons.  I knew I wanted something organic looking, and had my eye out for some nice wooden ones for a while, but didn't find anything just right.  Eventually I made my own - I wrote about how I made them here.  The wood came from our old orange tree and I love they way they finish it off.

This lovely little coat was started in December, with lots of love and time has been stitched into it.  If  you know a little girl aged 2-4 who would love a warm handmade winter coat, then you will find it in my shop shortly or you can email me thebiglittleshop@gmail.com for details.

Now that it is starting to get a little chilly here in New Zealand, I am enjoying working with the texture of wool again.  It is such a comforting fabric isn't it.

I hope to make some more little coats over the next month ready for winter.  

Any ideas?  

xx

Linking up with more creatives here.