Oh boy.  I love sewing for Louis.  He loves when I sew for him.  But it really is a bigger challenge to find something more exciting to make for him than a basic pair of pants or a tshirt.  Parents of little girls have it easy.  Well, in some regards.

When I saw the Lumberjack Shirt pattern by Patterns for Pirates, I jumped at it.  Glad I did.  Honest to goodness, this is the most proud I’ve ever been of my sewing.  It turned out damn near perfect.

As I usually do, I took Louis with me to the fabric store.  He actually loves it in there.  The women often dote over him and he seriously enjoys running around the aisles, checking out all of the different fabric prints.  I’ve been taking him since he was a teeny little thing and he’s always been great in there.  Maybe the love for fabric runs in our blood.  Who knows?

Louis, of course, picked out the blue flannel.  Blue.  What other color would I expect my little blue-obsessed child to choose?  The lining fabric was a little tougher of a sell with him because he “already had his pirate party” so Louis thought it was unnecessary to have pirates for anything else.  *sigh*  I still have issues picking out complimentary fabrics that aren’t too matchy-matchy but I think we did okay with this one.

As far as the pattern goes, it was quite easy to follow.  I still consider myself a beginner sewist.  Maybe I’m more than that but I’m at least always willing to tackle big projects that I have no previous knowledge of.  I take everything as a learning experience. 

There are so many times when I sew new things that I think to myself: “This is stupid.  These directions don’t make sense.  This designer has no idea what they are talking about.  It won’t work.”  And then I actually do what they tell me to do…and it works perfectly.  Because it should.  I’m just an ass sometimes, haha.

It was not my original intent to have a contrasting third fabric in his jacket because I’d bought fabric thinking I was going to make a non-hooded option.  And then obviously (like I always do) I changed my mind so I had to dig for scraps that would work.  I’m glad I did because I love the back yoke, the hood trim and the sleeves being that solid black.  My lack of planning worked again!

Louis was so excited to have me make this for him.  He’s worn it to school every morning so far and the fact that he allowed me to photograph him in it says something as well.  I’ll keep making him things as long as he keeps letting me. 

Well.  Who am I kidding?  I’ll always be making him things.  And his kids.  And his kids’ kids.

I do plan to make more of these jackets as well.  I think they would make AMAZING Christmas presents for some of my nephews.  I am stoked to do this all over again.