DIY Jockey Jacket

Evan got to have a Derby Parade at school today. Two weeks ago the teachers sent home a note stating that girls should be dressed “in Sunday dresses” and the boys “in something resembling silks”. Yeah…so that would be WHAT exactly? They also gave the girls lovely little hats to add flowers to and decorate and the boys got…a paper bowl. I think the boys (or more correctly the boys’ parents) got the more difficult challenge on this one.

Now usually I’m figuring out Evan’s Show-N-Tell item by digging thru my car in the school parking lot so when I got this note I made the decision to plan ahead. So the afternoon of Noah’s party I did a little research (by research I mean googling “preschool jockey costume”). I found this adorable etsy shop. But as a DIYer I don’t pay for anything I think I can make (regardless of my actual skill set or experience).

So I set to work sketching out a “design”. He specifically wanted a star on it. I used some fabric I already had (since I’m a craft hoarder) and one of Evan’s jackets to use as a pattern…the only part I actually bought was the closures for $1.99.

Now I don’t have any actual steps or a printable pattern for this because basically I made the whole thing up as I went (which is kind of how I always seem to work) and I just cut the pattern directly out of my fabric. While I do have basic sewing skills I seriously lack the patience to do things correctly, so I tried really hard this time to take out stitches that weren’t right and actually press seams (I hate ironing).

I wasn’t planning on lining it but I was worried that Evan might find the collar “scratchy” and then not wear it. Then I guess since I was feeling like a sewing genius I decided to make him a matching hat. Actually I based the pattern off of some fabric turtles that I’d made for the nursery and then just sized it to fit him and added a brim – it was surprisingly easy and only took about 45 mins.

I’m still actually shocked that it turned out at all. I guess that all that patience payed off since it did actually fit him and while it’s not perfect, it turned out pretty close to the idea I had in my head.

He was so excited to wear it and didn’t want to take it off after school. He definitely enjoyed marching in the parade with his horse who he named “Shoe Head”.

I noticed the 4 year old classes made floats for the parade…so now I know what we have to look forward to next year. 🙂