I love this jacket. Truly, madly, deeply. It’s the Landgate Jacket by Merchant & Mills. I made it in their recommended dry oilskin and I love it so much. I used the color cumin and it’s a really interesting color. In some lights it looks like a mustard yellow, sometimes greenish, and sometimes a bit orange.
I thought it would be a bit beyond my skill level so I first made one for Z in some duck canvas I practice the techniques. I waterproofed it afterward with Nixwax, but we haven’t really road tested it’s waterproof capability. The pattern doesn’t come in child sizes, so I took her chest measurement, added about 10 inches of positive ease. Then I divided that would-be finished measurement for her by the finished measurements of the smallest adult size. That was about 70 percent for her size. I used a printing service to print the pattern and asked them to print the pattern at 70 percent of the original. It worked out really well! I think it worked well for this pattern because it’s a straight up and down piece with no curves or shaping.
I made a size medium, which is a 52 inch chest size. That’s about 13 inches of positive ease for me, which might seem like a lot, but it’s perfect. It allows me to put super thick sweaters under it, and it makes it easier to get on and off with a fairly stiff fabric. The dry oilskin is not fully waterproof, but is water resistant. I stood under a trickling waterfall at Tea Kettle Falls to test it out. I don’t think this would be great in a downpour, but it’s pretty great to block some wind and it has a giant collar area that’s great for stuffing a large shawl into during colder weather. The hood is also really roomy, and from some angles makes me look like I have a cone head. Matt suggested drafting a three piece hood like we both have on other raincoats, but that felt beyond my level.For this jacket, I made both types of pockets. This has internal side pockets and external pockets with a flap that can be buttoned. Many folks that have made this have added both kinds of pockets and I think the more pockets the better! The flap pockets are better for securing my phone, wallet, and keys. I had those slip out of side pockets before, so I’m glad I have a way to keep them safe with a closure. Otherwise I made no changes to the jacket. I think it’s great as is. I can also imagine making it in a really lightweight ripstop nylon that could be shoved in a bag for backpacking or camping excursions. The dry oilskin is lovely, but definitely is a bit more bulky for packing up.
This is beautiful and you really are a risk taker!!! You are definitely a super good role model. Thank you.
Thank you! I did mess up the hood one time, but luckily I had enough fabric to cut another one!
Just fabulous Cassy! I thought this was a purchased time when I looked at photo!
Thanks so much! It was really fun to make for most of it.
That is outstanding! Well done!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
This is so great – looks like the perfect fall jacket!
This is beautiful! Congrats. The color is fantastic. Loved reading about your method for scaling the prototype for Z. Really smart!
Thanks! I was really happy to be able to hack it and make a kid version.