She's Pretty in Pink

She's all done! 

The pretty in PINK Victorian Baby Jacket!

 I love this free pattern from Red Heart.

Of course I made a few modifications to the pattern.

The pattern called for one button with a crocheted button closure loop.

I didn't want a closure that would have a tendency to come open.

I opted to put three small pearl buttons on the front instead of one.

And in place of the button closure loop, I sewed three homemade buttonholes into the front facing with pink DMC embroidery thread.

(One commenter in Ravelry advised that the front of her jacket gapped open without a button closure.) 

I debated how to tack down the front lapels.  

Should I put buttons, crochet a flower ...I just couldn't decide. 

With the other embellishments already on the front - the picot edging on the collar and the ribbon tie - I didn't want it to look too fussy with even more on the collar.

Plus the collar lapels are small.

As I was trying to decide, my eye caught a deep rose cotton yarn in my piles around my chair and I thought to myself why not just add a simple embroidered straight line of stitches around the collar.   

It's pretty, but simple and it also tacks down the lapels neatly. 

I folded up the sleeves.  

They look a little long to me. 

Mom will have to adjust them for the size of her baby. 

I added pink felt for backing on the front facings to give extra strength to the buttons and buttonholes.

Not the best looking home sewn buttonholes I will admit.

Maybe I can erase the pencil marks before I give this to my niece?

With these facings it should be easier for my niece to button and unbutton her baby's jacket.

I tacked down all around the front facings with regular pink sewing thread.

What else did I changed?

The pattern called for the picot edging on the collar and the front facings.

I just added it to the collar.

Here's a closer look at the back.  

The white band is where the white ribbon is threaded through.

And a full view of the back.

This is only the second baby outfit I have crocheted.

I'm tickled PINK at how it came out.  

Not bad for me.

(Click here to go to Ravelry for more details).