Winterized Materity Cloak

    Usually when I do a do it yourself project, it is a fun exercise in getting a creative, unique thing done, like having clothes that fit well, are flattering and modest – I don’t usually save money.
    Last time I was pregnant in the winter time, I borrowed a very warm wool cloak for the duration, but my friend has moved away with her cloak, so I decided to buy new or upgrade my light weight cloak.  The maternity stores coats would have fit, but they were so thin that my too light cloak was a better choice.  In this case of DIYS, I would be creating something I couldn’t afford otherwise.  Cool.  For once I was actually being frugal with my fun.
    So I pulled out my old Threads magazines to do some research, and asked my husband his engineering advice.  Both sources recommended adding an under-layer to the opening, and an inter-lining for added warmth.  The Threads article was recent enough to list internet sources for thinsulate, I picked the second warmest kind (spectators need more warmth than playground athletes do), took the lining apart Saturday, sewed the new interlining in yesterday, added a 3 inch underlayer to the opening with snaps, and today did most of the hand finishing to put it back together neatly.
    The large snaps I bought with a hammered in setter didn’t work for me, I could get the prongs in, but not the studs.  I wound up using lighter snaps that I’d bought with a setting tool that looks like pliers when I was going to make baby clothes for M.  (We got so many cute hand me downs and gifts I never did sew him an outfit.  Oh Well.  I’ve made him cute Halloween costumes ;-)
    My husband just tried it out outside – he said he was warm enough in just shirtsleeves under it to be comfortable, and that he felt like Strider from the Lord of the Rings.
    Not bad for $15 of insulation, $8 of snaps and hook and eyes, and 3 days of sewing.
    Yeah!