Jimmy's Irish Cloak Coat

Hello Refashion Co-op. I made a light coat to stay warm during the cold snap we are having here on the east coast. I found this Jimmy Hourihan cloak at a clothes swap. It looked better than new, it looked like it had never been touched by human hands. I love red, so I brought it home. It was a little big on me. On a taller woman this would look sophisticated and elegant, I looked like a hobbit or elf about to go on an adventure. (My big kids thought this was a good look and were upset I didn't want to be a hobbit or an elf.)

It had this great attached scarf and there was plenty of fabric to work with here. This might be the best thing I have ever found at a clothes swap. I was really happy with it.

The fabric was such high quality, I don't know Jimmy Hourihan but he knows what he is doing. I looked up the company and they make beautiful garments.

I decided to make a very simple coat shape. I wanted it loose and roomy. And I wasn't going to change the scarf at all. It's awesome. I needed to make it stay closed in the front too.

I put together my coat and discovered it looked like a bathrobe, and the belt I made was much too thick and chunky. Ugh, I kept working.

I made a thinner belt and shortened it to hip length. That got rid of the bathrobe look. It is easier to wear too. The arm length worked out all by itself like a tiny miracle. 

Thanks for reading, for more details and pictures of this refashion, go to I Can Work With That.