Last year for Christmas I made a double layered cape for my Sis from heavier fleece. Graded the seams, sewed right sides together & turned it.

One side burgundy the other pink & it turned out so pretty.

Suzi

I don't know that I would double fleece. It may not go over clothing well & kind of drag trying to dress them. It does not block wind well either. As you said it will be bulky. I would use rip stop nylon (or something similar that would be like wind breaker fabric) with placemat fleece or with the regular fleece as a lining...sewing both layers at once with the nylon being the right side finished.

To reduce bulk, I have seen fleece with the seam allowances overlapped & sewn twice & then cut away the seam allowance inside.You would sew at 5/8" from the edge & then on the very edge.

I made a hooded coat out of 2 layers of knit. It is reversible with one side being plaid & one solid. Depending upon the garment I am wearing, sometimes it is difficult to get on. It hangs & I have to yank on the sleeves, the front & the back to make it drop on down on my body. Makes you feel weird when you've had it off & have to put it on again in a public place. I made the same coat for my daughter, mother in law & sister & lined it with washable costume satin.(On sale after Halloween) They don't reverse it but they are always talking about how comfortable theirs is.

Thanks so much for your responses. that cape sounds beautiful grittymitts. I think I'd turn it too. joansews4u thats a very good point about the ease of wearing with fleece on the inside. Something I hadn't thought of. I am putting batting between the layers which I figured would create a windblock, but maybe not. Guess I'll rethink the whole project. Thanks again.
What is placemat fleece?

Sally

Nannybird, thanks for responding. Did you put any layer in between the fleece for extra warmth - windblock?

Sarasal - If you are looking to make a warm coat, you don't need to make a double fleece ie fleece coat lined with another fleece. I live in Northern Canada where the temperature goes down to 40 degrees (same in C + F) I have been wearing a double sided fleece coat (one fabric) with a nylon lining for the past 8 years and have never been cold unless there is a wind. I don't go out when it is windy :-) Most of the time the temperature is a bit warmer and a scarf and wool hat with wool gloves keeps me cosy. If cold a single sweater under is plenty. My coat is long to my knees. You need to use a good quality heavy weight fleece. Don't purchase the kind that is knit on one side. For a child I may use a ripstop nylon lining (it does need to be slippery to go over his or her clothes and helps to waterproof). Depending on what type of lower garment they are to use (nylon or ski pants) you would want to gather in the jacket bottom in some way to ensure no wind blows up. If you are going to make fleece pants I would put the nylon on the outside so a child can slide in it.
Good luck and let us know what you decide. Pipsy

Place mat fleece is a batting that is compressed to about 1/8".
One reason I suggested a wind breaker fabric is the fleece blankets don't do well outside a long time like at a ball game. If you double it with a ripstop nylon & use it to the outside & the fleece to the body, you can actually feel the heat build up. If a child is going to use the coat for outside play or to wear to parades or ballgames, something to block the wind & retain the heat the fleece provides would be great for those longer periods.

I rarely wear a big coat in Alabama but every funeral I have to attend in the winter is on the coldest days thus requiring a coat in the closet.

Sorry it took me so long to get back on here. No I didn't put anything in between. It seems to be warm enough without it. Here in OK can only wear it on the coldest days. It's too warm otherwise.

Nancy

The success of this project (producing a very warm jacket) may depend on the fleece you use. You can buy high-quaility fleece in different weights by the yard and you can windblock fleeces by the yard directly from Malden Mills.

If you've seen the trademarks Windbloc, Power Shield, or Wind Pro on commercial garments, the commercial garments are made from Malden Mills products. Malden Mills sells swatches for a reasonable price, if you want to feel the fabrics for yourself.

This website is also a good source for notions (snaps, drawstrings, barrel cord locks, patterns, threads, edging, etc.). Lots of good info in the FAQ section about sewing fleece, also.

CMC
PS: I've lived all my life in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the weather is (relatively) mild in the winter, so it's difficult for me to judge just how warm a coat like this needs to be. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Malden Mills

Hi all,
sorry, haven't been here in a while. thank you for all the good input. I already have the fleece - not Malden Mills, but fleece on both sides.
Pipsy, I did make them snow/ski pants a year and a half ago that my daughter says will still fit them this winter. they were fleece on the inside and nylon on the outside with elastic waist and leg bottoms.
She's never said anything about a problem getting them on. I'll have to ask her. She does say they are nice and warm.
I'll re-read all suggestions and let you know how they come out. Won't be starting them until mid-October tho.
Thanks again.
Sally