lamb jacket pattern

The last of my trifecta of lambing posts!

A couple of years ago, a cold snap hit just as our ewes started to lamb. A shepherd friend loaned me a few of her home-made lamb jackets, and they worked so well that I copied the pattern and am posting it here with her permission. Thanks Val!

I used some fleece fabric I had on hand; it was intended to be made into a lap blanket for me, but lambs were cold and needed something warm to put on, so it was repurposed.

Cut a rectangle 15 inches wide and 13 inches high.
Dimensions may vary slightly based upon the size of your lambs,
but it should be slightly wider than it is high.

Cut a small notch in the fabric (about one inch) exactly halfway down on the short side, 

to make the coat fit more comfortably on the neck.

Fold the fabric in half, along the notched side.

Whip stitch the front and back together at the bottom front, for about 1.25 inches.
I used heavy upholstery thread held double for all sewing.

If you are a more accomplished seamstress, you might have put the raw edge of the seam

towards the inside, but mine ended up on the outside.

I suppose this way, it doesn't rub on the lamb's chest.

Cut two leg straps about 6.5 to 7 inches in length.

This is nylon strapping, cut in half, that I happened to have on hand.

My friend Val uses recycled elastic from her rag bag.

Attach one end of each leg strap to the opposite end (from the seam) of the long side.

Fold up and attach the other ends of the leg straps about 4.5 inches along the long side, 

towards the front seam.

The finished lamb jacket will look approximately like so, lying on your kitchen table...

And like so, modeled by a lamb.