How to make a kids' raincoat

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one coat, 130 cm height)

• Laminated fabric (lightweight) — about 110 cm wide × 180 cm (43 × 71 in)
• Snap fasteners — 5 or 6 pairs
• Double-fold bias tape (12 mm) for the neckline allowance — about 50 cm (20 in)
• Seam-sealing tape (optional) — about 3 m
• A Teflon foot, if you have one
• Clips instead of pins

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Kids' clothes” → “Kids' raincoat” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the chest, front length, extra back length, sleeve length, hood depth and ease. Presets cover heights of 110 to 140 cm.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace on the wrong side. Chalk marks stay on laminate — choose an unobtrusive color. Transfer the center-front line, the sleeve-head notch and the hood notches (center front and shoulder).
2. Cut the pieces
   Back on the fold, 2 fronts, 2 sleeves, 2 hood pieces. The back is longer than the front, and each front has an overlap beyond the center front for the snaps.
3. Use clips
   Pin holes let water through. Clips only.

4. Sewing

4-1. Shoulders and sleeves

1. Place front and back right sides together and sew both shoulders.
2. Match the sleeve head notch to the shoulder seam and set the sleeves in. The armhole is straight, so it stays flat while you sew.
3. Laminate sticks to the presser foot. Without a Teflon foot, sew through a strip of tracing paper and tear it away afterward.

4-2. Sides and underarms

1. Place front and back right sides together and sew from cuff to hem in one run.
2. Unpicking leaves holes, so clip everything first and check the shape before you sew.

4-3. Front edges and hem

1. Turn each front edge under 1 cm and then by the width of the overlap (2.5 cm), and stitch close to the fold.
2. Turn the hem and cuffs under 1 cm and then 2 cm, and stitch.

4-4. Make and attach the hood

1. Sew the two hood pieces together along the back curve.
2. Turn the face opening under 1 cm and 1 cm, and stitch.
3. Pin the neck edge of the hood to the neckline right sides together: hood ends at the front edges, notches at the center front and shoulders. Sew from front edge to front edge.
4. Bind the neckline allowance with bias tape and press it toward the body.

4-5. Snaps

1. Fit 5 or 6 pairs of snaps along the center-front line, with the top one just below the neckline to keep the rain out.
2. Seal the seams with tape and it will hold up to real rain.

✏️ Pins leave holes in laminate and water comes through them. Use clips. The same goes for unpicking, so clip everything, check the shape, and only then run the seam.

5. Tips & variations

• A longer back: 8 cm or more if it has to go over a backpack.
• Reflective tape: visibility is poor in rain. Add it to the cuffs and hem.
• A bag to match: a drawstring bag in the same fabric lets it be packed away wet.