This week I’m going to show you how to make this zipper-front jacket or ski coat. The pattern fits most 11.5-inch dolls and some with wider bodies and even longer arms. Tomorrow I’ll post the pattern, and Friday I’ll post the tutorial. This zipper-front jacket project isn’t for the beginner seamstress. Zippers can be tricky to do, so bear that in mind.

It helped that I had a fantastic zipper to work with. I ordered my zipper from an Etsy store called, “Zipit.” That link will take you there. Zipit‘s zippers come in many colors and sizes, and I really appreciated being able to find a doll-sized jacket zipper!

For those of you who don’t know the difference, a jacket zipper opens even at the bottom, rather than ending the zip at the bottom the way a dress’s zipper would do. It’s really hard to find this type of zipper in a doll’s size, but Zipit seems to have everything a doll clothes seamstress could possibly need in zippers. I’m sure I’ll be ordering from them again.

For anyone who hasn’t yet heard, I’m also running a sweepstakes giveaway for a Barbie-sized/Liv doll-sized hairdresser’s smock, apron, and hairdresser chair. This giveaway is just in time for holiday gift-giving! Here’s the spot to go, if you want to sign up to win. The last day to sign up to win this contest is Monday, November 30th, 2015, so don’t wait too long!