Can anyone recommend a good pattern for a
 

baby goat coat? I am wanting to sew some up since I might need up to 10 to start with. If there is a free pattern out there, I would love to have it. I will need the sizes for baby nigies as well as Nubians eventually.
Thank you.

I dislike Wal-Mart a lot but at this time of year I go and buy their dog coats that are on clearance for around $2 each, I get a couple of extra smalls for the tiny Nigies, some smalls for the normal size Nigie babies and then some mediums for the Nubians.
I also had these water proof very well insulated ones from Petsmart that were half off.
The ones I made myself just would not stay on as well. But that could be that I was too lazy to take out the sewing machine and I hand sewed them. Sometimes by flashlight in the barn stabbing myself with the needle if they kidded more then I had coats for :rolleyes:

http://goat-link.com/content/view/209/198/#.UOHBXlKPzDU

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/hobby-farm...e-jammies.aspx

Here are a couple of sites with instructions.
I suggest you hit thrift stores and garage sales for children's wear to make kid coats from.

Are you good at figuring things out without an actual pattern? If you can figure this one out I know there are people at my sheep list who would buy coats from you--and I'd buy some smaller sizes too.

I bought these coats at ebay 9 years ago when we had our first lambs. They're awesome! I've tried a bunch of designs since and I'm always afraid the lamb or kid will get tangled up or the coat will come off. These stay put.

Unfortunately, I've never found them for sale again and I only bought one size. These fit newborn Boer or dairy kids but are a little too big for my newborn lambs and certainly Iggy and Ozzy. The nice thing is once a kid or lamb is big enough to wear this design, they can wear the same cover for a long time. Their butts stick out farther and farther but their shoulders and chests stay warm.

The outside is a smooth fabric that doesn't pick up straw or junk. The lining is thin polar fleece-type fabric. My two coats have seen a LOT of use and are still in pristine condition, the babies that wearthem always seem warm, and I've never had one slip a bit.

The only thing I'd change is that I'd use strong velcro on the belly band. It's hard to fasten that ring fastener one-handed when you're holding a wiggly lamb or kid.

Sue

Wish I had one of those to go by. I could make the pattern. Going to have to do some searching :)

Is belly band a separate piece? how is it attached to the main jacket?

It's part of the t-shaped bit that goes between the front legs (you can see the attachment at the right side of the velcro front closures)--that's why this design is so stable.

I wish I knew who came up with this design. It's so good!

Sue

Sue would you pm me some measurements....making patterns is one thing I do allot of. I would love to give this one a try....I actually have bought fabric and been searching for a pattern.

I LOVE this design. The D rings would be a pain to fasten. I was debating maybe a button or snap on mine. Because sometimes velcro wears after time. Not certain. But, I LOVE this design. Now to get some dimensions and figure out the pattern. I would say it is fleece on the inside and a durable cotton on the outside. Possibly something as thick as denim?
Dreamgoat Annie, could you PM me with the dimensions on this design? I will come up with a pattern. I can't wait to try it.

Bambitski, we haven't seen pictures of your goaties in a long time! ;)

Minelson. I know. :( It has been a weird year. First off, let me say that my 22 year old pain in the *** daughter is blessing me with myfirst grandchild in January. Then she moved out, then my son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and we were in Cardinal Glennon in St. Louis for 7 days, 4 of which were in PICU and me sleeping in the same bed as him. Then the holidays, etc... I have spent time with the babies, some are due in March and some in April too. Latte (Ponys sister) should be having hers in March.
Plus.....ITS COLD OUT THERE!!!!! LOL Momma don't like standing in the cold. ;)
I promise to try and get some up here soon. I can add a pic of Latte and show you her size at 2 months preg. [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...psa7c77041.jpg[/IMG]

Would you like me to trace it on newsprint and mail the tracing to you? That way I could trace both pieces separately and tape them together so you can see exactly where they're sewn together.

I'd mail you one to use as a pattern except I'll need them for Ozzy and Iggy before too long.

The velcro on the front is nice because it offers a lot of adjustment. It looks like plain old 1" wide, 3" long strips of velcro, nothing special, but it's held up over the years. Maybe because I seldom open the front except for laundering. I prefer to pull the coat over the lamb or kid's head with the front already fastened because then I don't get straw or hair in it.

I don't think the outside is cotton as it's thin and very densely woven. Maybe a blend? Can you tell I don't usually sew except to mend stuff.

If you want me to trace this, email your USPS address to me at: ozarkgoattrek@gmail.com

Sue

then it is probably the material that is made to be resistant to water, wind, etc. Got it. ;)
Sent you an email. Thank you so much.

Polyester perhaps? That would make it more washable and keep it drier. Would you mind sending me a tracing too? I just so happen to have 10 yards of red plaid rayon laying around that I could play with for different sizing and things.
Nylon taffeta with fleece would be pretty cost efficient and soft

Sure, Squeaky--send me your USPS!

I bet you're right about it being polyester.

Sue

LOL, so being crazy like I am. I have two Nubians that are shivering and freezing. I found two winter coats of my daughters that she had outgrown. Cut the fronts and sleeves off, Cut off the hats, do a quick stitch around them to keep the filling in, add straps, and now they are warm. LOL It was desperation. I didn't even worry about trimming it properly. Just cut around the edges wehre filling was sticking out and put them on them. Down side....Male Nubian is wearing a burgundy coat. The female though got a pinkish lavendar one. LOL I figured it was better than watching them get sick. Plus the coats are already warm and made of material that keeps the rain/snow/sleet off them. ;)

Ooh, could I have it too, please???????!!!!
~Tammy

Sorry for posting without reading through the thread first but I just found this and thought of you:
http://rockyrun-farm.com/coat.htm
I'm sure it can be scaled down for a baby goat.

Thank you, that is definitely what I could use at the moment with the Nubians who are cold.

Send me your USPS address, Tammy. :o)

Sue
ozarkgoattrek@gmail.com

Ok, please forgive my ignorance here, but don't goats come with their own coats? Under what circumstances is it necessary to put a coat on a goat (or dog, calf, etc)?

The kids have a very difficult time regulating their body temperature, especially when they're born in cold weather. I use a heat lamp for my kids born in the winter, at least for a few days, but would love to make a few of these little coats for them.

And I am wanting to make some for my Nubians too because they seem to not have much fat on their bodies and are shivering ALL the time. Can't let my babies be cold. ;)

And Sue, I am sorry. I seem to have put you to work, I promise not intentionally.

So do you leave the coats on 24/7 in cold weather? We're planning on a heat lamp in the kid pen when Wild Child has hers in two months, but alwsys open to tips.

Not sure on the coats (have never used them thus far), but I do know you don't want to keep the kids under heat lamps for more than a couple of days. You want them to adjust to the cold and be able to regulate their own body temperature.