How to Make a Veterinarian Lab Coat for Kids

Kids who love to play veterinarian will enjoy having this easy to make, no-sew lab coat to wear while playing. You can make a lab coat from an old, large men's shirt and a bit of Stitch Witchery, an iron-on product available in many fabric stores. You can add hook and loop tape or Velcro to make the lab coat easy to get on and off, and even add pockets for veterinary supplies. To give the veterinarian's lab coat a finishing touch, you can buy iron-on appliqués with the child's favorite animals and put their name on the coat using fabric markers.

Things You'll Need

• Old, large long-sleeved men's shirt
• Scissors
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Stitch Witchery
• Hook and loop tape (optional)
• Scraps of fabric for pockets (optional)
• Animal appliqués
• Fabric markers

Instructions

1. Cut a slit down the center of the front of the shirt if you're using a T-shirt that needs a front opening. Cut two strips of Stitch Witchery the length of the shirt. Place the strips of Stitch Witchery on the inside of the shirt along the cut edges, then fold the edges over the Stitch Witchery to make the hems. Iron the folds in place.

2. Cut a piece of hook and loop tape the length of the shirt opening (optional), or slightly shorter if you want to leave the neck area open. Place the hook side of the tape along the outside edge of one side of the shirt opening, and the loop side along the inside edge of the opposite side. Attach the hook and loop tape to the shirt with Stitch Witchery.

3. Shorten the sleeves and the lower edge of the shirt, if needed, by cutting them and hemming them with Stitch Witchery.

4. Make pockets for the veterinarian lab coat (optional) by cutting rectangles of fabric about 1 inch taller and wider than you want the pockets. Fold the edges of the fabric over 1/2 inch toward the wrong side, and fuse them in place with Stitch Witchery. Position the pockets on the lab coat, and fuse the side and lower edges to the coat with Stitch Witchery.

5. Add iron-on animal appliqués to the pockets or front of the veterinarian lab coat.

6. Write the child's name on the chest area of the lab coat using permanent fabric markers.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to add the letters D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) to the lab coat after the child's name to make it look official.

• Use caution when working with hot irons. Follow the manufacturer's directions for guidelines on using Stitch Witchery.