Posted on February 28, 2019April 10, 2019 by Elaine — 4 Comments

Fleece Car Seat Ponchos Are Getting Bigger!

We’ve probably all had the misfortune of ordering a clothing item online only to find that when it arrives, it’s smaller than we expected it to be. This situation is especially frustrating when ordering for a child because children grow so quickly. An item that just fits today may be too small in three months! I’ve always been up front about the fact that my fleece car seat ponchos run small. I’ve spent a fair amount of time during my busy season urging customers to size up. But I’ve still had some customers who were disappointed in the size when their order arrived.

That is why, after selling my handmade fleece car seat ponchos for four years, I’ve decided to make a change in the sizing of my ponchos. This decision was not made on a whim, but is the result of careful consideration and concern for my customers.

The ponchos will be exactly the same design — a circular poncho with a two-way zipper and hand slits — made from premium anti-pill fleece. I will continue to offer ponchos with hoods and ponchos without hoods. The difference is that effective March 1, 2019, the ponchos will all be one size larger than before. This means that my car seat ponchos will now more closely correspond with typical children’s clothing sizes.

Last year’s size 8 will be this year’s size 6. Last year’s size 6 will be this year’s size 4T, and so on. Ponchos will still be available in five sizes, but this year, the sizes and front zipper measurements will be as follows:

3-6 months 12″
12 months 13.5″
2T 16″
4T 18″
6 20″

I’m certain that this change is going to be a positive one for my business and for my customers. I look forward to offering a generously sized car seat poncho in my Etsy shop beginning March 1, 2019.

What are your thoughts on this change to my car seat ponchos?

Posted on January 30, 2019April 9, 2019 by Elaine — Leave a comment

Car Seat Ponchos Without Hoods

Help! My Kid Hates Hoods!

Last year, during the 2018 poncho selling season, I had a few customers contact me asking if I could make car seat ponchos without hoods. It seems that some kids don’t like hoods. Who knew?
Several moms who asked for ponchos without hoods said that their kids didn’t like the feel of the hood behind their heads while they were riding in their car seats. I agreed to consider adapting my poncho pattern after my busy season was over.

Let the design process begin.

Over the course of summer 2018, I made several attempts at a poncho without a hood. All of my prototypes lacked a neck finish that I would be happy to offer to my customers. I just couldn’t seem to get that neckband right!

I was determined to offer a poncho without a hood, but it had to look good. If I just removed the hood and finished the poncho with no neckband, the neck opening would be too large. I spent quite a lot of time contemplating how to make this work.

My light bulb moment

By August, I still hadn’t come up with a workable solution to my design problem. I had just one last option….I prayed. Yes, I’m a praying woman who believes firmly that it is God who has given me a talent for sewing and creating. I don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me earlier in the summer to ask Him to help me with my dilemma. Not long after praying, I was lying in bed one morning, and a thought came to me about finishing the poncho neck edge with a method I had used before for finishing knit shirts. It worked!

A successful product!

At the beginning of September 2018, I offered car seat ponchos without hoods. As an add-on purchase, I also offered the option of a detachable hood that snaps onto the neckband with six sets of plastic snaps.

During the last four months of 2018, my busiest time of year, I was surprised by the number of customers who chose ponchos without hoods. My ponchos with hoods still outsold the new hood-free ponchos, but not by a huge margin. Forty-two percent of the ponchos that I sold in those four months were ordered without hoods. I was pleasantly surprised by the success of this addition to my shop!

All of the feedback so far has been positive. Customers have appreciated the option to choose their fleece car seat poncho with or without a hood. I’ve even added hats to my shop, and they work beautifully with the hood-free ponchos.

The moral of the story

If you’ve got a need that a shop owner may be able to meet, don’t be afraid to reach out to a business owner. I’m very thankful that those customers made me aware of their need for a car seat poncho without a hood.

All of the improvements that I’ve made to my poncho design over the past few years have been made because of requests that I’ve received from past or potential customers.

If you’re not wearing a car seat poncho on your child instead of a bulky winter coat, you can head on over to my Etsy shop right now. I’ll be happy to work with you on a custom order.

Posted on May 29, 2018April 11, 2019 by Elaine — Leave a comment

Car Seat Ponchos Changes for 2018

Change can be scary!

In spite of our fear of change, sometimes change is good. That’s certainly the case with the car seat poncho changes that I’m making for 2018.

Ever since I began sewing and selling car seat ponchos in 2015, I have used the same pattern. That pattern has been well received by my customers. On occasion, I have had customers tell me that they wish their poncho was just a bit longer.

That’s why, when late last year, my pattern designer made a few minor changes to her pattern, I knew I wanted to make the same changes to the car seat ponchos that I offer in my shop.

New for 2018

The new ponchos will be slightly longer in the front and back and slightly shorter at the sides. The new ponchos have an elongated shape with the extra length where needed.
The photo below is a “old” size 2T poncho that I made using the pattern that I’ve been using for the past few years.

Now, this poncho below is a new size 2T in a beautiful gray and purple feather print. You can see the slight difference in the shape of the ponchos.

For comparison, check out the photos below.

In the first photo, you can see the old poncho is approximately two inches shorter than the new poncho in the front and back.

In the second photo, notice that the new poncho is not as wide at the shoulders as the old poncho. This allows for a better fit with less bunching at the hands when using the wrist snaps.

Admittedly, these changes are not earth-shattering, but both of the changes are positive improvements in the car seat ponchos that you can purchase here in my store or in my Etsy shop. Anyone who purchased a poncho after February 2018 already received this style. The measurements in the listing descriptions in my shop will reflect these changes.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these changes to the car seat ponchos. Rest assured that the features that set my ponchos apart from the rest — the two-way zipper, hand slits, and wrist snaps — will not change. I will continue to make ponchos that you and your children can enjoy for years!

Posted on April 10, 2018April 23, 2019 by Elaine — Leave a comment

Why I Became an Entrepreneur

When I was a child, I remember people asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I’m pretty sure I never once responded to that question by saying, “I want to be an entrepreneur.” As a child, I had never once considered the possibility of owning my own handmade business. Yet, here I am, sole proprietor of Elaine Searer, Sewing & Alterations, and I’m loving it!

Three Reasons I Started My Own Business

My top three reasons for owning my own handmade business are as follows:
1. Opportunity to work in my own home
2. Setting my own schedule (except during my busy season)
3. Satisfaction of doing work that is appreciated by my customers.
Making fleece car seat ponchos

Not only do I make custom items, but I also do alterations. I find it extremely satisfying to take a garment that someone couldn’t use and turn it into something that fits and works for that person. I feel that same satisfaction when I take two pieces of fleece fabric and make a car seat poncho that will keep a child warm all winter long.
Paperwork is part of my business My husband and I have created a comfortable, practical sewing studio in the basement of our home. It’s one of my favorite places to spend time. I am very thankful that I can contribute financially in a way that is enjoyable and fulfilling.
Choosing snaps for a car seat poncho

Flexibility

Before I became an entrepreneur, I was a high school English teacher. I liked that job, too. The time I spent in the classroom with my students was especially enjoyable for me. I did find, however, that I was not well-suited to running my life by a system of bells. I craved an opportunity to be more in charge of my own schedule.

Owning my own business doesn’t mean that I can work only when I feel like it, but my schedule is flexible. My husband, Jack, and I start every day with coffee and a “business meeting” in our living room. We love our local customers whom we see face-to-face. It’s fun to follow our packages that are sold in my Etsy shop and here in my own online store as they travel across the U.S.A. and Canada. Our customers often make our day with their orders and positive feedback for my products.
Handmade fleece car seat poncho
For right now, I’m fully convinced that I’m doing exactly what God created me to do right here in the space that He’s given me. If anyone would ask me what I’d like to be doing with my life, I’d proudly tell them, “I’m already doing it!”

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Posted on November 10, 2017April 25, 2019 by Elaine — 2 Comments

What Customers Say About Extra Warm Car Seat Ponchos

I’ve been selling fleece car seat ponchos in my Etsy shop since 2015. The first year that I sold ponchos, I offered only one style of car seat poncho. My regular car seat poncho was and still is made of two layers of anti-pill fleece. Here in Pennsylvania, my grandchildren have found them to be cozy and warm.

Extra Warm Poncho

But what about those kiddos in extremely cold climates? Would two layers of fleece be warm enough for a child in Minnesota or Wisconsin or Canada? I wasn’t sure it would be. That’s why, in my second year of poncho making and selling, I offered the option of choosing a layer of cotton quilt batting that I added between the two layers of anti-pill fleece.

Last year, one third of my poncho orders were for extra warm ponchos. Most of those extra warm ponchos made their way north to colder states and to Canada.

This fall I asked some of those customers whose children used the extra warm ponchos last year to take a short survey. The results were overwhelmingly positive, and every one who responded said that she would make the same choice to purchase the extra warm poncho again.

Survey Results

1. In what state or province do you live?

The women who answered my survey were from Nebraska, Michigan, New Jersey, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and New York.

2. Did the extra warm poncho provide adequate warmth?

Everyone agreed that the extra warm poncho provided adequate warmth. One mom said that on the coldest days in Michigan, she would layer the poncho over a fleece jacket.

3. Where there times when the poncho was too warm?

Some responded that the poncho was too warm for fall and spring weather. Another mom added that if the temperature were forty degrees or warmer, the poncho was not a good choice. The others assured me that the poncho was not too warm in their winter climates.

4. How would you describe the weight and feel of the extra warm poncho?

I wanted to get some opinions on the feel and weight of the extra warm poncho since I’m often trying to describe it to potential customers. My survey-takers described the extra warm poncho as a thicker fleece, not too heavy or thick, warm and cozy, substantial without feeling stiff or cumbersome. One mom was concerned that the extra layer would make the poncho stiff, but it did not.

5. If you were to purchase another poncho, would you choose the extra warm style?

All of the survey participants agreed that if they purchased another poncho, they would, without hesitation, purchase the extra warm poncho again.

There was that one mom who said that since she already had an extra warm poncho, she might choose a regular poncho to use in spring and fall weather. I like this idea! Everyone should buy two ponchos: a regular and an extra warm one.

Contact Me About a Poncho:

If you’re interested in ordering a regular or extra warm car seat poncho, please contact me. You can use the contact form here on this site, contact me in my Etsy shop, or visit my business page on Facebook. I’d be happy to work with you to create a poncho for that special child in your life!

Posted on September 3, 2015July 17, 2019 by Elaine — 6 Comments

Car Seat Ponchos for Safety and Warmth

Here in Pennsylvania, we’re still enjoying summer weather with temperatures in the high 80s, but these warm summer days will soon be a memory. When the temperatures start to fall, how can you keep your little ones safe and warm for fall and winter traveling?

You may need to swap out that heavy winter coat for a cozy car seat poncho for safety and warmth. It’s so much easier to zip on a poncho than to fuss with a winter coat.

Until a few years ago, I had no idea that buckling an infant or child into a car seat while he is wearing a winter coat is not safe. A puffy winter coat will prevent the car seat straps from fastening tightly enough to keep a little one safe. Here’s an article from Consumer Reports that explains exactly what can happen when a child is buckled into his car seat while wearing his winter coat. (Consumer Reports article)

Continue reading Car Seat Ponchos for Safety and Warmth