Cropped Coat Tutorial!

[ladyjanewriter]

How to make a cropped jacket
from a winter coat

I started with a 3-button coat

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2081228644_59c34a0340.jpg





Open the coat so you're looking at the liner. Measure from the hem to where you want to crop the jacket. I measured 10 inches.


You'll want to leave an inch or 2 extra for the seam allowance.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2081228646_d13704cb62.jpg





Now it's time to cut. Take your time. Try not to cut open the pockets.

Be sure to snip off the extra buttons and save 'em for later!



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2196/2081228658_070d43ce9c.jpg

This is a good time to check in the mirror, to see if it's the length that you want it to be

(plus an inch or so).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2368/2080488805_7bfd882c1d.jpg



If you cut the bottom of the pocket, sew it up before going to the next step!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2081228674_e86840a913.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2059/2080488797_6f1b04a2ef.jpg


Snip away any extra bits of fabric from the coat seams inside the coat under the liner... ...because this will make it easier to fold the 1/2 inch hem. And you'll sew through less fabric.




I pinned a 1/2 inch hem to the inside of the coat. I pushed the pins down thru the fabric and into my ironing board...


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2080488799_5e8d20949c.jpg

...so when it was time to iron, the fabric didn't slip around.

Be sure not to melt plastic pin heads! :-)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2055/2080488813_5040498400.jpg

OK, now repeat that step, folding a 1/2 hem of the liner towards the inside of the coat.

Pin, and iron flat.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2077/2080488821_57fde30983.jpg




Making sure that the folded and ironed hems are facing each-other, pin the jacket fabric and the liner back together.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2192/2080488831_15b759b286.jpg

Tip: Make sure to tuck the liner in a little bit extra. That way the liner won't poke outside of the coat at the hemline.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2391/2080527535_bcc3af2056.jpg

Time to sew! You can sew it with a sewing machine or by hand. Use a straight stitch.

Machine Sewers: Set your machine for straight stitch. Do not sew over pins!!!

Hand-Sewers: Double your thread, take tiny stitches, use a thimble or a couple of band-aids on your thumb. Wax your thread!


Stitch a straight line along the bottom.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2037/2080527549_ae2e84de0b.jpg

Be sure to stitch shut the little bit of both bottom corners of the jacket, too!



And, You're done!

Now go take a silly pic of yourself wearing the jacket.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/2080527555_ed53ed24dd.jpg



Thanks to all the ThreadBangers!

[lizzymahoney]

Nice and clear tutorial, thanks!

[ladyjanewriter]

You're Welcome! The video tutorial used to have much clearer titles, but the words got all pixell-y and ugly when I uploaded it to YouTube. :(

This is pretty much the text as it is in the video tute. :)

[Jelfish]

Awesome! Thanks for posting the tutorial for your piece! I've always been a bit weary about cutting coats because of all that unknown mysterious and complicated stuff inside, but it doesn't look too bad on your coat. Nice job, too :D

[ladyjanewriter]

Thanks, Jelfish!

If you take your time and analyze the coat you're working with as you go, it's not so bad. If you don't want to cut it at first, you might try ripping out a few stitches and seeing what's on the inside. If you're afraid to cut it apart, just stitch those stitches back in place with a matching thread.

If there are slits or vents in the back of the coat-tails it can be a bit trickier. I think the main thing is to take your time with the cutting and ironing. The sewing part is surprisingly quick!!! Really fast.

[D-I-Y]

cute pins

[macramelover]

thanks! do you know how I could make a jacket thinner? its 2 sizes too big.. help!

[ladyjanewriter]

thanks! do you know how I could make a jacket thinner? its 2 sizes too big.. help!


Uh, well, that part, I don't know! I would suggest asking that in the "Questions" forum. :) Someone else will probably see your question and have some clue.

[Glitterimage2]

the jacket is as cute as the pins

[lizzaerie]

good idea, now to EXTEND a jacket....haha

[ladyjanewriter]

Since a couple of people mentioned 'em - if people want the pins --they are Singer brand pins. I found them at Walgreen's, but they should hopefully be available with the other pins wherever you buy your sewing stuff.

I decided to use them b/c they'd look cute in the pics.

Oh - and the little flowers and butterflies melt really easily if you accidentally bump the hot iron against them. Er, don't do that. :rolleyes: :D Some of my butterflies look a little mangled. Whoops.

***Edit:

OMG, these little ones with "button heads" are so cute!

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3432&PRODID=xprd140445

[Cutting Edge]

I wanted to make a jacket like this! Thank you :)

[sublimev]

OMG THAT IS THE SAME COAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW!!!
I am just resizing mine thou with more edgy style that is craze
great job

[LadyScissorsHand]

The coat fits you like a glove!

Sad my sewing machine is an old man now and doesn't allow me to work on thicker fabrics like heavy denim or coat wool...I want to make one too! T.T

[CocoColette]

wow! thats reallly reallllly cute....and its much more flattering than the non cropped coat! great idea!

[xXSo_thats_who_i_amXx]

Okay for hand sewers, I don't understand what you mean by wax your thread. . . . could you explain?

[LadyScissorsHand]

Okay for hand sewers, I don't understand what you mean by wax your thread. . . . could you explain?

Dejavu!

I actually asked my mum a similar question yesterday.

My question was, "Why do you put a wax candle in the sewing kit basket, next to the needles, pin cushion, and thimble? What's that for?"

She told me that the wax helps to "detangle the threads" during hand-sewing. (She always gently slides the thread over the wax, just works it like a lubricant or something.)

So that's her answer. :)

[taboo89]

i cant see any of the pictures...i think the url is from flickr.com....damn that website is blocked where i live..=S...

[TinaThatsMe!]

Cute jacket, adorable

Where did you get ur pins they are the cutest things ive ever seen....nevermind saw ur post on the pins

[Candied_Angel]

I remember watching
this video on Youtube
and I must agree it
looked a bit messy.
But now I see
and
now I must try.

[ButterflyDemise]

Very cool~ I love cropped jackets, but I never thought to make one with a normal jacket. haha. Thank you!