A New Jacket Conversion

**Tim Little** · 1st August 11, 12:44 PM

Very nice!

**Mickey** · 1st August 11, 03:24 PM

Thanks everyone. I'm getting a little better with each one. One day I might be truly happy with my own work

Originally Posted by CMcG

I believe this is a fine example of what someone has called Highland dress acquisition disorder (HDAD). I prefer to think of it as a nice 'hobby.' Luckily for yourself, you have found a way to get your fix on the cheap... if you had actually purchased as many brand new kilt jackets as you are planning on converting, TurboKittie would put you in rehab

HDAD..

I love it! It really has become a new hobby. Doing these are relaxing, very low cost, and although very easy, challenging at the same time. I like finding jackets with different materials, cuts, number of buttons mainly to learn and see if they come out the way the started in my mind. Some of the ones I got don't even really fit me, so I can try and learn tailoring.

And if I had actually purchased these brand new, rehab wouldn't have crossed her mind. She would have simply put me in the morgue

I think she's still getting a bit irritated with jackets laying around everywhere though! I'll have to start hiding new ones in the basement.

**Mipi** · 4th August 11, 05:51 AM

Nice work. Did you ever make any jacket with more than one button? Sometimes, I feel like it's impossible to make a curve the way that leaves only one button.

**Mickey** · 4th August 11, 03:10 PM

Thanks Mipi,
I haven't yet made one with two or more buttons. Most of the jackets I pick up have two buttons, rather low to begin with, but this one was right on the fence. I could have gone with two, but thought cutting a little more looked a bit better, at least to me for this pattern.

I did find a couple of three and four button jackets that I'm looking forward to playing with. Not sure how a two or three button kilt jacket would look, but they might come out decent. We'll see

**cruiser348** · 4th August 11, 03:20 PM

You have yourself quite a talent there, and once you're done with the sewing machine will have quite a collection of jackets there as well. I've been unable to find one jacket for myself that I can convert, and I see that pile of great choices you have just waiting in the wings. Not that I'm sure why I keep looking since I don't even own a sewing machine.

**madmacs** · 4th August 11, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by cruiser348

You have yourself quite a talent there, and once you're done with the sewing machine will have quite a collection of jackets there as well. I've been unable to find one jacket for myself that I can convert, and I see that pile of great choices you have just waiting in the wings. Not that I'm sure why I keep looking since I don't even own a sewing machine.

It's easy enough to sew one by hand...

**Mickey** · 4th August 11, 06:42 PM

Cruiser, thanks but really, I have no talent. I do not know how to sew. I actually picked up Sewing For Dummies at the library over the weekend and most of it is over my head. But doing something like this is really nothing more than a few bits of hemming and ironing. It seems a lot harder than it is. Just remember the old woodworking mantra: Measure twice, cut once.

Originally Posted by madmacs

It's easy enough to sew one by hand...

Quite right! This is the first jacket I've done that involved a sewing machine, and that was mainly to practice on the machine. Besides, the results are better by hand. It's much easier to hide the stitching.

Find a cheap jacket at a thrift store or yard sale or something. Even if it doesn't fit, slowly take it apart to get an idea how they are made. (most are pretty much the same) Then practice on one. You'll be surprised how easy (and fun) they are to do.