Converting a tweed sport coat to a Braemar jacket

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

If you weren't a vet, you would be a fantastic tailor/seamstress....

You should see my surgical closures. You'd never know the animal had been cut at all!

I looked at the other jacket that I had picked up at the same time and found it didn't have that little cut/cover trick going on.

I wonder what the reason was for that?!?

Ray

I wish I knew as well, I wonder if there was some mistake in the original construction of the jacket? I assume, though, that this was a mass produced item, so there must have been a better purpose than to cover up an error. It certainly was a pain to have to replace the pockets though.

And here we are, as soon as my photos finish uploading...

Be well,

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Ok, so today I said to my beloved husband, "I'll just take an hour or so to whip out some pockets, and then I'll be done!". Well, it took about 2 hours, because I had to try to get fancy. I shouldn't brag, it gets me in trouble.


Here are the bits I cut off the bottom of the jacket. They are lined, so will make good pockets.



Just cut down to size (I tried as best I could to match up the chevron pattern of the tweed).



I always want to get a general idea if things are going to work, so here I just folded the edges and placed it under the flap to be sure it looks reasonable.



Now to iron down and quickly sew the raw edges.





All going quickly and smoothly at this point, but then I decided to get a little fancy...

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

I didn't want to just fold over the top of my patch pockets, because I felt that would make them too bulky and they might push out the flap a little. So I decided I needed to just fold something over the top edge, like bias tape or something. I then had a great idea!

I'll take the lining out of the remaining pocket that I removed...



Cut pieces of it out, iron them flat and wrap them over the top of the pockets.



I did this just like doing a waistband, where you sew it right side to right side first...



Fold it over and iron it...



Fold again (burying the raw edges) and iron...



And just sew into place (remember, this is tweed, so the stitching barely shows, so I just sewed across the front of the pocket. Besides, this bit is under the flap anyway).



Then, I simply had to sew the pockets onto the jacket...

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Sewing the pockets on was a little more difficult than I thought it would be, because there is a lot of material here for my little machine to handle. I probably would have been better off hand sewing them, but I was impatient.

So, I machine sewed, not too concerned about showing a seam, because the flaps and the edges of this jacket had a visible seam originally, as did the pockets, so I am matching the original work. This seam does show on the lining (the original had the pockets sewn on before the lining), but I wasn't about to rip open the lining just so the pocket seams didn't show on the inside. Even I'm not that anal!



I broke one needle and bent another before I realized that I was going to have to hand sew the corners at least.



I ended up sewing a double seam around the pockets, because even though these are shallow, mostly for show pockets, I know my father-in-law well enough to know he is going to end up putting inappropriately large or heavy things in there. He must have been one of those little boys you see in cartoons with the frogs, nails, bits of string, rocks, etc, etc, in their pockets.

From a respectable distance though, things look pretty good (remember that Panache is a little taller, with longer arms than his father).





The back side (needs pressing).



Now we just have to provide the kilt and we can respectably dress the man for the NorCal Rabble Second Annual Burn's Night Supper this coming year.

As soon as we have him outfitted, I will post a link to further pictures here.

Be well,

[starbkjrus]

Amazing. Can I send you my measurements?

Seriously, very nice work. I can barley adjust the tension on our machine.

[McMurdo]

Wonderful work, your father in law is very lucky indeed.

[James MacMillan]

When you are finished, I bet your Father-in-law will prize that jacket more than an $800 Peer Cardon (or whatever his name is)..........

Thanks so much for sharing the process! Can't wait for the flix of him wearing it!

I know that I said it before, but it bears repeating.

I bet your Father-in-law will prize that jacket more than an $800 Peer Cardon (or whatever his name is)..........

I'm not a Father-in-law, but I'm old enough to be, and I know I would prize that jacket over any merely store bought!

Well done!!!

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Thanks, all! It was a fun trip. Now I have to work on something non kilt related. Altering Panache's Renaissance Faire noble costume, so he can be "The Mask of the Red Death" for Halloween!

Be well,

[Alan H]

Nice job, goddess. I had my doubts about the revamped patch pockets, but they look good. I'm gonna heave to re-tackle this job someday, and do another tweed jacket for myself, now that I've learned from you and David Dalgliesh.

[andyfg]

The best DIY job I think to date. Great skill.