Currently in the process of making a kilt for my brother (yay, more practice!) and I'm still looking for a gray or black or blue jacket to convert for some of my other kilts. I actually bought a really nice gray tweed jacket for $3 before all of these to use for converting but when I found out it was a $300 Harris Tweed coat I decided I'd save it for normal wear instead to get more mileage out of it! Or at least find some others to practice on first.
I'm not very good at hand sewing and try and do everything by machine if possible, I'm just more comfortable with that for some reason--I'm probably just too impatient! I just learned how to use the machine last year for making the Great Kilt for my brother's wedding at a ren faire. Though technically that was just two lines of stitching under the belt area for cheat pleats. My mother is teaching me to do more hand sewing and that was unavoidable on the bottom--she actually finished up that part. I did the cutting, measuring, folding, the buttons and a bit of machine stitching on the bias tape and the pockets. I put the buttons on and I'm not anxious to do them over again on the sleeves after I lengthen them!
Yikes -- yeah, I don't blame you for not wanting to convert that jacket yet! Good find!
Very cool about all the sewing. I wish I'd paid more attention when my mother tried to teach me more about sewing. I didn't have an interest in it... then she moved out of state and I sure could've used her around when I was fumbling around making my 1880's bustle ballgown. I used patterns, but I still didn't know a lot of what I was doing and made some changes to the bodice. It came out ok, but I made a lot of mistakes that drive me a little batty. And I hear ya about the handsewing. I try not to do that too much, but I admit I did enjoy handstitching the eyelets for the back of my bodice (lacing).
Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing the photos with us
Nicely done, and a very well put together outfit.
Normally I'm undecided when it comes to epaulets,
but I think they would look perfect on that jacket.
...I put the buttons on and I'm not anxious to do them over again on the sleeves after I lengthen them!
I am with you on this. For my jacket conversion, the sleeves and buttons may have been the most difficult part to get right. I now understand why I pay a pro to make the adjustments on a new jacket or sports coat.
Or at least find some others to practice on first.
Originally Posted by Ronusan
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