Thursday, February 26, 2015

Refashion: Sewing leather for the first time!

I thrifted this very soft and very warm leather jacket from my local thrift store last year for only $9.99! It fit me fine above the waist, but it fit poorly at the waist and below due to my short waist and sway back. I had never sewn with leather before so I was nervous and excited as well in trying to fit this jacket on me.
Note how the jacket bunches up at the back due to my short waist and sway back.
There was a at waist seam that separate the top from the bottom. I took out my trusty seam ripper and started ripping from the lining side seams. This jacket was made in Canada which means that it must be at least 15 years old. The seams were ridiculously securely sewn and were glued down tightly. My eyes were almost going blind trying to rip this well made jacket apart!





Then I rip the leather waist seams all the way and separated the 2 halves. I put on the top half and I was actually liking the look of just the top half. However, I wanted to have a leather jacket that's warmer and more useful so I decided that I had to attach the bottom part with some alterations.



So I tried on the top and bottom to see how much I had to cut off at the waist raise the waist of the jacket. Eventually I cut off 3 cm of the bottom of the top half and 3cm of the top of the bottom half and sewed them together. I broke 2 leather needles sewing this seam because the manufacturers had used contact cement (or some serious glue) to hold down the seams and I had to sew through them all. I top-stitched the new waist seam to give it more support as well as helping the seam to lie flat. I hand-sewn all the seams inside the jacket because it was actually easier as I have no opening to sew through with the sewing machine. And this is how it looks after:
Note the big gap between the last and the 2nd last button because I had cut off the original at waist button hole.
Note that the back doesn't bunch up anymore! Yay!
I know that the jacket doesn't really look very much different from the original. But it now fits me and it was my first time sewing with leather! It was just a relief that I didn't mess up the jacket and I can actually wear it.

The only thing I am not sure is the big gap between the last and 2nd last button. I'm not sure if I should add something there to balance it out. But if I put something there then perhaps it would draw attention to the gap. What do you think? Should I do something to hide the gap or should I just leave it alone?

10 comments:

  1. This looks fantastic - what a job, though. I have to admit I didn't notice the missing button at all, until you drew my attention to it. It may be a case of leave well alone - especially with all the layers around there.

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    1. Thanks Sarah Liz! It was tough going for a while there but I'm glad I carried on. I'm just glad that I have a nice, soft and warm leather jacket to wear in the end.

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  2. With the way the waist is sewn, I would say just leave it-it looks like it should be that way. You and I must be built the same way, as I have the same short waist and what is known as the "Olson shelf". I hate how I find clothes that don't fit in the front, but there is a ton of fabric at the back. I think it looks fantastic!

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    1. Thanks Tami Lee! I have never heard of the 'Olson shelf' - how interesting! How is your thrifting going these days? ;-)

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    2. LOL, Olson is my great grandmother's last name-us curvy girls in the family inherited her 'shelf'. Yeah, my skinny sisters don't have it.

      I have found some awesome items thifting lately. I need to get some photos taken, which I planned on doing today, but my daughter had a chance of overtime so I have my darling grand daughter today :)

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    3. Oh I see. The Olson shelf is a family heirloom, right? ;-) My heirloom is the tummy bulge, hahahahah! Looking forward to your awesome thrifted items!

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  3. Nice job! You got a great refashion here - from practically unwearable to fantastic!

    I didn't even notice the gap until you mentioned it, so I'd just go with it. If it's bothering you though, you could always attach a belt or something there. I wouldn't bother messing with adding a buttonhole though.

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    1. Thanks Heather! Love your tips in your leather jacket refashion - so informative! Perhaps I really should leave it alone since I can't replicate that professional looking bound buttonhole like the other ones on this jacket.

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  4. WOW! You did a great job with this!!! Congratulations!! I think it looks perfect in the front, no problems with the button spacing. With the seaming, it does not look like a gap to me. It looks that is part of the design. I really admire how you jumped in and accomplished this so well. It looks like a professional did it! Impressive! Good for you!!!!

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    1. Thanks very much for your comment! I was willing to jump in because it was only a $9.99 piece of thrifted garment. If it were more expensive I would be more scared to cut into it. I will have to test wear it out one day (when it's not -30C) to see if the large gap at the waist will cause the jacket to open up too much. If so I guess I will have to wear a belt.

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