Introduction: Using Up-cycled Material to Make a 45 Inch Denim Jacket

The other day I was going through my fabric scraps and I realized I have a lot of denim material. I do not want the materials to go to waste so I am going to make them into a 45" denim jacket. Follow along to see my journey making a denim jacket.

Step 1: Materials

  • Collect all the materials you will need (about 3 yards).
  • A lot of scrap denim fabrics, if you have a lot of old denim clothing you do to use, you can cut them up and sew them together to have another fabric for your jacket. Since I have a lot of denim left over from making a collection I will use those.
  • Patterns for Jacket (you can trace over a denim jacket you previously have or get a pattern from any fabric store) Here is one online PDF: https://tinyurl.com/yy695dtz
  • Sewing machine and overlock machine
  • Pins
  • Scissors
  • Seam Ripper
  • Pack of hammer in-buttons
  • Hammer
  • Time (It can take a lot of time if you are making one for the first time. Mine took about 3 weeks, on and off).

Step 2: Overlock

Cut out pattern pieces, make sure to transfer all notches, button and buttonhole placements during the cutting process, then overlock raw edges of all the patterns.

Step 3: Edge of Center Front

Attach interfacing to the wrong side of the center front edge. Fold the edge of the center front 1/2 inches and press down. Along the top edge of the center, front sew a 1/2 inch horizontal line.

Fold another 2 inches (depending on the measurement of your pattern under to form the front facing and re-press well. The edge of the pocket bag should lay underneath. As shown in the photos.

Step 4: Pockets

** I used the lighter denim which is shown in the second and last picture to further illustrate this step**

Place the patch pockets on the jacket where you want it to go and attach with pins to keep it stable. Next, do a topstitch around the edge of the pockets. Do this for both centerpieces.

Step 5: Front/Back Yoke and Front/Back Body Pieces

Place front piece and front yoke right sides together. Sew together by sewing two stitches about 1/4 inches apart (topstitching). Do the same for back yoke and back piece (if applicable).

Step 6: Sleeves and Cuff

Sleeves:

Placing right sides together, sew the seams of the upper and lower sleeves. Press seam allowances open. Cut open sleeve using markings on the patterns. Cut sleeve open. Attach a 1/2 double bind bias tape along the cut (Pre-cut bias tape can also be used).

Cuff:

Sew the two ends of your cuff to create a circular band. Make sure to follow the notches marking for the placement of the cuffs. Press seams open.

Then stitch the cuff and sleeve right sides together, taking care to line-up the seam allowances. Turn sleeve so the wrong side is facing out, press the seam allowances towards the cuff. Fold the edge of the cuff and line up the folded edge of the cuff along the seam line, putting the seam allowance into the cuff. Pin the folded edge in place and sew a stitch on the edge of around the entire cuff.

For detailed pictures and instructions uses waistband instructions in step 8.

Step 7: Shoulder and Side Seams

For the shoulder, sew from each shoulder toward the center back, stopping both lines at center back. Placing right sides together, sew the front and back pieces together along shoulder seams. Press seam allowances open, for a nice clean finish. Repeat this technique for side seams.

Step 8: Waistband

** I am using the light blue fabric to further illustrate how I did this step**.

Fold up the waistband and press seams up towards the waistband. Fold the waistband down to the outside of the jacket's front body piece. The folded edge is pressed underneath making the waistband is even on front and back sides of the jacket's front body piece. Stitch the edges together and put stitching close to the edge of the waistband to secure it tightly onto the jacket. For a nice clean finish, press the collar.

Step 9: Collar

Attach interfacings to one of each collar piece (wrong side out) to give it structure and body. Then sew the long collar seam, sew the short collar edge seams. Trim the corners then turn the fabric right side out. Press the collar with a hot iron. After, attach the collar to the neckline. Lastly, trim the seam allowances on the Collar Stand. For a nice clean finish press the collar.

Step 10: Button and Buttonholes

Using the placement of the button and buttonholes on your pattern, mark the horizontally where each button will go. Make sure to transfer the button and buttonholes placement correctly. For the buttons mark a dot 1” from the center front edge. **This step should have been done when cutting out the patterns**

Using a sharp object such as a seam ripper, poke a hole through each dot marking. Use this hole to place the button post through from the inside of your fabric. Then use a hammer to hammer in the buttonholes. For the buttonholes, run several stitches along the button holes placement/markings before using scissors to cut it open.

Step 11: Finished

Give yourself a pat on the back and do a happy dance because your jacket is now completed! I did go back and redo some of my stitches but this is optional. Thank you for following along and have a lovely day!

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