How to Turn a Fur Coat Into a Fur Jacket

You might want to turn a fur coat into a fur jacket for a number of reasons. Perhaps the lower portion of the coat has been damaged but the rest is in good shape. Maybe you think the coat would look more stylish as a jacket, or you would wear it more often if it was shorter. It might take a bit of nerve to actually cut off the bottom of your fur coat, but this type of alteration is easy to do yourself and does not require much sewing knowledge or any special tools.

Things You'll Need

• Sturdy scissors
• Sharp, thick needle
• T-pins or large dressmaker pins
• Coat thread
• Measuring tape or yardstick
• Double-sided adhesive fabric tape
• Iron

Instructions

1. Measure the length of the fur coat with a tape measure or yardstick. Decide how long you want the fur jacket to be and add one inch (for the new hem) to that number. Subtract this total from the length of the coat. This is how much of the coat you will need to cut off.

2. Mark where to cut the coat. Measuring from the bottom of the hem, mark the length to cut off from Step 1 by placing T-pins or large dressmaker pins every three to four inches through both the fur and the fabric lining.

3. Cut carefully along the pin-marked line with sturdy scissors that can cut leather.

4. Pull the coat lining to three inches above the cut line. Turn up the edge of the fur one inch and fold it over, leather side to leather side. Apply double-sided adhesive fabric tape to the inside of the fold and press in place firmly.

5. Turn up the coat lining about 1 1/2 inches from the cut edge (so that the raw edge is underneath). Press it with an iron. Pin the lining to the fur hem with T-pins or large dressmaker pins.

6. Thread a sharp, thick needle with strong coat thread in a matching color. Slip-stitch the lining in place along the fur hem all around. Knot the thread and secure it underneath the lining. Press the edges on the side of the lining if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not make the iron too hot or you could scorch the lining or the fur.

References

• Fur Services: Repairs
• The Washingtonian: Making an Old Coat New