How to Make Jackets out of a Chenille Bedspread

Get out your sewing kit and you can make a new jacket today!

By using an old chenille bedspread and a few hours of your time, a new wardrobe item is at your fingertips. You can create a fashionable light jacket that is attractive and fun to make!

Things You'll Need

• Chenille bedspread
• Extra large T-shirt (used as pattern) or an existing jacket pattern
• 2 large sheets of tissue paper
• Sharp scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• 1/2 inch wide elastic (2 feet long)
• Needle for hand stitching
• 3 to 4 large, colorful buttons
• Appliques, ribbons or other decorative items (optional)

Instructions

Prepare a Pattern

1. 

   Load your sewing machine with thread to match your chenille fabric.

   Select a chenille bedspread that is no longer used, and wash it to remove stains and to set sizing. Chenille fabrics in bold colors work best.

2. Lay the bedspread flat and find sections that are in good shape, not threadbare or faded.

3. 

   Use sharp scissors to cut fabric to keep your edges crisp and strong.

   Use any commercially sold pattern, or make your own. Use a T-shirt that is extra large as a pattern. Lay the T-shirt on tissue paper and draw an outline about 2 inches wider than the actual shirt. The jacket should be loose and flowing, so plan for extra width at side seams and arm pits. Add length for long sleeves on to the paper. Add 5/8" seam allowance to the outline of the jacket pieces. Cut out the outline and you will have a pattern for the back of your jacket.

4. The front pattern pieces for each side must cross the garment's center, allowing overrlap for buttons or other fastening devices, and room for turning over the raw ends.
   Take the pattern and fold 3 inches past the center. Trace this image on tissue paper to use as pattern for the jacket front.

5. Lay the jacket back pattern onto the bedspread, pin in place, and carefully cut out the back of your jacket. Be careful to cut according to the pattern and expect the edges to shed a little as you cut.

   Fold the bedspread lengthwise (matching the direction of the jacket back to account for nap), and pin the jacket front pattern in place. Cut carefully. You should finish with two pieces for the jacket front that will meet in the front after assembly.

Assemble the Pieces

1. 

   Bead head pins are easy to see and to handle. Use plenty of pins (about 1 inch long) to help keep your fabic in place for cutting.

   Remove the pattern from the fabric pieces and set aside one of the jacket front pieces. Lay the jacket back on a flat surface, with the chenille side facing up. Lay one of the jacket front pieces, chenille side down, on top of the corresponding back. Pin together from the the neckline, down the shoulder and to the end of the outer edge of the sleeve. Also pin from inner edge to the sleeve to the armpit and down the side of the jacket.

2. 

   Don't rush while you sew. Keep fabric from bunching, and loose chenille fibers from catching in the stitches.

   Set the stitch size on your sewing machine at 10 stitches/inch, and thread with matching colored thread. Carefully stitch seams at the pinned areas, leaving a 5/8" seam allowance.

   After sewing one side, remove the pins and place the second front side in place. Sew as before.

   Option: To keep the fabric from raveling, finish seams with zigzag stitches, or with a surging machine. Try on the the jacket and adjust seams and length to fit as desired.

3. 

   Use elastic to gather hem at sleeve bottoms. Adjust the length to fit the wrists of the jacket wearer.

   Finish your jacket by turning in the edges about an inch, and pin in place. Stitch a hem about 1/8 of an inch from the inside edge, being careful to sew in a straight line. At the wrist areas, leave a 1/2-inch opening. Cut the elastic strip in half and thread a section through each hem at the wrists areas. Adjust length to fit size and tie off. This will create a gathered wristband for your jacket.

4. 

   Choose buttons that contrast with the color of the chenille. Stitch them to the left side of the jacket and add buttonholes or loop fasteners to the right side.

   Finish your jacket by sewing buttons in place on the left side of the jacket. On the right side, you can sew buttonholes, or make loops from extra chenille or with ribbons.

Tips & Warnings

• You can create pockets by cutting out 4-inch-square fabric pieces and sewing them on top of the jacket front. Turn over the edges, and pin in place before sewing. Additional interest can be added with appliques, ribbons or extra buttons.

• Most bedspreads will have enough fabric to make several items. Consider making matching jackets for little "best friends" or sisters. Matching scarves, gloves or tote bags are other options.

• When working with chenille, shedding can occur when you cut the fabric. Clean up with vacuum or a damp cloth to gather fibers.

• Keep track of scissors, loose pins and needles, especially around young children or pets.

References

• The Everything Sewing Book, Sandra Detrixhe; 2004

Resources

• Sewing Simple
• Simple Sewing Projects