Directions to Make Lab Coats

If you can't get a lab coat that fits or you want something more colorful, try making your own.

You can make home-made lab coats, but for the best result begin with a purchased pattern. You will find lab coat patterns in either the uni-sex or the uniforms section of the pattern book or website. Look for a basic design, with the pattern marked "easy." The ideal lab coat pattern for a someone new to sewing will have, at most, five main pattern pieces; coat front, back, sleeve, collar and pocket. Look for fabric treated with stain-resistant coating to make washing easier.

Things You'll Need

• Lab coat pattern
• Steam iron
• Fabric, approximately 5 yards long and 45 inches wide
• Straight pins
• Interfacing
• Scissors
• Over-lock sewing machine
• Straight stitch/zigzag sewing machine

Instructions

1. Read the specifications on the back of the pattern envelope to determine the exact amount of fabric needed to make the lab coat in your size. The amount of fabric varies widely according to size so this is the only way to make sure you get the amount you need.

2. Iron the fabric with the steam iron to shrink the fabric. This will save you the trouble of making a lab coat that fits and then having it shrink in the wash.

3. Pin the pattern pieces to the fabric, following the cutting directions marked on the pattern. The back will be cut along the fold and directional grain-lines to follow will be marked with arrows.

4. Cut out the pattern pieces by following the lines marked for your size.

5. Check each pattern piece to see if the writing on it says to cut one piece from interfacing. The collar and neckline are the places most likely to require interfacing. If interfacing is required, place the pattern piece, with the fabric still attached, on top of the interfacing, pin it down, and cut out around the piece.

6. Check the pattern directions to determine the sewing order for the pieces. Sew the pieces together, using the over-lock machine, according to the directions. The over-lock machine will cut off the excess fabric from the fabric's raw edge while making a strong, finished seam.

7. Position the pockets according to the pattern directions and sew them on by top-stitching 1/8 inch from the folded edge, using the straight stitch sewing machine.

8. Sew across the bottom edge of the coat using the over-lock machine. Fold the bottom edge of the lab coat under 1/4 inch, pin it in place, hem the lab coat and top-stitch around the collar/neckline area using the straight stitch sewing machine.

9. Remove all of the pins.

Tips & Warnings

• If you desire buttonholes and buttons, place the paper pattern front over the front of the lab coat, and position the buttonholes and buttons according to the marks on the pattern. Sew the buttonholes using a tight zigzag stitch and hand sew the buttons in place.

References

• Sewing & Craft Alliance: Straight Stitching
• New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service: Over-Lock Sewing