How to Make a Denim Jacket
Durable and versatile, a denim jacket is suitable for most occasions during all but the coldest months of the year. Some fashionistas say that denim jackets had their heyday in the late 1980s or early 1990s, but they're still easy to spot in storefront displays, and denim is still so common and so comfortable a fabric that it rarely looks out of place. If you're so enamored of denim jackets that you want to make your own, the process is simple as long as you know how to use a sewing machine.
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Things You'll Need
- Jacket pattern
- Pins
- Denim fabric
- Fabric scissors
- Tailor's chalk
- Measuring tape
- Iron
- Sewing machine
- Denim needle
- Thread
- Metal buttons
Instructions
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1
Cut out the jacket pattern pieces. Lay out the denim fabric and pin the jacket pattern pieces to the fabric. Cut out around the pattern outlines, one at a time. Mark 1/2 or 1/4-inch seam allowances around the edges of the fabric.
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2
Make V-shaped notches along curved seams before sewing. This allows seams to lie flat and minimizes bulk in the finished jacket.
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3
Sew jacket pieces together, using a sewing machine fitted with a needle designed for use with denim. A regular sewing machine needle is prone to breakage if used on denim. Start by sewing the back and back side pieces of the jacket together and then sew the front and front side pieces together. After that, sew the front and back of the jacket together at the shoulders and side seams.
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4
Hem the raw edges of the jacket, and serge stitch the hems to finish raw edges and prevent raveling. Press all seam allowances flat with an iron, then press them open.
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5
Sew the sleeves. Then, set the sleeves into the body of the jacket. Set the sleeves with the wrong sides of the sleeves and the jackets facing out. Match up the seams and pin together. Position each pin perpendicular to the seam line and place each pin 1/8 inch apart. Sew in place slowly and carefully to prevent puckering.
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6
Measure and mark where you want the buttons and button holes. Space buttons and holes evenly along the sides of the front opening of the jacket. Sew in the metal buttons and create the button holes using a buttonhole stitch on your machine. If desired, add buttons to the cuffs of the sleeves as well.
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Tips & Warnings
Add personal touches to your jacket to make it stand out, such as a contrasting liner fabric or by sewing a colorful fabric over the collar or cuffs. Add decorative studs to trim the jacket.
References
- Photo Credit casual woman with denim jacket posing image by Galina Barskaya from Fotolia.com
