DIY: Thrifted coat - Boring to unique...

I've been looking at this coat for a while. I thrifted it a while back and have barely worn it because it was nothing special...it just wasn't "me" enough! Well, one night as I was trying to sleep, I had a lightbulb moment.
And now I bring this moment to you!
In this tutorial you will be shown how to add trimming to the cuffs, bottom and pockets of your jacket, but you can add whatever to any part of the jacket you like!

What you will need:

~ A jacket or coat, or whatever you feel obliged to pretty up

~ Pins (and a pincushion, a cupcake one will make the experience more joyful)

~ Scissors

~ Measuring tape

~ Fabric of your choice (as much as you think  you need! Depending on how much of the coat/jacket you desire to cover)

~ Sewing machine

~ A needle and cotton!

 

 

 

STEP 1 (cuffs)



Measure the length around the cuffs of your coat. Write it down (unless you trust your brain wholeheartedly), and add a 1cm seam allowance on each end (so, 2cm in total, ;) )


STEP 2

Work out how thick you want the trimming on your sleeves. I wanted mine relatively thin so I decided on 3cm. Add a 1cm seam allowance on each side, so I cut 5cm.


STEP 3

Cut two lengths of the necessary length and width. Unless you're an octopus. Then cut eight.


STEP 4

Fold in your seam allowances and pin the strips  to the cuff! I found it easiest to fold in the ends and one side of the strip and hand sew (yes, hand sew. Good luck sewing around a cuff on my bulky sewing machine!)  the folded side, and then  fold the next side in. It saves all the pins getting in your way! Sew, sew, sew!


STEP 5 (bottom)

Spread out your coat/jacket on the floor and take out your measuring tape. Spread out your arms like you're telling mummy how much you love her and measure the total length!
Then figure out how thick you want this trimming. I chose 5cm. Then add a 1cm seam allowance all the way round (you do the math here, my brain hurts) and cut yourself a nice long strip like this one!

 

Pin it on the bottom of the coat in the same manner you did the cuffs. (I forgots to take a picture, but you catch my drift (I hope!!))

Then sew!

 

 



STEP 6 (pockets!!)

 

This bit is a little bit difficult. If you were lucky unlike me, and have square pockets, cut a square with a 1cm seam allowance  and hand sew it on. Easy, right? Well, I wasn't so lucky. I got weird pockets.

 

Okay so,  measure your pocket width. Then, add a 1cm seam allowance (surprise!!!). Cut a sort of  quarter-circle shape. Then, place it face down on the fabric and cut around it. You should get something like this:

 

 

 

Pin it on to your coat. This is a  bit fiddly, getting it in the right shape, folding in the seam allowance and then pinning it. I believe in you. You can do it!

 

 

Now you are on the home stretch. Grab your needle and thread and sew all the way round! Careful not to sew up your pocket along the way.

 

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand......

 

 

 

You're done!

 

 

TADA!

 

 

 

Now, go look pretty!

 

 

<3

 

 

xxx