Jacket Conversion, how difficult?

[Casey_in_Carolina]

Ok, so I'm invited to a wedding next month, and am thinking of wearing my kilt. It's a USAK Casual, but I think it would be fine dressed up a bit. I don't currently have any kilt jackets, and I don't have the money to go out and purchase a nice kilt jacket.

What I was thinking was that I might be able to pick up a jacket and vest at a local GoodWill store or Thrift Shop, and then try to convert them for wear with the kilt.

Now, I have absolutely no experience with any kind of sewing endeavors, unless you want to count sewing pseudo-leather with imitation sinew way back when at summer camp. I think I can get access to a sewing machine, and probably figure out how to use it without too much difficulty.

Overall, how difficult is it to convert a regular jacket or sports coat into a kilt jacket, and what all is involved? My kilt is in the Clark/Clergy tartan, so I was thinking if I could find a grey tweed, or just plain grey jacket and vest, they would be perfect to dress up the blue in the tartan. I would also think the grey would be versatile enough that I could dress it up and down from casual day wear, to nice evening wear.

Thoughts on difficulty for a neophyte to make the conversion in time for a wedding?

Thanks for your input,


Casey

[Kerr the Walker]

If you dont' count sewing buttons, I had zero experience when I attempted my jacket conversion. If you follow the steps in the sticky on jacket conversion by F-H.C.A.G. you'll be all set. The pictures and the play-by-play are brilliant and will walk you right through it. I read through the tutorial several times to make sure I had a general idea in my head of what to do, then just propped the laptop up next to where I was working so I could reference the pictures and make sure what I was doing matched (for the most part) what I was supposed to be doing. I did mine by hand since I didn't have access to a sewing machine and it took a few evenings to complete. With a sewing machine it would probably go even more quickly.

Good luck!

[jmercier]

I did a jacket conversion, having never sewn before in my life, and it took me a few hours and a lot of stabbing my finger, but it came out fine. I'd make sure you start with a jacket with sewn-on pockets rather than slit-pockets, unless the slits happen to be below the line where you're cutting the jacket down.

[piperdbh]

I've had three conversions done, and had all of them done by someone else. I paid $36 to have a $5 Goodwill tweed jacket cut down, and it took about a week and half to get it back from the local alteration shop. It might be worth having a pro do it, but you're in good hands following the F.-H.C.A.G.'s advice, too.

[Spartan]

There are some members of the forum who will do jacket conversions for a very reasonable price, and have experience doing them. ChattanCat is currently doing a Harris Tweed jacket for me. My wife picked it up at a rummage sale for $5.

BTW, I also have a Clark/Clergy kilt. Check out this thread >> http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/n...x.html?t=47724

[Casey_in_Carolina]

If you dont' count sewing buttons, I had zero experience when I attempted my jacket conversion. If you follow the steps in the sticky on jacket conversion by F-H.C.A.G. you'll be all set.
Good luck!

I looked at the sticky, and I have to say, it looks scary. I didn't notice any reference to measurements or anything like that? How do you determine where to cut the jacket? Is there a generic amount to be removed for a given size jacket, or does it vary from jacket to jacket. If it must be measured specifically, where do you make the measurements to?

I'm trying to get my nerve up for this, and am planning to head out thrift shop hunting this weekend. The lack of measurements makes me nervous though. I've done some carpentry work, assisting my father and father-in-law before, and really like the fact that with specific measurements, things always fit together. As long as you measure and cut correctly, it will fit. I guess I like that because it's not something I do all the time.

I'm just terribly nervous that I'll screw something up I think. I guess this is the way it goes though, when you don't have the money to spend, you've got to make do with what you can. Still nervous about the prospect though.


Casey

[beloitpiper]

I've converted two jackets, and perviously had no sewing instruction. Although, it DID help to already have an argyle jacket to look at, but if you follow F.-H.C.A.G.'s instructions, I think you'll do fine. And even if you don't, you're only down $5!

[Kerr the Walker]

I measured to right around the bottom of the fell on the kilt. The distance from the current hem of the jacket to the bottom of the fell is how much to cut off. I kind of eyeballed the cut-away for the sporran on the front on one side then traced it onto a piece of paper so the other side would match.

Before you cut, fold up the hem of the jacket to where you meansured to and pin it up there. Try it on with the kilt to see generally how it'll look. I'm a big fan of "measure twice, cut once."

I looked at a TON of pictures here on Xmarks and elsewhere to get an idea of what the final product should be before I started cutting.

I looked at the sticky, and I have to say, it looks scary. I didn't notice any reference to measurements or anything like that? How do you determine where to cut the jacket? Is there a generic amount to be removed for a given size jacket, or does it vary from jacket to jacket. If it must be measured specifically, where do you make the measurements to?

I'm trying to get my nerve up for this, and am planning to head out thrift shop hunting this weekend. The lack of measurements makes me nervous though. I've done some carpentry work, assisting my father and father-in-law before, and really like the fact that with specific measurements, things always fit together. As long as you measure and cut correctly, it will fit. I guess I like that because it's not something I do all the time.

I'm just terribly nervous that I'll screw something up I think. I guess this is the way it goes though, when you don't have the money to spend, you've got to make do with what you can. Still nervous about the prospect though.


Casey

[fluter]

I measured to right around the bottom of the fell on the kilt. The distance from the current hem of the jacket to the bottom of the fell is how much to cut off.

Alternatively, if the sleeves' length fits you, aim for the jacket hem to be from the end of the sleeves to about 2 inches above them.

Reading over the many threads on conversions, I find a preference for

1. Tweeds are pretty forgiving of modifications and apprentice seamsters.
2. Patch pockets are easier to remove or move gracefully; but "regular" slit pockets may work. Either one may need to be shortened.
3. Side vents seem to look better than center vents when shortened. No vent works fine on a kilt-length jacket.


I try to eyeball the pockets in relation to the sleeves and projected hem length, especially slit pockets. I think there is a proper term of art for "slit pocket," but I don't remember it.

[Bugbear]

I strongly suggest googling and reading up on how jackets are constructed before doing a conversion; I'm talking about the internal construction and interfacing.

Otherwise, you could have it converted by someone on the forum, and not worry about all the tinkering.
I do happen to be in the middle of converting a jacket and it has slit pockets that I have raised the flaps on, as well as, pleating in the back to form the flap rather than vents. It's an experimental conversion and design.