Modify A Sportcoat to a Kilt Jacket: Website is up

[beerbecue]

Nice website, and excellent detail on the recent post. The new figures you did really make it much clearer...

Now, perhaps off to the thrift store.....

[Colin]

Nice Work Alan H!!!

You have really put the effort into this thread to help people that may be looking to alter a jacket. The pics, diagrams, and text were great and I am sure will be a great help to everyone wanting to do this project.

About the only thing I can add, is have a bunch of pictures of the jacket you want, before you start cutting. If you want an argyle, find a bunch of different photos on line and print them off as a reference. It helps to know what you want the final project to look like.

The centre back vent may be an issue, but if you just want a casual jacket to go with a kilt, I am sure you can work around the centre vent issue.

[Moosehead]

Actually, closing the centre vent should be a non-issue. Only takes about 20 minutes to do, and simply involves a bit of pressing and re-sewing to match the remainder of the seam. Just remember to do it before hemming. Highland Regiments do not get special-made cutaway tunics. They simply have the unit/base tailor do the mods.

[Tartan Hiker]

Here is a photo of my modified jacket. I'm not sure I would have tackled the job myself if I had not read Alan's wonderful article.

I did stray from the suggestions a bit. Note that I never could find one with patch pockets, but found that if I tucked the flaps into the pockets and sewed them shut carefully they became far less noticable. I also started with a jacket that was a bit too big for me (I'm a 42 Long, and the jacket was a 46 Regular), figuring that I could always remove extra material. Finally, I pressed and then tacked down the lapels first, then cut and hemmed to match them rather than the other way around.
It certainly is not perfect, but I think it's very passable, especially for the $5.84 I paid for the jacket.

Oh, and I also had to close the single rear vent and found it to be no big deal at all. Tweed hides a multitude of sins.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=16635

[Alan H]

Here is a photo of my modified jacket. I'm not sure I would have tackled the job myself if I had not read Alan's wonderful article.

Oh, and I also had to close the single rear vent and found it to be no big deal at all. Tweed hides a multitude of sins.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=16635

Thanks for the kind comments about the article, and you did a great job on the jacket. You didn't trim it too short, which is what I did, though mine isn't a total disaster. You even beat me on the price, at under six bucks!

You closed up the center back vent, eh? Huh...OK, well you're sure right on this.."tweed hides a multitude of sins"...THAT is for sure! I'd consider trying to close up a center back vent on a tweed jacket, no way would I try on a solid-color jacket.

[GlassMan]

I took an old jacket to a tailor yesterday and described the changes you mentioned for modifying it into a kilt jacket. I'm a horror with a sewing machine or a needle & thread, so I figured I'd take it to a professional.

He wanted over $100 to do the work! Needless to say I'd rather just buy a new jacket than pay that much. I may just have to try it myself and see how badly I mess it up.

[Southern Breeze]

I took an old jacket to a tailor yesterday and described the changes you mentioned for modifying it into a kilt jacket. I'm a horror with a sewing machine or a needle & thread, so I figured I'd take it to a professional.

He wanted over $100 to do the work! Needless to say I'd rather just buy a new jacket than pay that much. I may just have to try it myself and see how badly I mess it up.

You might be able to find a worn out jacket or two in a thrift store. This can be done for less than $20.00 with luck and shopping around. Once you've practiced on them you can buy a nicer one for the final product.

[way2fractious]

I'm a horror with a sewing machine or a needle & thread... I may just have to try it myself and see how badly I mess it up.

Let's see... this is from someone who has the skill to create glass artwork and play the violin, and the patience to read theology.

Just breathe deeply and visualize... then take the threaded needle in one hand and the thrift store tweed in the other... become part of the fabric of life...

Think of it as "fabric art!"

[O'Neille]

Alan said "Do not buy a jacket that looks like this!!!!!! NO!"

The gray jacket you see me in in some pictures had a center vent but was an older very fitted jacket. Closing up the center vent was about an extra half hours work. The hard part is getting the seam lined up to make it look perfect. Here is a link to mine, bought it on 50 cent Saturday and bought another jacket for the silver buttons. http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...1&page=1&pp=10
Quite a bit of hand stitching attaching epaulettes (?sp) and transitioning to machine stitching. So this jacket is a couple hours and cost a dollar. O'Neille

[Mattg]

Alan, thanks for putting that up! I've been wanting to do that but I wasn't sure how to go about it. Thanks!