Modify A Sportcoat to a Kilt Jacket: Website is up

**Moosehead** · 23rd March 06, 10:23 AM

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** · 23rd March 06, 01:53 PM

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** · 23rd March 06, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 23rd March 06, 10:26 PM

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** · 24th March 06, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 24th March 06, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by GlassMan

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!"

**GlassMan** · 26th March 06, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by way2fractious

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!"

I'm better sewing by hand than I am with a machine (I don't do much well with a machine!) but for some reason I'm just never satisfied with the results of regular sewing. I've actually done cross-stitch and embroidery for relaxation (inside the firehouse since I couldn't really take my whole glass studio to work with me) and I'm very good at that. But for some reason actual useful items of clothing are beyond me and I don't know why.

One of those bizarre mysteries of life.

But maybe I just need to try and relax more when I'm doing it. I think part of my problem is that I feel pressure when I'm trying to sew something that's actually going to be worn, but when it is simply decorative I feel relaxed. I don't respond well to pressure anymore. (Oddly enough, I never felt pressure or stress when I was running into a burning building. That was FUN!)

**Alan H** · 8th May 06, 11:54 AM

I think I'm going to do a bit more work on my jacket. I'm going to putt the old patch pockets off, from where they lie under the "hip slit" and edge-stitch them in like I describe in the article. that's going to free up a bunch of tweed (I threw the old extra tweed out already, I'm kicking myself for that) and will make those ersatz pocket flaps.

Now that I've seen three "modified' kilt jackets, I'm wishing that I'd been patient and made the epaulettes, they add a whole different look to the jacket. Maybe when I move the old patch pockets and the re-do the hip slit, there'll be enough for epaulettes left over, but I'm not holidng my breath.

**Southern Breeze** · 23rd July 06, 07:16 PM

Yet another bump for those who want to do this after seeing David Dalglish's jacket:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=19628

**O'Neille** · 24th July 06, 10:55 AM

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