How to properly iron a leather jacket and leatherette products: the intricacies of ironing and alternative solutions

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It often happens that your favorite item becomes too big in size and does not fit your body type. Sometimes we get clothes from relatives or are bought in a hurry at a sale, but then it turns out that they are too tight on the shoulders or are not the right length. Don’t throw quality products into a landfill because of this. You can solve the problem yourself. Today we will tell you how to sew a leather jacket with your own hands at home, without resorting to the services of expensive workshops.

How to straighten a piece of leather?

5 ways to smooth out a wrinkled leather jacket

1. Let it hang out If your jacket is made of thin leather, hang it on a hanger for a couple of days, after buttoning and straightening the collar and hems. ...
2. Steam...
3. Use a press...
4. Take your jacket to the dry cleaner

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How to sew a jacket at the waist?

This is the simplest option for tailoring a jacket to your figure. You just need to add new stitches along the side seams at the waist.

To do this, you need to rip the lining at the bottom of the jacket to open free access to the side seams. The location of new stitches must be determined in advance by trying on the jacket over the corresponding clothing, and mark them with chalk or contrasting threads.

The marked seams must be sewn on a machine with a stitch width the same size as on factory seams.

Similar work must be done with the seams on the lining.

After this, you need to try on the jacket and, after making sure of the result, smooth out the seams and sew on the lining.

Advice from Mobile Tailor

There is an opinion that in order to reduce the size of a leather jacket, it must be soaked in water. We categorically do not recommend doing this, since the result can be completely unpredictable. Leather items are “afraid” of water. The coloring of the product may lose its uniformity. After such a procedure, the skin may become deformed, become brittle, dry out in some places, and these changes will be irreversible. Therefore, if you are not sure that everything will work out as it should, contact our studio. We will help you quickly, professionally and inexpensively!

Deciding on the size and style of the jacket

Anyone who has ever dealt with leather knows that it has the unpleasant property of stretching. It happens that you buy shoes in your size, or even, as usual, with extra space for socks, and then they are gone! - and great. And this applies not only to shoes, but also to all leather items.

• In order not to make a mistake with your purchase, you need to know how to choose a leather jacket by size:

1. You should try on a leather jacket not on a thick sweater or jacket, but on a thin raglan or even a T-shirt.

2. Under no circumstances should a leather jacket be too big on you, not even half a centimeter! Don't trust the flattery of salespeople who often insist that you need to leave extra for a warm sweater. Even if the sleeve is even a little larger or wider, after a couple of months it will hang down, like in a Harlequin suit.

3. If you like the leather jacket, but it doesn’t fit right, don’t be afraid and go to the checkout with peace of mind. This is the kind of leather item that will fit you perfectly and will stretch to fit your figure over time.

• In addition, you should choose a leather jacket based on style.

As a rule, genuine leather is not cheap, so the investment in the form of a purchase must be thoughtful. When going to the store, consider:

- the style of your wardrobe;

- the color scheme of your toilets.

In addition, it is important to analyze what the leather jacket will be worn with. Today there are a huge variety of design solutions for a leather jacket, but it is not at all necessary that they will suit you. For example, a popular leather biker jacket does not go well with a business suit and stilettos, the same can be said about a classic leather jacket in tandem with sweatpants.

Don't forget about hats too. When buying a leather jacket for the winter, study what fashionable winter hats are now. The final result of the image will depend on the combination of both.

How to sew a jacket in several sizes?

If the jacket is several sizes too large, it is better to entrust its alteration to the jacket repair from Mobile Tailor. But if you have enough free time, you can try and cope with the problem yourself.

You need to attach tracing paper with a pattern to the jacket and mark the location of future seams, as well as the suturing lines. Turn the jacket inside out and rip out the lining. Use a sewing machine to make new seams, then use scissors to carefully rip apart the factory stitches, cutting off the excess material so that there is an allowance of about one centimeter wide.

Likewise, the lining must be reduced to fit the new dimensions of the product.

The jacket and lining must be aligned at the seams and the ripped seams on the lining must be sewn.

Bringing back its former freshness

When everything is done, and it is known how and where to alter a leather jacket, the question arises of restoring the presentable appearance of the leather product. After all, an old jacket usually has some visible or invisible defects. First of all, these are kinks, abrasions, cuts and other deformation conditions. We need to get rid of this urgently. In retail there are many special coloring agents that allow you to add newness to an altered product. In addition, if the damaged area is difficult to paint, or the defect cannot be hidden, decoration comes to the rescue. Embossing or a stylishly selected applique is applied to the problem area. The material, suede, cashmere, drape and other fabrics are selected based on the texture of the leather product.

You can update a leather product with the help of additional decor.

Advice! The highlight of the design solution can be the play of color contrast, the use of additional accessories, for example, buttons, rivets, decorative aiguillettes or steel chains.

Eliminating wrinkles in leatherette

Faux leather is popular, it looks no worse than real leather, but costs several times less. A variety of products are made from leather substitute: from handbags to raincoats. The basic ironing rules are the same for natural and artificial leather. In order not to spoil the item and achieve the desired result, you should follow the ironing recommendations.

• Only from the inside out. Under no circumstances (even through fabric) is it recommended to iron a jacket or other leatherette product from the outside. The upper part of the leatherette quickly melts, sticks to the sole of the iron, and lags behind the cotton lining.
• Fabric pad. The item must be turned inside out, and thick fabric must be placed between the front parts (it is recommended to put rolled towels into the sleeves). Otherwise, parts of the product may stick together under the influence of heat.
• Temperature conditions. Faux leather is often much thinner than genuine leather, so the temperature regime is set to a minimum. This will prevent the material from melting. When ironing, steam mode is not used. Faux leather can be steamed, but only from the reverse side.

Artificial leather products can be effectively straightened using alternative methods without the use of household appliances. Features of the use of skin substitute smoothing products are described in the table.

Table - Methods for smoothing leatherette products

After any procedures, the leatherette is left to “rest” in a straightened form on a hanger in a hanging position. The product should not be hung near heating appliances or in a draft.

Hot water

Another easy way is to simply run the outside of your leather jacket under hot water. It is necessary to ensure that the streams flow exactly along the outside of the product and do not fall inside.

In this case, the jacket is also worn over several items and worn for a certain period of time, which is more significant than in previous stretch options. Ideally, a person walks in such a wet jacket for at least 6 hours. This way the product can actually take the right size.

Important! In this case, restrictions on bending the arms at the elbow joints also apply. And in long garments you should not sit down, so as not to stretch the jacket at the hips.

Using these simple tips, you can slightly stretch leather products and achieve a more comfortable fit for the item on a person.

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Effective Ways to Stretch

Before using the methods listed below, wear a few thick sweaters. This is necessary in order to put a leather jacket over them for effective stretching. If the product needs to be increased by half a size, you can use the sweater method yourself. Put them on with a jacket and walk for 3 hours.

Hot water and glycerin

1. Fill a clean bucket/basin with very hot running water (do not combine it with cold water). Place the container in the bath so that the hole is directly under the tap. Place the jacket in the basin; it should completely submerge in the water.
2. After this, turn on the hot water so that the pressure is low (to maintain temperature). Water should flow for 1-1.5 hours, this is how much time it will take to completely saturate a medium-density product. If your jacket is made of tough leather, soak it in hot water for 30-60 minutes longer.
3. You can tell whether a jacket is wet or not by its color. If the product is completely saturated with moisture, the shade will be uniform without any stains. After the expiration date, lift the jacket and touch it, the surface should be soft and warm, at this moment the product is ready to stretch.
4. Hang the jacket on hangers after wrapping them with a thick towel. Fasten the zipper. Take a lot of plastic bags, fill them with clothes, seal the holes with tape and put them in your jacket. Don't forget to fill the sleeves if they need to be stretched too. You need to follow the same principle as when drying shoes with newspapers, with only one difference - do not leave any room for air circulation. The end result should be a hard, padded jacket that even a brush cannot fit into.
5. After stuffing, hang the jacket in fresh air, avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Wait for it to dry completely, it usually takes 10-12 hours. After this period, bring the product into the apartment and take liquid glycerin, it will draw out excess moisture and prevent the skin from shrinking after removing the stuffing.
6. Dampen a soft cloth (preferably a thick sponge or cotton wool wrapped in cotton) in glycerin and evenly treat the entire surface several times, without removing the padding. Make sure that there are no smudges; after treating the jacket, send it back to the balcony, wait another 14-16 hours until it is completely absorbed. When the time is up, you can take out the bags of clothes and enjoy the result.

Soap and hot water

1. Before you start processing the product, prepare a soap solution. Mix 200 ml. liquid soap or clear shower gel (fragrance-free!), dilute the composition in 300 ml. boiling water, shake and pour the solution into a spray bottle with a dispenser.
2. Soak the jacket in hot water for 1 hour, maintaining the temperature constantly. Take a thick plastic film, lay it on the floor and secure it with tape around the entire perimeter. Remove the jacket from the water (the product should still be warm), sprinkle it with a large amount of soap solution. Treat both the outside and inside of the product.
3. Put on a jacket with warm sweaters, fasten the zipper and wait 1.5 hours. At the end of the period, remove the product and repeat the previous steps (soaking, processing). After this, put on your sweaters and jacket again, wait 2.5-3 hours.

Important!

If you don't want to bother with using a soap solution, purchase a spray for stretching leather shoes at a specialty store. Treat the outside with it; do not soak the product in hot water before doing this. Put on your sweaters and jacket, zip up and wait a couple of hours. Remove the jacket and let it dry naturally. If necessary, repeat the procedure again.

Do not shorten the exposure time; when using hot water, the product must be thoroughly soaked. Use colorless and odorless soap to avoid streaks after drying. It doesn’t matter for what reasons you decided to resort to the procedure, the main thing is that there are effective methods for stretching a jacket at home.

How to sew a leather jacket?

If you still decide to alter a leather jacket yourself , then you should first prepare a pattern. The product must be opened and laid out on the work table. Place the pattern on the skin and trace the contours of each part with chalk.

Attention ! It is necessary to leave allowances 1-2 cm wide at the top and sides, 2-3 cm along the bottom line.

Natural leather must be cut with sharp scissors exactly along the intended contours. Each part must be reinforced with non-woven fabric. When working with leather, keep in mind that needle marks remain on it, so basting cannot be done.

To ensure that the leather does not move during stitching, you need to install a special Teflon foot and a thick needle on the sewing machine. It is better to sew the skin with stitches of three millimeters.

• Is it possible to wash a leather jacket or is it better to choose another cleaning method?

After completing the operations, the jacket must be turned inside out and ironed. The allowances are glued and left to dry.

Fur trim and accessories

The leather jacket itself looks expensive and stylish, and if it also has trims made of natural fur, then you feel almost like a queen in such attire. How to choose a leather jacket with fur so that it brings the least hassle? There are not many secrets here, the main thing is that the fur is natural and can be removed. Such rules are provoked by banal bad weather, which can turn a fur collar into a washcloth.

You need to understand that the presence of fur trim raises the price of the jacket, but it also looks much more luxurious. Which fur to choose is a personal matter for everyone . If you have the opportunity to sort through, discard the Arctic fox in demi-season models, it is afraid of moisture, but is good for the winter. In the off-season, it is better to look for a model with beaver fur.

But you need to be able to present even the most beautiful jacket by choosing the right clothes and accessories. Today it is fashionable to wear a scarf, which helps add zest to your wardrobe, creating a more harmonious outfit. A classic black leather jacket can be diluted with a fashionable blue scarf, and a thin mink fur scarf is perfect for your winter wardrobe.

In any case, you need to follow the basic rules of style and then the image will turn out perfect, and a leather jacket will delight you for many years, if you do not forget about the practical recommendations for choosing it.

Ineffective and not recommended methods

In order not to waste time and not spoil an expensive item, it is worth knowing what methods should not be taken in the fight against large folds and creases:

1. One of the most ineffective methods for ironing out a leather jacket is to let it sag. It is possible to restore an attractive appearance to a product only if the item hangs for a long time in a room with high humidity.
2. Smoothing a jacket with hot air. Hot and dry air will make leather items rough and tough. This method will not only fail to get rid of bruises, but it may also lead to the formation of new defects on the product.
3. Smoothing a jacket with hot water. High temperature water will have a detrimental effect on leather outerwear. The product will lose its original shape and also lose color.
4. Stretching folds. Using this method will not help get rid of bruises. Moreover, the appearance of the leather jacket will be completely ruined.
5. Breaking in a jacket. It will take a huge amount of time to iron a jacket this way. Therefore its use is not recommended.

Kinds

Modern fashion offers many models of leather jackets - different lengths, designs, colors. Depending on the fit, the following types are distinguished:

Shortened

This is one of the most popular cuts. It emphasizes the waist and looks great with high-waisted skinny trousers, short tops, long skirts, and dresses. The most popular bottom option is mom jeans with a gray T-shirt tucked in, loafers or ankle boots.

Traditional length

A classic option that ends at the waistline. The drawstring belt allows you to emphasize the curves of your body and add femininity to your outfit. The product can be combined with mid-rise pants, skirts, and midi-length dresses.

Long oversize

A jacket with a loose fit adds originality and slight negligence to the look. The main thing is to maintain the correct proportions. When wearing oversized outerwear, the lower part of the body should be thin due to tight-fitting items, for example, skinny jeans

The jacket has many design variations - from a classic simple style to non-standard style solutions. The item can be complemented with various details - studs, lacing, rivets, embroidery, fringe, hood, fur decorations. Popular ones are:

Jacket with spikes and rivets

Snaps and studs give the piece a bright, bold look favored by punks. It is recommended to choose simple clothes in neutral colors. Bright colors and prints are suitable for creating a catchy, eye-catching look.

Jacket with tassels or fringes

Tassels and fringes add a special seventies feel and a distinctive vintage style. A fringed biker jacket attracts attention, reminiscent of the wild west. It doesn’t matter if the fringe is on the sleeves, back or belt, it refreshes the look and makes it unusual.

Soap

Soak the jacket for 1 hour in hot water, while you prepare the solution yourself. Take 200 ml of liquid soap or shower gel and add 300 ml of boiling water to it. Remove the jacket from the water, let it drain, and then pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray the product generously. Wear a thick sweater and a jacket over it. Walk like this for 1-1.5 hours. Then repeat the procedure from start to finish, only now wear the jacket on the sweater for 3 hours. At the end, remove any remaining soap from the surface with napkins and, if necessary, hang the product to dry on the balcony.