If a leather jacket has lost its appearance, is frayed, or is simply out of fashion, do not throw it away. It's better to first learn how to remake a leather jacket into a modern and stylish one.
The problem of changing the appearance of clothing is very relevant. Firstly, because of fashion trends. It often happens that a new and fashionable thing looks hopelessly outdated already in the next season, so redoing it is a matter of not only saving money, but also meeting the latest trends. Secondly, fashion changes cyclically, and sometimes it’s enough just to update clothes a little to make it modern.
As for leather jackets, this is a kind of classic: it is relevant in almost any season. Over time, the shape of the cut changes mainly. Therefore, sometimes it is enough just to learn how to transform a leather jacket into a fashionable one so that it corresponds to the latest trends. The result will be not only stylish, but also original. And, what’s especially nice, the probability of meeting another person wearing the same jacket tends to zero.
Bags made from an old leather jacket
To make a shaped bag from colored or monochrome leather, you can use any template. If you choose an elongated barrel style, it will fit perfectly into a sporty style and will serve the owner for a long time. A material such as leather is strong and durable; the main thing is to decide how long the handles should be.
Original and large bags are made from pieces of leather. The finishing touch will be a zipper of 2-3 pieces. pockets on the inside for small items.
Price issue
The cost of altering a leather jacket depends on the amount of work to be done and starts from 500 rubles. You can view the full price list here
JACKET, COAT, CLOAK (LEATHER)
JACKET, COAT, CLOAK (LEATHER)
| TYPE OF WORK | Price, rub.) |
| Replacing a zipper | from 2000 |
| Replacing a zipper (with complicating elements: strips, edgings, frames) | from 2500 |
| Shorten length | from 2000 |
| Shorten sleeve (regular) | from 1500 |
| Shorten the sleeve (by piping the sleeve) | from 2500 |
| Shorten the sleeve (by moving the cuffs) | from 2000 |
| Shorten sleeve with zipper (biker jacket) | from 2500 |
| Sew the side seams (without touching the sleeve) | from 1500 |
| Sew side seams (including sleeve) | from 1800 |
| Sew side seams with belt (jacket) | from 2000 |
| Narrow the sleeve (without insulation) | from 2000 |
| Narrow the sleeve (with insulation) | from 2500 |
| Shorten the shoulder | from 2000 |
| Replacement lining (jacket) | from 2500 |
| Replacing the lining (raincoat) | from 3000 |
| Replacing the fur collar | from 2500 |
| Replacing fur trim on sleeves | from 2000 |
| Replacing the fur trim along the bottom | from 3000 |
| Replacing the fur trim on the sides | from 4000 |
| Replacing the fur trim of the hood | from 2500 |
| Replacing the hood with a collar | from 2500 |
| Making a new hood | from 2500 |
| Seal the gap | from 500 |
| Replacing a product element | from 2000 |
| Minor repairs | from 300 |
| Sew a button | from 150 |
| Hinge (hinged) | from 500 |
| Loop (frame) | from 600 |
| Add a button | from 200 |
| Pocket repair | from 600 |
| Treatment with professional dyes (jacket) | from 4000 |
| Treatment with professional dyes (coat, raincoat) | from 6000 |
| Fit to fit | from 7000 |
| Recover (full) | from 18000 |
Leather for repairs is paid separately.
When performing repair work not specified in the price list, the cost of completing the order is negotiable.
Cases for smartphones, laptops, tablets
Most often, jacket sleeves are used to make a phone case. It is necessary to turn them inside out and cut a piece of material into the required shape.
Important!
The product must be sewn along the edges, taking into account the indentation.
To sew a tablet case, two front parts of the product are used. You need to cut two equal pieces and sew them together. You can use a zipper as a fastener or choose a simpler and more interesting option in the form of a lace.
Pieces of fabric can be used to make decorative elements for the front side of the cover.
For a laptop, you can make a case in the shape of a book cover. Having prepared a piece of fabric of the required size and cut it to shape, sew it with a hand stitch through a loop.
Removing stains
Restoring an item involves removing stains. While dust and dried dirt can be removed with a damp cloth or brush, some dirt is difficult to remove. The best way to freshen a leather jacket so that the item is guaranteed not to deteriorate is to take it to the dry cleaner. At home, you can use gasoline or acetone to combat problem stains. You need to lower the gauze into the chosen product and carefully treat the area with it. Finally, you should use a protective or restorative cream for your leather jacket. Before using gasoline or acetone, you need to test on an inconspicuous area of the item. Depending on the type of stain, you can try different products to remove them:
- The best way to remove rust from leather is gasoline. The stain is removed using a sponge soaked in the composition.
- Salt stains can be removed with ordinary vinegar. You need to apply it to a napkin and wipe the problem areas with it.
- If traces of oil or greasy stains appear on the jacket, they are removed with glycerin oil. It is mixed with a small amount of water, gauze is moistened in the resulting solution, and the problem area is treated. Finally, wipe the area with a dry cloth.
- If there are traces of a ballpoint pen on the item, they can be removed with any alcohol-containing product. Such compositions are safe, they are suitable even for light-colored items.
You need to be careful when working with products made from white, beige, or coffee-colored leather. Aggressive cleaning products can cause the color to wash out, making the item unsuitable for further wear. To correct the situation and prevent fading, it is better to use regular alcohol.
Gasoline removes rust
Salt stains can be removed with vinegar
Oil marks and greasy stains can be removed with glycerin oil.
Marks from a ballpoint pen can be removed with an alcohol-containing product.
For white, beige, coffee-colored leather, use alcohol
Blazer
A long leather jacket can be converted into a blazer by cutting off the unnecessary bottom portion. You need to leave a few centimeters of fabric to tuck when sewing.
Then you need to make a seam using a machine. If you use jackets of different colors, you will get a very interesting and original jacket that will make the owner stand out from the crowd. As a fastener, you can use a zipper or a more unusual option - loops and buttons.
Interesting!
A fake pocket that can be made on the left side wouldn't hurt.
A jacket is the most common wardrobe item that can easily be made from an unwanted leather jacket.
How to freshen up the appearance of a jacket
Over time, a leather jacket wears out and abrasions appear on the top layer. Fortunately, these changes are easy to fix:
- First, the jacket must be cleaned by wiping with a damp cotton cloth.
- You can soften the natural material of the upper with a colorless cream; already at this stage the jacket will take on a renewed look.
- Choose a suitable shade of paint and paint your favorite jacket at home. There are paints for sale for different types of leather and suede.
Attention! Before use, it would be good to test the paint on an area hidden from view, for example, on the inside of a pocket.
Interior elements
There is no need to rush and throw away worn leather pieces; they can be painted and made into interesting objects for decorating a room, such as photo frames or vases.
Leather flowers look original and can be made as follows:
- cut out the petals of the required shape;
- For volume, it is recommended to fry in a frying pan;
- connect to each other using glue.
Leather flowers look great collected in a bouquet or on a brooch that any girl would be happy to wear.
For reference!
You can decorate jackets, bags, gloves and other wardrobe items with flowers.
Second life of an old leather jacket
As for jackets, including those made of leather, they have a huge advantage over other types of clothing: it is quite easy to return them to their former luster. Leather jackets are durable, so even with long-term storage they do not lose much in appearance. Therefore, it is usually not difficult to repair them.
Brooch
An old jacket can be used to make another piece of jewelry for women, like a brooch. You need to prepare pieces of leather of different colors, glue and a frying pan.
Cut out several circles of different sizes and place them one by one in a hot frying pan. Once they begin to curl on the sides, you need to pull them out. Then wait until it cools down and start gluing. You need to combine the pieces one by one, finishing with a pin, which should be attached at the bottom.
Having altered jackets to a new model
With a complete overhaul, the operating principles are the same as described above. To begin with, the product should be pinned to a flat surface. Then completely open, straighten and smooth out its individual parts. After this, you can start cutting out new parts according to the pattern.
The most difficult operations for inexperienced tailors are joining seams and finishing details. For beginners, the seams are rough, and the corners are thick and sloppy. In general, considerable experience is required here. So, if you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better not to take it. Otherwise, there is a risk that you will hopelessly ruin the item.
Decorative pillows and pillowcases
To make a pillow, you need to cut two squares from a large piece of leather and sew them on the sides, add the inside and sew them up. You can use cotton wool, foam rubber and much more as padding.
To make a pillowcase, it is recommended to use soft leather. This decorative element will decorate any interior.
Our guarantees
We guarantee high quality clothing repair and our other services. Quality guarantees at Mobile Tailor are:
- more than 10 years of experience
- modern sewing equipment made in Germany, Switzerland and Japan
- highly qualified craftsmen who already have a regular clientele
- our clients, including well-known brands , for example, the Denim Symphony chain of stores, Lee-Wrangler, Modis, Familia
- our responsibility to landlords.
You can find guarantees for the safety of products and guarantees for work performed in this section.
Flower pots
It is necessary to prepare a piece of leather and cut it into thin strips, and then weave it. The weaving option can be any; specialized magazines present a huge selection of techniques.
You can use the following method:
- braid six braids;
- secure the upper part with a margin of 4 cm for the screed;
- fix;
- connect the lower part in the same way, leaving the ends longer;
- insert the flower pot and secure.
Thus, we got an original flowerpot that will diversify any interior.
Pricing factors
The price of altering a leather jacket can vary widely. The following factors influence the cost of work:
- Task type.
- Volume and complexity of work.
- Master's qualification.
- Equipment and tools used.
- Product condition.
- The company's rating and popularity, its pricing policy.
- Urgency.
- The need to deliver the product by courier.
- Skin type.
- Product model.
The larger and more complex the work, the more expensive it costs. You will have to pay more for urgent orders. Well-known companies equipped with modern equipment set higher prices for their services. The more experienced the master, the more his work will be valued. If the product needs to be delivered by courier, then you will have to pay extra for this service.
Apron
You can also make an apron out of a jacket; it is not necessary to use a complex cut. It could be a simple product. It is necessary to make an apron pattern from leather and sew a large pocket on the front side.
Strips are attached to the side, connecting the back or front. This apron will last as long as possible, it is resistant to moisture and can be easily wiped with a cloth. Suitable for work in production.
Shine
One of the main qualities of a leather jacket is its shine. Most young guys polish their clothes until they practically shine.
Previously, when there was no clothing care product or it was difficult to get, fashionistas rubbed leather products with regular onion. The acids it contains create a healthy shine, but unfortunately the smell is then quite difficult to hide. In the modern world, there are many ways to update a black leather jacket and give it shine.
One of these was the use of egg white, which is whipped and applied to the product. When soaked in the composition, the skin becomes soft and more elastic.
Surface joints and cracks are smoothed out, and the surface becomes smooth and shiny.
You can also use lemon. You need to squeeze it into a liter of water and add 1 teaspoon of alcohol. After bathing in soapy water, the jacket is treated with the composition and hung out to dry.
Do not leave the product to dry in the sun, as the acids included in the composition may begin to react.
Fashionable vest
Another stylish wardrobe element is a vest, which can be made from a jacket by first cutting off the sleeves. If there is a zipper, you need to sew buttons instead.
Depending on your preferred length, you can shorten the product. You can add dark buttons as decoration.
Decorating
If it is not possible to alter the product, the defects are very noticeable, you can try to bring life back with the help of clothing decor. There are a huge number of options on how to remake a leather jacket with your own hands, so we will consider only the most common ones.
Dye
If your clothes can still be restored to their previous appearance, do not rush to use them on small accessories. Perhaps it will be enough to paint the scuffs and creases with a special paint for leather:
- The first step is to purchase a special paint for natural leather at a shoe or outerwear store.
- Next, degrease the paint surface and let it dry for about three hours.
- Afterwards, carefully apply the paint on one layer with a brush, wait for it to dry completely and paint with a second layer.
- After this procedure, the jacket must be left to dry overnight. Only after the product has completely dried can you apply a special fixer to it - glossy or matte, depending on your jacket.
Aerosol paints are also available for sale. There is less work to do with them, since they just need to be sprayed onto the painting surface and wait for it to dry.
Important! This is a more convenient method, but you should be well prepared so as not to stain yourself and everything around the jacket. Work with aerosol only with gloves, and place a layer of newspapers under the product to be painted.
There is another very simple option for changing the color of natural leather. To do this, the product must be immersed in bleach for some time. This jacket can be combined with Boho style elements and a light summer dress.
Patches
If the paint does not cope with the defect, you can emboss or patch the jacket. If you choose the right materials, you can easily turn an old leather jacket into a fashionable designer item.
Materials that work well with genuine leather include:
- suede leather;
- drape;
- fur;
- knitwear;
- leatherette and other materials that can be selected depending on the color and texture of your product.
Decor elements
It’s easy to decorate the jacket using bright accessories. Take a colored zipper or buttons, sew on an applique or make seams from contrasting threads - get creative and you will definitely get a bright result! A jacket with a combination of different elements can look truly stylish.
Decor details:
- buttons;
- sequins;
- rivets;
- rhinestones;
- embroidery;
- drawing;
- stripes;
- beads;
- lace;
- stones;
- chains.
Important! Most of the accessories can be purchased at fabric stores. If we talk about stripes, you can always find ready-made options on sale, or you can make them yourself, for example, from a picture from old clothes.
Depending on the elements, you can easily create a product in different styles and easily update your wardrobe.
Slippers
Leather house shoes are very easy to make; all you need to do is prepare a ready-made template. It is important to measure your foot size correctly and use thick cardboard for the sole. From one jacket you can get 2-3 pairs of slippers, if not more.
When clothes lose their original appearance, do not despair and remake them. Perhaps it can still be fixed. Many things can be fixed with paint, which restores its former shine in many cases. To do this, you need to buy a special product for natural leather. You can purchase paint at a shoe or outerwear store.
Then wipe the material with a degreasing liquid and leave to dry for at least 3 hours. Using a brush, paint the product, wait until it dries completely, and then apply another coat. After the jacket is completely dry, coat it with a special fixative. If nothing can fix the item, you can give it a new life in the form of another wardrobe item.
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Rework process
- The jacket is ripped out at those seams that cannot be used in the new model. Pockets, the middle back seam, and the front seam of a two-seam sleeve can often be left unchanged.
Attention! The leather is ironed at low temperature without steam; you can use an ironing iron (a piece of cotton fabric).
- The pattern pieces are applied on the front side, so no defects will be missed. Textured irregularities can be placed in places where they will not be very noticeable. The pattern is outlined with a special rod, and special marks are applied in the right places, replacing notches on the fabric.
Attention ! The pattern needs to be tested; it will be almost impossible to make further changes during sewing. Traces of old stitching can ruin the best work.
- We glue the prepared parts with non-woven material along the edge of the side, armhole, neck and bottom of the sleeves and bodice. The jacket stretches a lot when worn, duplicating will help avoid stretched hem and armholes.
The procedure for sewing a leather item is not much different from any other item:
- We process the back and shelves separately and assemble them into a bodice.
- At the same time, we assemble the sleeves.
- We assemble the finished bodice and sleeves and cover them with lining.
When sewing seams on leather, there is no way to iron them out like on fabric, so we use prepared glue to secure the seam allowance. The allowance itself and the part along the seam are processed with glue, the allowances are laid out and pressed.
Important! After hardening, the glue should retain the plastic properties of the skin and not turn into a hard crust.
Before stitching, we tap complex knots where there are several seams with a regular hammer, or with a mallet if the leather is delicate and easily damaged.
Ideas for leather jackets (selection)
Do not chip the skin with pins. Punctures leave marks on the leather, and if you change the zipper on a leather jacket or bag or jacket, you can easily see this.
Soft leather can be sewn on a sewing machine using a regular #80 or #90 needle. But for sewing rough leather or thickened areas, a special needle for working with leather is required. Even for hand sewing leather, the leather needle looks special, instead of a point it has a triangular tip. When sewing leather, the stitch length of a sewing machine should not be too small, since frequent punctures will cause the leather to tear at the joints.
You need to cut the leather with a special shoe knife on a plastic board or plexiglass. You can also use a wooden surface, but then the tip of the knife will cut into the wood. A shoe knife, rubber glue, adhesive seam enhancers, a thimble, strong synthetic threads and a small hammer with an awl - this is a must-have kit for any home furrier who decides to replace a zipper in a bag or repair a torn section of a leather jacket.
Technology of sewing genuine leather and suede
When sewing suede products, you need to take into account the direction of the pile, otherwise the parts will have a different shade. The leather is ironed from the wrong side with a low-heat iron without steam through a dry cloth. To prevent the top part from stretching relative to the other, purchase a special foot with a Teflon-coated sole, as in this photo. Teflon feet cost much less than special leather feet. The ends of the seam threads must be securely fixed with several knots, since machine stitches on leather products do not secure them and therefore they tend to unravel easily.
Working with leather is impossible without glue. The glue is applied with a brush onto a cleaned and degreased surface. Universal adhesives such as PVA and Moment, as well as rubber glue, are very effective. Repeat the procedure of applying glue several times to thoroughly saturate the skin. At the same time, make sure in advance that the glue is not too liquid, otherwise the skin will get wet. Set the parts treated with glue aside until the adhesive has dried “before casting”. After some time, connect the parts together. Place the glued parts under the press. You can even lightly tap these areas with a hammer. Using a cotton swab or rag, immediately remove excess adhesive solution so that it does not damage the front surface of the leather.
What kind of sewing machine can you use to sew leather?
Not every sewing machine can sew leather; treat your sewing machine with care and do not try to sew thick and rough fabrics, leather products, especially bags. As a last resort, you can use a Podolsk or Singer manual sewing machine, but not modern “seamstresses”, which cost 5 thousand rubles. To work with leather, special industrial sewing machines are provided or, as a last resort, the instructions should indicate that this machine can be used to sew leather clothes.
If you sew leather on a household sewing machine, be sure to buy special needles and a foot, with a wheel (as in the photo) or a roller. Then the skin under the foot will not “slip” and the machine will easily advance the product without forming a seat on the top layer of leather.
If you don’t have a foot or it doesn’t fit (Podolsk sewing machine), then in order to make the leather move easier under the foot, you can sew it through thin paper, which can then be easily removed.
Sewing machine threads need to be strong and elastic. But only nylon threads (as in this photo) are not intended for machine sewing. They are only used for manual leather work or industrial sewing machines.
