In our article we will look at how to alter a sheepskin coat. Fashionable and stylish solutions will help bring new life to old things.
Sheepskin coat refers to a type of outerwear designed to be worn on winter days. Once upon a time, this product was quite fashionable and spoke of the financial well-being of the owner. But like all things, even a very beautiful sheepskin coat can become unstylish or simply fall into disrepair. Most often, these clothes may develop small abrasions. They spoil the appearance and make the item unusable.
But I don’t really want to throw away a product made from good leather. Therefore, it is worth putting in a little effort and your imagination to make something completely different from a sheepskin coat.
Making a vest from an old thing
Now we’ll tell you how to alter a sheepskin coat. We will consider fashionable and stylish solutions below.
One of them will be to transform a sheepskin coat into a comfortable lightweight vest that will keep you warm in the fall and spring:
- To do this, you need to remove the bottom layer of the lining, if any.
- Then cut off the sleeves. By the way, you can not completely remove the entire sleeve, but leave three quarters or half.
- Then cut off the bottom part of the product. At the same time leaving the required length.
In principle, that's all - a stylish light vest has already been created. You can decorate it with various decorative elements, change buttons, trim the edges of the sleeves and the bottom of the product with strips of fur. From the leftover leather you can make an edge for boots so that they are in the same style as the new item.
Reducing the thing
How to alter a sheepskin coat to a size smaller? To do this, you need to tear it all apart into its component parts. Then you need to reduce the edges of the parts by trimming with scissors by 1-2 centimeters.
After this, sew all the parts together, and the sheepskin coat will be one size smaller. However, if you have little experience working with leather and are unable to sew on a machine, you should not take responsibility and risk ruining the item. The best thing to do would be to take your clothes to a workshop and have them resized.
Ideas
Now let's look at other ideas on how to alter a sheepskin coat with your own hands. The imagination of craftswomen when working with leather is limitless. So, when changing from a sheepskin coat to a vest, a sufficient amount of scraps remains. They can be put into action.
You can sew warm boots with soft soles for the home. Such products are quite easy to make, and then worn with pleasure in the winter. You can also use old sheepskin coats to sew soft, warm covers for chairs, armchairs or cars. A little imagination, and an old sheepskin coat will turn into a stylish handbag and hat. You can easily sew a small blanket, decorating it with bright patterns and embroidered flowers.
It is quite simple to alter a sheepskin coat with your own hands, changing not only the size of the product, but also the shape. For example, as an option - sewing a winter poncho. It will look stylish on its owner:
- To do this, you need to cut five trapezoids of the same size from pieces of old sheepskin coat.
- Then sew them together, leaving slits for the arms and neckline.
- The edges should be trimmed with bright fur, and the poncho is ready.
Again, from the remaining pieces of leather you can create a small elegant hat, in the same style as the new thing. The exit kit will not just be beautiful, but unusual and original.
An adult sheepskin coat will make a good warm thing for a child. It will be light and warm at the same time. But it is best to entrust the sewing of a children's sheepskin coat to a master, since this item is much smaller and has a large number of small details.
Simple option
How to alter a sheepskin coat yourself if you have no skill in working with leather? To do this, you need to rip apart the entire product, then choose the pattern you like, attach it to the leather parts and trace along the contour. Don't forget about seam allowances. Then you need to sew everything on a sewing machine, carefully sealing all the seams and lines. The smoother the stitching, the neater the finished product will look.
How else can you alter a sheepskin coat?
The fashion for sheepskin coats will probably not go away for many years. And in our cold winter, this type of clothing is best suited to wear. But what styles of sheepskin coats exist, how to alter them and make a completely new interesting model? There are many varieties of sheepskin coats. These include short ones, similar to a jacket, and models sewn in a shape reminiscent of a robe. Sometimes just replacing the decorative parts of a thing changes it radically.
How to alter a sheepskin coat? Fashionable and stylish solutions offer, for example, replacing the edging of the sleeves and collar with brighter ones. Decorative furs will make the thing completely different. By cutting off the hood and sewing on a small edge, you can change the style of the sheepskin coat.
Long models can be easily shortened. And from short ones you can make a completely new thing, just by adding an original strap and decorating the shelves of the product with bright embroidery. Here's how to alter a sheepskin coat.
We style your favorite clothes
In order to give your favorite sheepskin coat a new look, you can use the technique of decorating the entire surface of the product with rhinestones. To do this, they are glued to the back or chest in a fancy pattern. The thing will turn out to be quite glamorous and unusual.
But altering a sheepskin coat with your own hands is quite simple only for those who have at least once done sewing and have at their disposal, if not a furrier’s machine that is specifically designed for leather, then at least a modern sewing machine. Without these improvised devices, it is quite difficult to make something beautiful and fashionable. But small items from old sheepskin coats are easily made using a regular sewing needle and strong thread.
However, you shouldn’t be upset and put your favorite, but no longer fashionable clothes away on the mezzanine. It is enough to come up with a style that you would like to transform an old item into and give the idea to a professional who knows how to work with leather. Such a master can always be found if desired. And after the work of a professional, the old thing will serve its owner faithfully for several more years.
A little conclusion
Now you know how to alter a sheepskin coat. We looked at fashionable and stylish solutions. We hope that the recommendations and advice will help you. Every modern woman wants to be dressed not only warmly, but also beautifully in winter. Therefore, even an old sheepskin coat, altered into a new thing, can look bright, stylish and original. It is unlikely that a second item like this will be found, and this makes the product more valuable and expensive.
Sometimes it's worth taking a risk and repurposing something that hasn't been worn for a long time. After all, spoiling an old thing, in principle, is not scary, but getting a new one, while investing only your efforts and a minimum of materials, is very profitable. The main thing is not to be afraid and take the risk of showing your imagination in the art of outerwear design.
The fashion trend is such that sheepskin coats are becoming shorter every year. If 10 years ago floor-length sheepskin coats were in fashion, today sheepskin coats with a length just below the hips, as well as bomber jackets made of tanned fabric, are valued.
If you have a sheepskin coat hanging in your closet, the length of which no longer suits you, you can safely shorten it by following these instructions
You will need
- tape measure
- marking chalk
- stationery knife
- skin needles
- strong threads
- scissors or lint clipper (a regular hair clipper will do)
- rubber hammer
- thimble
- lint brush
- sewing machine
- double sided tape
How and what to do
- Put on your sheepskin coat and decide for yourself what length you want to keep. Mark the cutting line using a marking chalk. If you plan to hem the bottom of the product, leave at least 2 cm for the hem.
- Lay the sheepskin coat on a flat surface and draw a cutting line. Make sure that the future hem is even.
- Trim off excess material with a utility knife.
- If you do not plan to fold the hem on your sheepskin coat and want to leave the open cut that is fashionable today, simply overcast it with an edging hand stitch - a furrier's stitch. But first, use a machine to remove about half a centimeter of fur from the skin along the hem. Use strong, or even reinforced, threads and thin wedge-shaped needles.
- If you consider it necessary to tuck the edge of the sheepskin coat, then carefully cut off all the fur along the hem. The width of the cut area should be equal to two widths of the hem.
- Then lay textile adhesive tape along the entire length of the hem. Fold the hem so that the tape runs clearly in the center of the hem, glue a special double-sided tape, then remove the tear-off paper part on it, fold the bottom along the hem line you marked, tap the bottom of the product with a hammer and stitch on a machine using leather needles and a Teflon foot.
Shortening a sheepskin coat is a fairly simple procedure, but only if you have all the necessary tools for this. If it is not there, then it is better not to experiment with improvised means. This can ruin the product. In that case, welcome to our studio. We will do everything extremely quickly and inexpensively.
If you damage the bottom of your sheepskin coat, it is quite easy to correct it.
You will need
- Ruler for marking ()
- Marker or pen ()
- Blade
- Comb with natural bristles
How to align the bottom of a sheepskin coat
Step 1
In the area of damage, using a ruler to mark allowances, determine the distance by which you need to reduce the length of the sheepskin coat. Add another 2 mm and fix the slider on the ruler.
Make a mark along the bottom of the sheepskin coat for the resulting value.
Step 3
Take a regular blade, wrap one side of it in paper or any material at hand so as not to cut your fingers.
Step 4
Carefully cut the strip exactly according to the markings.
At the same time, hold the blade at an angle so that it cuts only the leather of the sheepskin coat without touching the pile.
If the blade is positioned correctly, cutting the strip will be easy. The main thing is not to rush.
Step 5
Using a comb with natural bristles, comb the fur well in the cut area. You can also use a metal comb or pet brush.Hand tack all seams to prevent them from coming apart, or glue these places.
Ready!
Regardless of the quality and wear resistance of the sheepskin coat, under the influence of external and mechanical factors the leather wears out and is wiped out.
For example, if you use pockets for their intended purpose, then perforations may appear in the area of the valves and pocket entrances, which can be quite problematic to sew up manually.
At this point you can make a decorative applique.
How to fix a hole in a sheepskin coat
Step 1
On the shelves of the sheepskin coat, open the flap and pocket. We will use the pocket to restore the perforated area.
Step 2
We will need 8 strips, 4 for each shelf of the sheepskin coat. Since any natural leather always has perforations from machine stitching, it is necessary to cover these areas with appliqué.
Draw 8 stripes 1.5 cm wide on the pocket piece.
Step 3
Use a blade to cut strips.
Step 4
Comb the pile well on each of the 8 strips.Step 5
Take a cotton swab and apply leather glue or regular Moment glue to the strip.
Attention!
Under no circumstances use glue that instantly glues surfaces together. It makes the bonding area hard, rough and leaves little room for correction.This master class uses Kenda Farben professional water-based glue.
Step 6
Carefully glue the strip onto the perforation area. Press the strip firmly with your finger.
Step 7
Glue the remaining strips.
Decorative applique is ready!
In these simple ways you can restore a sheepskin coat with your own hands.
To clean sheepskin coats at home, especially light ones, use a well-dried crust of white bread. Just rub the surface of the sheepskin coat well, then shake off the crumbs. In Rus', sheepskin coats were cleaned in a similar way.Comb the crushed and matted fur of the sheepskin coat well with a comb with natural bristles, a metal comb or a pet brush. Combing intensity, as if combing out tangles. Don’t be afraid, if the product is of high quality, the pile will remain in place, the leather will not tear, and the sheepskin coat will take on a fresh look.
It's winter outside and it's time to think about how to update your winter clothing wardrobe. Not everyone has the opportunity to buy a new sheepskin coat or fur coat, but you can make something new with your own hands from old clothes. The main thing is to find an old sheepskin coat or fur coat, and your imagination and skill will replace your money.
In this article I offer one of the options that you can make from an old long sheepskin coat with your own hands. Provided that you already have experience working with fur or at least working with genuine leather, suitable tools and a Singer or PMZ sewing machine.
To get such a short sheepskin coat, you will need to cut the bottom of the sheepskin coat by at least 30 cm, and better if it can be shortened by 40 cm. You will also need to buy a plate genuine leather, good metal zipper and sheepskin fur.
Now let's see how to recut a sheepskin coat, make a hood and perform other finishing work to turn an old women's sheepskin coat into an elegant new short sheepskin coat.
I would like to note right away that I do not offer detailed training on how to shorten a sheepskin coat and how to make a hood pattern and other knowledge. If you take on working with fur, cutting fur coats or sheepskin coats, then you should already have a certain level of knowledge and experience. In this article I only provide a number of practical tips and recommendations that will be useful to you in your work.
Still, for those who have never worked with fur and don’t know where to start, I can only tell you how to shorten a sheepskin coat. Put on the clothes in which you will wear the sheepskin coat, put on the sheepskin coat itself and fasten it with all the buttons. Take a long ruler and chalk and have someone mark the cut line for the hem. To do this, your assistant needs to rest the edge of the ruler on the floor and make marks, and you need to slowly turn in small “steps.” Then remove the sheepskin coat, connect these marks and do not forget to add an allowance. This way you can determine the shortening line for the bottom of the sheepskin coat. But I repeat once again, if you have no experience, you need to start with a completely unnecessary thing that you wouldn’t mind throwing away.
As for the hood, the pattern is easy to find on the Internet. Transfer it to paper, try it on “live” from test fabric. If you need to make adjustments, and only then cut out the parts from the fur.
How to “refresh” the appearance of a sheepskin coat
It was a long and rather old sheepskin coat with a “short” collar. To refresh its appearance, I first had to take it to the dry cleaner, clean it and paint it there. All this is certainly not cheap, but a new sheepskin coat costs much more.
You will also need to buy a new layer of leather. Leather from unnecessary old things will not work; you need new and preferably patent leather, as in this photo.
Visually shiny leather looks impressive on the matte surface of a sheepskin coat, and at the same time it “refreshes” well.
The shoulder seams are the most worn place (from the bag), so I had to make these leather overlays.
Well, since the sheepskin coat was only shortened by 20 cm, the missing section of the hood had to be extended with leather. By the way, for a “full-fledged” hood pattern, you need to shorten your fur coat or sheepskin coat by 40 cm.
Split pockets are the “trouble” of any fur coat or sheepskin coat. Not only do they get worn out a lot, but they also stretch and sometimes tear. It is quite difficult to restore them; it is much easier to do it as shown in this photo. Moreover, extra accessories will only further decorate your short fur coat.
Video on how to sew a large button to a sheepskin coat.
The most difficult thing is to remake the fastener with loops and buttons so that it is not noticeable. To do this, you need to disassemble the old loops, sew them up and remove the buttons. Then stitch these strips of leather and insert a large metal or twisted zipper.
In this process, you will definitely need a sewing machine capable of sewing rough seams from genuine leather. At home, an analogue of such a machine can be a Singer or sewing machine Podolsk old hand or foot model.
It is not necessary to shift the line of the fastener, the main thing is to cover the marks from sewing on buttons and loops, and you also need to take into account the measurement of volume in the chest and waist. When installing a zipper and adjusting leather strips, it may change, check.
You can do without fur trim on the sleeves and bottom, but not in this case. Sheepskin fur here has not only a decorative purpose, but also a practical one. He increases the missing section of the sheepskin coat by 15cm. You can also use this technique, and the fur itself can be bought undyed. Firstly, it is cheaper, and secondly, it is difficult to find the right color and shade.
Undyed fur can then be quite easily dyed yourself at home.
Well, so that your “tricks” are not noticeable on the inside of the sheepskin coat, cover this area with a lining in the color of the fur of the sheepskin coat.
After completely recutting an old sheepskin coat into a sheepskin coat with a hood, even a small area remained unused - the collar of the sheepskin coat.
In this video you will see how a furrier machine works. We sew together two small pieces of fur especially for you.
