Moto Jacket Upcycle for Jennuine Design Blog Tour

Jennuine Design has an incredible Moto Jacket pdf sewing pattern for kids and today I'm showing how I used the pattern and a couple thrifted items to upcycle a really sharp-looking moto jacket for my almost-eight year old son.

Disclosure: The links to Jennuine Design in this post are affiliate links.  I received this pattern for free, but there were no strings attached.  (I didn't even have to do this tour - I just wanted to.)  The opinions here are my own.  If they are interesting or helpful to you and you decide to buy the pattern (or any of her others), I'd be so grateful if you'd use my link/s. 

This unisex pattern is perfect for those looking for pdf sewing patterns for tweens, patterns with a wide size range, and sewing patterns for boys.  At the end of this post you can watch a video of my favorite tool for marking fabric (especially for the quilted lining) and read about a couple other tools that were helpful for this project.

If you are stopping by from the Moto Jacket Blog Tour - welcome - please take a look around.  I've blogged about other Jennuine Design patterns: Verona Dress Verona Dress here and Haven Acres Collection here.  If you are a regular here at Sew Not Perfect, be sure to visit the Jennuine Design blog, A Jennuine Life, to see the other blog tour participants and enter the fantastic giveaway Jenn is hosting during the tour!  Imagine Gnats, The Leather Hyde store, Urban Sew, Livie & Luca and more are all part of the giveaway.  Also, Jennuine Design patterns are on sale for 25% off during this tour with code MotoTour - so go shopping!

This pattern is a new favorite of mine.  Why?  I love the satisfaction of sewing a well-made garment,  even (especially) when it takes time and concentration.  This jacket is not difficult to make; neither is it quick and easy (or quick and dirty).  I'd be happy to let anyone look over this jacket inside and out - it is beautiful.  I love the facings. (notice how the lining is not made from the same pattern pieces as the outside pattern pieces?  Excellent.)  Pattern pieces, instructions and technique are all really well done - and the results are something to be pleased with!

For my jacket upcycle, I used two thrifted items from my local Goodwill store.  I rarely find exactly what I am looking for at thrift stores, but this time was pretty close.  I knew I wanted cable knit sleeves, which I found, and the color of the week was yellow, so both pieces were half off and I paid less than $5.00 total.    I bought a new jacket zipper, coordinating thread, batting for the quilted lining and I already had the flannel skull and crossbones fabric in my stash.  It was a remnant and cost less than $2.00.  If you want to upcycle a garment or two for this jacket, be sure to look for original items that are very large and in very good condition.

The main fabric came from a microfiber sueded men's XL sport jacket.  I used my seam ripper to separate the lining from the outer fabric, and then took off the sleeves and collar (progress photo on IG).  Then I took it apart at the shoulder seams.  I folded the back on it's back seam and placed the pattern piece for the Moto Jacket on the fold.  I used the right front of the men's jacket to cut the large front piece of the Moto Jacket and used the sleeve and part of the other front of the jacket to cut the two pieces for the other side of the Moto Jacket front.  The facings were cut from a sleeve and leftover front fabric.  I also used the lining from the jacket for the Moto Jacket pocket bags.  I used the sleeves from the cable knit sweater for the Moto Jacket sleeves by lining up the bottom of the sleeve pattern piece with the end ribbing of the original sleeve and cut away from the original seam.  Then I sewed and serged a new seam in the sleeve.  (Be sure to serge or finish similarly - this type of knit will very easily fray and unravel!)  I cut the collar from the original ribbing at the bottom hem of the sweater (I serged the raw edge of this as well, even though it doesn't show in the end).  I still have tons of fabric from both items left over - enough to make a handbag and dress for my daughter, at least.

I quilted my lining fabric for extra warmth and structure using 100% natural cotton batting from JoAnn Fabric.  The quilted lining is worth the little bit of extra time.  I've never quilted anything before, but it took no time and was a breeze with the proper foot attachment on my machine.  The inside of the jacket has a beautiful, clean finish, including bound edges where the sleeves attach to the main jacket.

If you aren't familiar with patterns from Jennuine Design - they really are excellent.  The tutorials are beautiful with clear, precise directions and illustrations.  Some people say they don't like illustrations, they prefer actual photos, but I really wonder if they have seen these illustrations.  They are better than photos, because she can use transparent layers to show things (like a zipper) sandwiched between layers of fabric, which you can't show in photos.  I had never sewn a welt pocket before - but the instructions were clear and simple.  I had never shortened a zipper before, but again, between the pdf instructions and the video Jenn made, I had no trouble at all,  In fact, I felt kind of awesome.  They didn't sell the zipper color I wanted even close to the length I needed, so I shortened this zipper by about 6".  You'd never know.  I did it myself with one tool that was already in our garage.

I'd like to thank two particular sewing assistants for the success of this project.  Without them, I would have had a much more difficult time.  The first is Elmer.  We go all the way back to elementary school, and although Elmer has always been around, we have spent a lot more time together since I began sewing.  Elmer has a knack at keeping things in place so they don't shift during sewing.  You've probably met him, too - Elmer's Glue Stick.  I use it to keep the zipper tacked down before sewing.  I already have it around the house, and it washes right out.  My second sewing assistant is Walker.  Walker has the right touch with thicker fabrics, especially for sewing over layers of fabric.  Walker and I are new friends.  In fact, he has been hanging around for a while but this was our first actual project together.  I could not have quilted the lining or attached the quilted lining to the collar or main fabric without him.  I like to refer to him as Walker Foot - my walking foot.  If you are afraid of your walking foot (like I was), now is the time to become dear friends!  It wasn't bad at all - in fact, I think we will be spending a lot more time together.

On a related note, do you use Pilot Frixon pens?  They are great for marking many fabrics (I also use them to trace embroidery deisgns).  I used a Pilot Frixon pen to mark the lines I wanted to stitch to make the quilted lining for the jacket.  You can find them in many office supply stores.  I buy mine at Staples or my local quilt shop (here is a not-affiliate link if you haven't seen them before).  I made a quick video to show how the ink disappears when ironed.  (The ink looked a lot darker when I was taking the video - it isn't as clear watching the video).

I can't wait to sew this pattern with leather.  What materials or fabric will you use to make your Jennuine Design Moto Jacket?  

Don't forget:

• The Moto Jacket pattern and all her other patterns are 25% off right now with the code MotoTour
• The amazing giveaway going on at A Jennuine Life
• The Moto Jacket Tour continues at these other great blogs:

Reyna Lay ma me mi mo Beri Bee Designs From a Box

Friends Stitched Together Sew Not Perfect Climbing the Willow Sew Shelly Sew

The College Seamstress Rebel and Malice Sew Cool for the Tween Scene Gingerbear

PenSeb&Rox Just Add Fabric Call Ajaire Create3.5

Project Destash Milk Monster Momma Miss Castelinhos All Things Katy

The Good Ones Stage Stack T-Shirt, or similar ones, can be found at this link

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