Scrappy Jean Jacket

Carry your favorite fabric collections with you on the back of a purchased Jean Jacket.  This quick to make project will also help you show off heavier decorative thread for textural dimension.  If you’re really inspired you can jazz up the collar, cuffs and top of the pockets as well.  Get creative!

Skill Level: Beginner

Created By: Linda Pacini, Baby Lock Training and Education Team

Download full project instructions here.

Getting Creative:

First step, read through all of the instructions before you tackle your project!  There are tips that will help you get the results you want!  

Lay your jacket down on a flat surface and smooth it out.  Resist the temptation to use a spray basting spray!  This will only create issues when you try to stitch decorative thread on top of the fabric (ask me how I know!).  I preferred the method of grabbing a piece at a time of the fabric and stitching it in place as a went.  You’ll be stitching down one length of the jacket back and layering the fabric as you go.  

Instructions: 

Now that you understand the technique, let’s get started.  Pay attention to your stash of fabric and try to introduce different hues of color and scale of prints to the mix.  

* Starting at the top left of the jacket, lay the first strip down.
* Thread your machine with contrasting thread in both the bobbin and needle.
* Choose a stitch length of 3 mm.  We want those stitches to show!
* Layer the fabric as you go down.
* After the first row down is stitched, walk the machine stitching across the bottom of the fabric, close to the bottom of the inset on your jacket.
* Add the second row and continue in this fashion until the entire back is covered.
* If you find that the fabric is shifting on you as you add additional rows, pause and begin adding additional rows of stitching to the fabrics that have already been sewn to the back.
* Once the back is completely covered, take the time to trim any fabric that extends from the defined back area so that you have a clearly contained back panel.
* Introduce a second or even a third color of decorative thread to keep the fabric in place.  You’ll want to really stitch heavily so that you don’t lose any strips when it comes time to washing your jacket!

Additional Tips:

* If this is your first time using heavier thread in your Accomplish 2, be sure to follow the instructions for threading in your user’s manual.
* If you plan on using lots of heavier weight thread on your machine, perhaps consider purchasing a second bobbin case for that purpose so you don’t have to spend a lot of time testing your stitching when you go back to regular sewing thread.