Upcycle a Quilt Into a Warm Jacket - No Pattern

Two things that keep you nice and cozy are quilts and jackets. Why not combine both and created a quilted jacket?

I used some existing clothes to help me create the pattern for this jacket. I’ll walk you through what I did.

First find your fabric. I used a old store bought quilt that had a few stains that I couldn’t get out so it was no longer suitable for my bed.

Head to your local thrift store if you don’t have something on hand.

Next, find an existing garment that fits you well. Ideally another jacket. Don’t worry we will not be cutting your clothing piece.

I used a shirt, so I had to do a bit more measuring to make sure my end result would be a jacket and not a shirt.

Fabric Scissors

Needle and thread

Old Quilt

bias tape to finish raw edges

well fitting existing garment

Optional:

rotary cutter

cutting mat

ruler

sewing machine

measuring tape

thimble

For the front panels, I suggest cutting out the 2 panels at the same to t ensure that they are they same size. To do this you will fold your chosen garment in half so that the side seams below the armpits line up and the shoulder seams line up. Place this onto of the folded fabric.

You can use something like a mug or a few bags to hold your garment in place are you cut. Cutting around the sleeve for the front piece can be a little tricky I suggest taking your time. You can hold the seam down and lift the sleeve as you cut or your can tuck the sleeve into itself and make it look more like a tank top. The point is to get an accurate cut of the seam that attaches the sleeve to the garment.

You will cut the fabric about 5/8 inch away from your garment. The reason we are cutting a little away from the garment is to allow for seam allowance. You may find it easier to use a pencil to mark this before cutting.

Once your garment is all traced out on your folded fabric, it’s time to cut.

The back is very similar to the front panels, The only exception is that you will match the fold of your chosen garment to the fold of the fabric. Once cut out this will give you a symmetrical back piece.

Fold your shirt in half so that the side seams below the armpits line up and the shoulder seams on top line up. You will then place this on top of your fabric and match the fold of the garment with the fold of your fabric.

Trace the seam allowance of 5/8 inch and cut out pattern the same way you did with the front panels.

The sleeve can can be a little tricky, if you are using a short sleeve garment, put that garment on and take a measuring tape and measure from the seam of the top to your wrist or however long you want the sleeve to be. If your garment is long sleeve, then no need to measure just go ahead and use that as your guide.

To trace out your sleeve pattern you will take the top and lay it flat. Line up the seam in the armpit of the sleeve as well as the seam that connects the sleeve to the rest of the garment. (Please view photos if you need more visuals)

You will place the outer sleeve fold on top of the fold on your fabric. If you measured your garment, you will measure form the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the fabric. Leave a little extra fabric to finish the seam so you do not have a raw seam. Go ahead and cut.

To cut out the second sleeve you can place you already cut out sleeve folded in half onto of a folded piece of fabric. Matching the folds. You do not need to add the 5/8 seam allowance because the sleeve pattern already include those measurements.

All seams are made with a 5/8 seam allowance.

To assemble the from and the back you will want to place the piece wrong sides facing. This is place the ugly seams on the inside of the finished jacket inside of on the outside for all to see.

Match the sides and sew from the bottom of the jacket to the bottom of the armpit. Do not sew the arm holes shut.

Match the top shoulder seams together and sew those. Do the same for the other side.

Let’s assemble the coat. Take the sleeves and sew them together, wrong sides together. (My fabric did not have a wrong side, but this is good to note if your fabric has a different pattern on each side)

You will sew the armpit of the sleeve down to the bottom of the sleeve. Do this for both. And set aside.

To sew the sleeves on the rest of the jacket you will need to turn the sleeve right sides out. You will then turn the jacket body in side out. Take the sleeve and place it inside the jacket so that the right side of the sleeve is touching the right side of the jacket body. Line up the seam of the sleeve to the seam on the jacket body near the armpit. This part was too thick for my machine so I decided to hand stitch it using a whip stitch.

Do this to both sleeves.

Now that your jacket is assembled, You may want to make changes to sleeve length, jacket length, and neckline, if you wish.

Once your jacket is how you like it, you can use bias tape to finishes the raw edges.

Pick out and outfit and rock your new cozy and warm quilted jacket!

as always, feel free to ask me any questions regarding this instructable. I am always happy to clarify steps or add more information if needed. Happy Sewing!