Making my first leather jacket- the shell is done

[Mark G]

Great job!!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

That is something to be proud of.

Cheers

 

[fishmeok]

Jacket 2 is complete...

Here's a bunch of pics of the completed coat- I'm pretty happy with it, though I wish I hadn't used a vintage Talon zipper- it's a little more fragile than I would have liked. Still have some issues with topstitching, but that's what practice is for.
Cheers
Mark

 

[fishmeok]

More detail shots:

Original collar over the new:

 

[fishmeok]

And a couple more...

 

[Edward]

Looks great!

 

[fishmeok]

I just put this jacket in the classifieds to help fund my jacket-making adventures.
Cheers
Mark

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Mark,

What you are doing here is extraordinary and of great interest to many of us.

Looking forward to hearing about your next jacket making endeavors.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

James.

 

[Boris K]

.

Excellent work! Looks great.

 

[fishmeok]

Thanks all- check out the pics in the classifieds I took last night- the grain on this leather is incredible, I had NO idea it was going to pop like that. Too bad it's a one-off hide, I would have liked to find more of it. I'm about halfway through the next jacket, should have it done in a few days.
Cheers
Mark

 

[carter]

I just put this jacket in the classifieds to help fund my jacket-making adventures.
Cheers
Mark

Mark, Watching and reading about this endeavor has been fascinating. I am impressed by your skill and your persistence!

What happened with the original jacket? Do you intend to sell it as well?

 

[Jerekson]

Holy cow, that's amazing.

I could never, in a hundred years, picture myself making my own leather jacket. You have skill my friend. One might consider going to the next level with your abilities.

 

[fishmeok]

It's all about the time- we have a baby coming Tuesday and this jacket thing takes a tremendous amount of it (time I mean, not baby). It's been almost a year since I set out to teach myself to make jackets, and my grand production total is two. I cut up that first one I made to salvage the zipper (which I then cut too short for the next jacket anyway) because I was so off on the dimensions it would never look right, even on a really big guy. The leather was garbage too- last time I buy a hide without physically looking at it first.

I hope to be able to make coats for people someday, but it's going to be a long time coming...:eusa_booh
Cheers
Mark

 

[feltfan]

An outstanding effort that will only look better as it ages. :eusa_clap

And hey, babies don't take much time or effort, right?

 

[Akubra Man]

I just finished reading this whole thread and want to tell you I admire you for what you have accomplished. Cheers

 

[Artigas]

Very cool. I would be proud to wear one of your creations. :eusa_clap Good luck with the baby!

 

[HGalindez]

Where did you purchase the hides from? Looks like russet horsehide.

 

[Fletch]

Just what I was thinking with those fine wrinkles. It's actually cow.

 

[I Simonius]

I'm impressed:eusa_clap

 

[fishmeok]

Jacket #3 Done!

The russet cowhide was just a lucky find- I had no idea it was going to look so much like horse after it was assembled.

Here's jacket number 3. I made it a little roomier than #2 and used a darker hide. I also used tan thread for the contrast, but am having some topstiching issues I need to re-do, I think my machine is out of whack again (70+ year old machine). I like how this one turned out though. I added a leather strip along the liner by the zipper, and used a Dubow A-2 pattern for the collar. This one will also be for sale after I play with it for a bit.
Cheers
Mark

 

[Artigas]

Very dignified. I don't mean to pry, but do you find making the jackets to your dimensions allows them to be a good fit for your average man? Or is it a fairly rare fellow that will fit the garment as well as you?