Okay, so today I spent some time working on this old navy blue jacket I have. The front was looking a bit tired, you know? Needed some attention.
Getting Started
First thing I did was pull it out of the closet and really look at it. Laid it flat on the table. The fabric itself is still good, nice strong material, but the facing inside the front edge was kinda loose, and one of the buttonholes was getting frayed. Not a good look.
So, I decided right then, gotta fix this up. It’s a good jacket, comfortable, fits well. Waste to let it go just because the front looks messy.
The Actual Work
I gathered my stuff. Needed some matching navy blue thread, naturally. Found a spool that was pretty close. Grabbed my good needles, the sharp ones, and a thimble because pushing through thick jacket fabric can be tough on the fingers. Also got my small, sharp scissors.
Here’s basically what I did:
- First, tackled that loose facing. I carefully pinned it back into place along the inside edge, making sure it was smooth and lined up right. Then, I did small, hidden stitches all along the edge. Took a while, wanted to make sure it wouldn’t show on the outside. Slow work, but steady.
- Next up was that frayed buttonhole. This was trickier. I trimmed the really bad fuzzy bits away first with the tiny scissors. Then, I used a buttonhole stitch – you know, that tight stitch that goes around the edge – to reinforce the whole thing. Used the same navy thread. Had to go around it a couple of times to make it look strong and neat again.
- Checked the buttons while I was at it. One felt a bit loose, so I snipped the old thread and sewed it back on properly. Made sure it was nice and tight this time.
Finishing Touches
Once the sewing was done, I gave the whole front area a good press with the iron. Used a pressing cloth, of course, don’t want to make the fabric shiny. Getting those edges crisp really made a difference.
So yeah, that was my project for a bit. The front of the jacket looks much better now. The facing is secure, the buttonhole looks solid, and the buttons are all tight. Feels good to have sorted it out. Ready to wear it again without feeling like it’s falling apart.
