Picture of completed refashioned top made into a lightweight jacket. Top print of feathers with colors of white, gray and black and silver embelishments.

Refashioned Top into a Lightweight Jacket

Here's an easy project. I've refashioned a top I had in my closet into a fun lightweight summer jacket.

Original top with feather print and white, gray, light blue and black colors and made out of a lightweight knit fabric.

Top Before Refashion

Here you can see the original lightweight knit top from which I will create the jacket.

Measure to Find Center of Top

Use a measuring tape across the width of the top. Find the middle of the fabric and mark on your top.

Original top shown with scissors cutting straight up center of top to make a center opening.

Cut Straight Up Center of Top

After marking, cut straight up the center of the top until your two sides of the front are completely separated.

Fabric Strips for Center Opening

You'll need two strips to add to each side of the center opening. My strips here are 2 inches wide with a finished side on each strip which I will use for the finished center edges of the jacket. Add in additional material if you need to fold over and finish your own center edges.

Pin Strip of Fabric Up Center Opening
With right-sides together pin strip of fabric to center front of top. Do this on both sides - right and left - of the center front opening. Fold top and bottom edges up to the inside (we will top stitch this later).

Picture with instructions on sewing fabric strip to center opening.

Sew Fabric Strips to Center Openings

Now sew your pinned fabric strips to the top using a 3/8 seam allowance.

Picture of top and iron showing which direction to press sewn edge toward.

Press Sewn Edge Toward Top

On inside of garment open up the seam you just sewed and press seam toward side of shirt material.

Picture of front of lightweight jacket being pressed on the right-side out.

Turn Over and Press Front

After you press the seam toward the shirt material on the inside, turn over and press on the outside of the top fabric.

Top Stitch Top and Bottom Edges

Now we can top stitch the top and bottom edges of the fabric strips that you have sewn onto the shirt.

Picture of button and hook sewn on to garment.

Sew Button and Hook

I Sewed the button to the top center opening on the new fabric strip that we just added to this new jacket. I sewed it on the top strip only and then attached a hook to that same strip to be used to secure the opening with a hand sewn loop on the underneath fabric strip (see pictures below for more info).

Another View of Attaching Button and Hook

Here you can see that I added a few small pieces of material to reinforce the lightweight fabric where I attached the button. You can also see where I attached the hook that will go through the hand sewn loop on the other fabric strip to complete a firm closure.

Picture of hand sew loop at top center opening of lightweight jacket for hook to go through and attach.

Hand Sew a Loop

Here is the hand sewn loop. This loop is created by using a needle and thread that is looped through the material several times. The hook on the top of the other fabric strip will hook through this loop securing the top front opening of the jacket.

Completed Button and Hook and Loop closure

After

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