I had to post this because it’s my first attempt at using a sewing machine, and it didn’t turn into the complete fiasco I imagined it would be (thread and buttons flying everywhere). That said, if I can do it, anyone can!
The subject of this project is a Banana Republic red short trench coat from Spring 08 that had these ugly red metal buttons and cheapish red plastic belt buckle. I’ve worn it a bunch of times, but always meant to do something about those ugly buttons. In hind sight, I should have taken a before photo, so I found a photo from an eBay auction instead:
The offending hardware:
I decided to go for a traditional tortoiseshell pattern button and black leather bound belt buckle, which I found at a fabric store.
I picked out the stitches on the old buttons with a seam ripper, surprisingly without bloodshed (seam rippers are sharp!). Then lined the new buttons up where the stitches were for the old buttons and sewed them on with my sewing machine. I replaced the plastic belt buckle with the leather one and sewed it on. And…voila! A newish coat!
After!
Not bad for a first timer, hmm?
Very smart indeed. BR should hire your as their official “Agent 000” consultant. ;)Just curious, though: why bother using a sewing machine to sew buttons on a coat? Wouldn’t it have been easier to sew them on by hand? (Or was the point of the endeavor to practice using the machine?)BTW: I ran across your blog while trying to find a Christmas present for my (hopefully) future daughter-in-law. I’d say she’s about your size.
Using the sewing machine was half about just learning to use the crazy thing, and half because any hand sewing I would’ve done would most likey fall off quite quickly. It was surprisingly fun, and let’s just say I learned a lot about stitch length…Fashion oriented gifts are hard to pick out for us tiny petite ladies. I can’t even count how many over-sized “size xs” gifts from well intentioned family members are stuffed in my dresser drawers.I would suggest the things that always fit…accessories! You can’t go wrong with jewelry and handbags. Just keep them in proportion for a small framed woman.
Very smart indeed. BR should hire your as their official “Agent 000” consultant. ;)
Just curious, though: why bother using a sewing machine to sew buttons on a coat? Wouldn't it have been easier to sew them on by hand? (Or was the point of the endeavor to practice using the machine?)
BTW: I ran across your blog while trying to find a Christmas present for my (hopefully) future daughter-in-law. I'd say she's about your size.