When I was pregnant with our oldest I remember walking through Baby Gap. At the time our income was nearly non-existent so the fact that I was even in BabyGap is odd. In the sale racks I saw a little red jacket. It was simple, light weight and seemed perfect for the baby boy I had yet to meet. The only size they had was 12months, but his birthday would be in the spring so I thought it would work just right. One of my favorite pictures of Biggest Brother is of him learning to walk in a park, holding his daddy’s hands and wearing this jacket.
The jacket got passed down to the other two boys. The bright red color has faded quite a bit. It has held up for 6 years. I put it on FireCracker, but it just needed something to make it more her and less her brothers. So a little diy project was born.
Warning: I know basically nothing about sewing. I know only a few correct terms, which I am sure to use incorrectly. If you are a seamstress I apologize now. If you are not, well my tutorial might make sense to you!
Supplies: Well worn jacket & and well faded pjs that are too small. If you use t-shirt fabric you don’t have to worry about edges fraying…
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Step 1: Cut the pjs into 1 inch strips. It is fine if they aren’t perfect. Just cut as many as you can.
.jpg "10.10jacket-02")
Step 2: You are going to create ruffles by sewing a gathering stitch. To do a gather stitch put your machine on the dotted line stitch (#5 top of machine) and set the stitch length as long as possible. Stitch down the middle of all the strips. On the end you will have 2 threads, pull on them…one will let you keep pulling. At this point slowly pull the thread as the fabric gathers (or ruffles). Repeat this with all your fabric strips.
.jpg "10.10jacket-04")
Step 3: Once you have made all the ruffles pin them down on the jacket. Since I re-purposed pjs I had several short strips. If you use longer fabric you could do just one long ruffle. I overlapped mine to go all around the jacket. Make sure to move the stitch length back to the shorter end.
Step 4: Stitch the ruffles down the center.
Step 5: Once the ruffles are sewn onto the jacket you can go back and remove all the gathering stitches. This is pretty easy, just snip it in a few places and pull.
And an old jacket and passed down pjs get new life….
Crazy to think I bought the jacket when he was just a dream in my head and a flutter in my stomach.
For the life of me I can’t remember who passed down the pjs to FireCracker,
so if you are reading this and can’t believe I cut them…just know she REALLY wore them
and they were getting holes in the feet! Now they are beautiful on a jacket.
Oh the things to think about when you write a blog!
Amy - my word is she cute!! my daughter is about the same age and has a TON of wore out/too small clothes that would work well for this project! thank you so much for the idea/inspiration!
Ayesha - Oh my that is such a great Idea you could have died the jacket red again which I tend to do with all my black clothes as im a wash a holic and they fade way too quick so i dye them black again ;o)
Cassie - Too cute!!
laura - lovely!
Karen Davis - wonderful idea… I’ll be sure to store it in my brain for a time when I’ll need it
RachelC - So, so cute. Can you make me a ruffle jacket?
Betsy Jo - Adorable- and I’m with you- No sewing experience, and I don’t think I will ever master it! (I laughed at your last sentence… so true.)
Shannon{photos by shannon} - Oh my gosh too cute! I need a sewing maching and knowledge so bad!! I love ruffles!!
Shannon{photos by shannon} - and I love the bottom left picture of firecracker!
Ranee - LOVE it!!! Can’t wait to make one for my little sweetie! Thanks for so many great ideas!!
bridget - SOO cute.
Heather - umm her shoes… too cute!!! and the jacket too
Jodi - I love when she has full smiles with those little teeth!!! So cute. Great tutorial.
Amber - so cute! LOVE this idea!
Shannon Phillips - I LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I’m with Rachel, will you make me one too?
anne c - i would have never thought of this idea on my own…thats why I love to read your blog! you have great ideas
I am going to have to attempt this. the last pic of firecracker and biggest brother is my favorite!
Andrea - oh my gosh. look at her skinny jeans and flats. so cute.
giozi - Great, but where is the heart? what do you do with this?
I did bags from old t-shirt, tha I like tha stamp, little bag for puzzle pieces
Yesterday I was sewing by hand because I don’t have machine, ha ha ha I was doing something like your “random banner” (your baby’s birthday)
Tomorrow is my girl’birthday, but I’m going to do a little party on sunday just the family and 3 children more.
Ashley - cool! I am making one!:) My little girl is one next week!!!! WHoa!
Julie B - Love it! I have a boy, 2 girls and then another boy. I love seeing them in each others clothes! For me it reminds me of how the others were at that particular stage. Oh and aren’t ruffles fun?!
Lynette - I love this and I have been wanting to know how to make ruffles so that I can make some ruffle pillows, thanks for sharing this!
Lindsay - Oh goodness, that picture of her – bottom left – just staring her big eyes into your camera – priceless. I love that. That jacket is so stinking cute. Am I too old to wear that????????
Erin - Totally adorable!! And that last pic of her…she has quite the supermodel stare down…
Lacy M. - So so cute!!! It seems so easy, I wonder how quickly I could mess that up
Love reading your blog everyday, and thanks so much for the point and shoot photo tips!!! They are sooo needed by me!!!
Dacia - my goodness that is cute! i love this- as i do all your other diy projects.
btw, someone awarded ‘versatile blogger award’ and i passed it on to you. really, i just linked your blog on my blog.
it can be seen here: http://therufflyowl.blogspot.com/2010/10/versatile-blogger-award.html
Vanessa - So simple but so cute. I may have to go find a cheap hoodie and try this out. And her little shoes!!!! Herringbone? Love ‘em.
Krista Lund - this is super cute and FireCracker seems to love it!
i was thinking you were going to use the heart patch from the pjs too. maybe they will pop up in another DIY project ???
Caroline - Love it! Hope that maybe one day I might have a baby girl and can try it!
Mindy - OMHECK! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I am going to do this today! I wonder if my sewing machine can do this! Thanks for the inspiration!
Brooke Whitis - Super sweet makeover! I love it!
Melissa - That tirned out adorable! Love that all of them have worn that jacket
Rebecca - Great idea. What I love most is that you could do this on a variety of items.
Holly - Like it or not….you are officially a seamstress now! Adorable and so creative.
Heather - those ruffles make the jacket just right for miss firecracker. lovely!!
Kelly - LOVE this! Great work! And, love those little shoes on her too=) I got the same ones for my 12 month old the other day! Gotta love clearance at Gap=)
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d - That is so cute! I wish I had a girl so I could do something similar. I don’t think my boys would like it…
Amy - I love this too! I have only one small pair of feet (and they’re too small to pitter-patter yet) in my house, but this really gives me something to look forward to as she grows out of her clothes.
Deanna - Love the makeover. My girls have new Target pink hoodies but are plain. Thinking my 3 year old needs some ruffles on her to make it more fun.
Cassandra - Where do you get Firecrackers shoes they are soo cute and I need new shoes for my daughter!
Sara Schmalfeld - LOVE this idea! Your daughter looks so flippin cute! I think I may try this soon.
Chelsea - Wow, I mean that is beyond cute. Where do you come up with these ideas!? This REALLY makes me want to start sewing.
Martina - Great idea! I love your concrete table top. I want one for our patio. FireCracker is so cute! I love the skinny jeans and flats, too. She is super stylish.
Carla - i only hope i can be as stylish as firecracker one day. for reals…
and maybe i’ll start with a ruffled jacket for myself? you are a crafting wizard.
Natalie - I like Firecracker’s shoes….and her new ruffles. So cute!
Amnah - {sigh} Is there anything that you have made that’s ugly? I don’t have anymore space in my “ideas to try” file thanks to you.
amanda torres - Very cute! I’m curious, after 3 boys, what you do you enjoy most about your girl?
tasha roe - super cute as always!
two of my faves: ruffles & hoodies!!
way to rock it out Firecracker!
Summer C. - Ok, love this! Now I just need a little girl. Don’t think my boys are up for ruffles.
Lori - Oh how adorable! Thanks for sharing the tutorial
Sibylle from fun.kyti.me - so cute, adorable pictures too!
Emily - what a wonderful idea… you’ve got my wheels turning! I can’t wait to do this, but I better get a halloween costume done first! Your family is about the cutest ever, and what a heritage you are leaving them by documenting all the wonders of their growing up! Really beautiful.
Reidunn - Great post Ashley.
The last piture to the right is adorable!
Alice H - Firecracker is GORGEOUS!! I love her little smile, those cute little teeth. My son only has his bottom two and they are barely there. He is 8 1/2 months old. What a neat project!
shelley venema - love it, great idea. I think I will try it for my granddaughter!
Leanne - I LOVE this!! thank you! finally a ruffle diy I can handle.
Taryn Smith - So so cute! And so is Firecracker!
Desiree - Great idea! She looks so stylish. This makes me want a sewing machine even more!
Ruth - What a great idea. And I’m totally digging the skinny jeans. Such a fashion plate!
Jane - just gorgeous!
do you still have the heart that was on the pjs? I was thinking you should sew that onto the back of the hoodie, on the right near the waistband. (hoodie is what we call them in australia – just realised that might be a strange term!)
I think you should continue refashioning clothing, if this is what you produce as a ‘non-sewer’ imagine your creations with some more practice!!
jacqueline - in her more serious faces, i totally see her brothers! great project. i had three boys then a girl, then another (surprise!) girl…
jessica h - GREAT tutorial! What girl can have too many ruffles!?
Maybe I will make one for myself….
Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - LOVE it! So precious!
april's craft nest - what a wonderful idea. i don’t think i have seen ruffles used this way-over the hood! adorable! do you think a 2 year old boy could pass it off??? hehe!
Jaime - Seriously?! Can you do ANYTHING wrong? Love the jacket… it’s too cute and too perfect!
Geez.
=)
meg duerksen - love it.
Candice @ ChiaSeedMe - Oh my gosh – I am dying over here! That jacket is so cute, but that first picture of Firecracker…oh my word. She is a little doll. I love her whole outfit, right down to the little brown shoes:)
Thanks so much for sharing this idea – adorable!
kate - i love this! i’m excited to know another way to make ruffles/gathers because i was going to buy a special foot for my sewing machine… and this saves me that cost!
Amy’s Notebook 11.03.10 | The Motherload - [...] love this sweet little DIY ruffled jacket (@ Under the [...]
Colleen P. - The jacket is adorable and looks so soft and snuggly! I think for little kids especially “well aged” clothes work better, all the rough edges are worn off.
I do think you got your moneys worth out of that Baby Gap jacket!
Diane @ InMyOwnStyle - So sweet the ruffled jacket and the wearer.
Henry & a diy *b* list. {beckynovacekphotography} Omaha Nebraska Baby Photographer » Becky Novacek Photography - [...] Ruffled Jacket. Ashley Ann-oh how you inspire me. So simple, yet seriously freaking cute. [...]
Kelly - I LOVE THIS! I am so going to make this and share the tutorial on my blog! http://runwithglitter.blogspot.com/
????? ?????? - love it, great idea. I think I will try it for my granddaughter!