How to Make a DIY Shorts & Jacket Set Out of an Old Kimono
This tutorial will show you how I took my old kimono and made a new two-piece short set.
I got this kimono about 2 years ago and I’ve never worn it, so this was a great opportunity to upstyle my kimono into something I’d make more use of. So I chose to make a jacket and shorts set, which turned out great!
Follow along to make a two-piece shorts set for yourself.
Tools and materials:
- Old kimono to upstyle
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Sewing pins
- Zipper
- Thread
- Sewing machine
1. Deconstruct the kimono
The first thing I needed to do was work out how long I wanted my new summer jacket to be, while making sure I still have enough kimono fabric left to make shorts.
I marked that jacket length with straight pins on both sides of the front of my kimono.
Draw in a straight horizontal line at that mark and cut your kimono along the line.
2. Cut your shorts
From the bottom piece of kimono fabric, cut off the trim in the middle.
With your fabric folded in half, and a pair of shorts that fit you well folded in half, lay the shorts on your fabric and cut out the shape of the shorts adding a 1-inch seam allowance all the way around.
Now fold your shorts the other way, and put them on the other side of your folded fabric. Cut out the shape again, with a 1-inch seam allowance all around.
You should have two pieces for the front of your shorts, and two pieces for the back.
3. Sew your shorts
With right sides facing in, pin and sew the curved edge of the two front pieces together and the curved edge of the two back pieces together.
Now you should have 1 front and 1 back piece.
With right sides facing, place the front and back pieces together. Pin and sew the crotch seam.
Now pin the side seams and try on your shorts to check for sizing. Make any adjustments that are necessary for sizing and then sew the side seams.
4. Add the zipper
For instructions on putting a zipper into these shorts, watch my How to Sew a Zipper video.
5. Hem your shorts
Fold down, iron, and sew the hem into the waistband of your shorts and the bottom of your shorts.
Tip: if you plan your cutting cleverly, you can line up your shorts so that the bottom of the shorts is at the hem of the kimono. That way the hem of your shorts is already done!
6. Hem your jacket
Fold in, pin and hem the bottom of the jacket.
Here is my original kimono.
And here is my finished two-piece jacket and shorts set! I’m so glad that I’ve found a way to upstyle my lonely, unworn kimono.
DIY shorts and jacket set tutorial
I love my new two-piece outfit and I’m going to wear it with heels to kick it up a notch. I hope you make one of these two-piece jacket and shorts sets for yourself, and leave a comment to let me know how you liked this tutorial.
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