Coat hanger jackets

When Sarah-Lou and Heather began their The Everyday Spruce project I was immediately hooked; the name of the project basically describes my life. I spend everyday at home trying to make things more beautiful or functional. I have a mental list of everything in my home that needs improving, clarifying or beautifying. Strangely, the list never seems to get shorter or finished.

Anyhoo, I am very pleased to be joining them and contributing my idea of ways to spruce up your life (I will focus on home ideas) in one way or another. They would also love others to join in with their project so please do join in, too!

I have a really quick and easy sewing project for you today to help you spruce up your wardrobe – I don’t know about you, but me and mine are at constant odds with each other. One of the problems is I can’t justify buying a matching set of beautiful hangers so I have loads of awful wire ones that get mangled and twisted together. Is there anything more frustrating than pulling something out of your wardrobe only to find the hangers are fused together?!

These simple little coat hanger jackets really help and they look good. Double win.

You will need:

Medium weight fabric, cotton or linen work best – approx. 42 x 18 cm for each hanger. I used Kokka Crossed Leaves in Turquoise and Kokka Circle Flowers Yellow in cotton linen mix from Guthrie & Ghani.

Fabric scissors

Pencil

Pins

Step by step:

Step 1 – Place two pieces of fabric together (this will be the front and back of the jacket) and make sure the piece of fabric on top is wrong side up. Pin the fabric together. Lay your coat hanger on top and draw around it, except the hook part, as this will not be covered by the jacket.

Step 2 – Cut 1cm outside the line around the shoulders of the hanger but cut 4cm outside the bottom line of the hanger.

Step 3 – Unpin the two pieces of fabric and press a 0.5cm hem on the bottom edge of each piece. Repeat this so you can no longer see the raw edge.

Step 4 – Sew the hem as near to the bottom edge of the fabric as possible. Do this for each piece of fabric.

Step 5 – Pin the two hemmed pieces together, right sides facing.

Step 6 – Sew the two pieces together. Start from the bottom edge and sew up the shoulder of the hanger but stop in the middle and leave a 1cm hole for the hook to go through. Begin sewing again down the other shoulder to the bottom edge.

Step 7 – Press the seams open, turn the jacket inside out and press. Do not sew the bottom edge together – this will remain open.

Step 8 – Place the jacket over the top of the hanger, push the hook through the 1cm gap at the top and it should be a snug fit.

I look forward to seeing loads more sprucing tips – do join in with the project and perhaps it will help shorten my mental list of things that needs tending to at home. Share your post/tip using the hashtag #theeverydayspruce.

Katy x