Thriller jacket!
Here’s Sidra’s Thriller jacket! Although it is not supposed to be a costume, I think it is appropriate to post it on Halloween.
As I’ve posted before, I made this jacket on Sidra’s request for his fall jacket. He wanted either a Thriller or Beat It jacket. The number of zippers on Beat It jacket looks overwhelming so I went with the Thriller one.
The jacket is based on Nectarine jacket pattern from Tamanegi Kobo, a Japanese pattern shop. I changed the closure to zipper and then drafted the three flaps for the buttons. The original Thriller jacket doesn’t seem to have zipper, but I think a zipper would be more practical for kid’s jacket. Sidra doesn’t have to use all those snap buttons if he doesn’t want to.
The sleeves are redrafted to be one piece instead of two pieces and the side piece is divided and added to the back piece and front piece. The collar only needs little changes as the shape is already similar. Then I drafted the V parts over the jacket. The quilted parts on the shoulders are just two layers of fabric stitched together while the collar has thin batting inside.
I didn’t want to make the whole jacket in (vegan) leather as it would be too expensive and I wasn’t sure of my skill in sewing leather. So I use red cotton jersey with black vegan leather for the details. The jacket is lined with thin black cotton jersey.
It turned out to be one of the most challenging project that I’ve ever had! My machine hated the thick layers, especially around the top and bottom of the zipper. I didn’t know anything about sewing leather, and it turned out that I might need special sewing feet and needle to do it. The sewing feet kept stuck over the leather, resulting in uneven stitches length. Thankfully the leather is just for the details, so glad that I decided not to make the whole jacket in leather. When it came to the leather straps around the cuffs and the jacket bottom band, I just glued two strips of leather and only sewed the end parts to the red fabric.
I also had difficulty installing the snap buttons. The ones I initially used had prong rings with little teeth around them (the left picture). The tiny teeth are supposed to pierce the fabric and hold the button cap on the other side. But they just couldn’t stay put and the button came off when I tried closing and opening them. I finally took them off and changed to a different kind of snap buttons (the right picture). These are sold under the name ‘Dot button’ in Japan. They require me to pierce a hole through all the layers and hammered down the snap buttons from the other side. These ones did it!
Check out the welt pocket!
In my previous post about the jacket, I stated that that the welt pockets are fake because I failed when making them. Guess what? They are now real pockets! Sidra kept trying to put his hands into the pocket in the fitting session so I knew the jacket wouldn’t be too wearable without real pockets. Luckily, Sarai at Colette recently posted a welt pocket tutorial in the Anise jacket sew-along!
By this time, the bottom band is already installed, but I bravely unpicked them and carefully crafted those welt pockets! Even I admired my own perseverance! Thank you Sarai!
Sidra was ecstatic to wear the jacket. And even happier when he could put his hands in the pockets! It’s his day-to-go jacket now and every time he put it on, he would turn at me and said, ‘Thank you for the jacket, Mama!’ Those are the the little things that would be my answer when I wonder why I went through all this trouble for a jacket that won’t be wearable anymore in about two years.
The other day I got a bit upset when Sidra asked me impatiently,‘What’s taking you so long with the jacket? Isn’t it easy making them?’ Easy?? But then I couldn’t really blame him. He had been waiting for me for days to finish that jacket while he’s used to see me making things a bit faster than that. Oh you need a new pair of pants? Here it is (handed the pants to him a couple hours later). You want a hoodie? No problem! Etc.
No wonder he thought that everybody is DIY-ing all the time. When I finally presented the jacket to him, he asked,‘Did Michael Jackson make his own jacket as well?’ 
Pattern is based on Nectarine jacket size 130, PDF pattern (Japanese) from Tamanegi Kobo.
You’re a hero! Not only for your son, but also for me. I have no children yet, but when I do, I want to be a mom like you. It has been always my goal to make wonderful clothes and stuff for my future kids, where the quality is comparable to branded stuff, and you show me it IS possible. Living in such consumptive environment is gross, and I don’t want my kids to be one of them. Thanks for being an inspiration for me!
This is outstanding. It is a shame that young people do not appreciate the effort that goes into such a project.
wow! This is a sweet jacket! Sidra is going to be one suave little man wearing this. Like your lingerie, the sewing is incredible!
Waaawww….Sidra kakkoiiiii!!! jaketnya keren sekali, Mbak Novita. Sidra beruntung sekali punya mama yang jago jahit
I loved reading about this project. So much love went to making this jacket! I think Sidra looks super happy and very cool in it.
What a wonderful jacket. Great job! I know that this will be his favorite jacket until he outgrows it. I actually have a leather thriller jacket in my closet, which I purchased about the time MJ made it popular. I pulled it out and looked at it after reading your first post about the jacket you were making. And thought, “It would be a lot of work to make a jacket like this.”
I think Sidra is very lucky to have such a talented mother!
The jacket has turned out fabulous!!!
I sometimes come here to admire all your beautiful works.
Today, you make me smile and say “how fooling !”.
I think my english is not very good and hope you understand me. To resume, congratulations !
PS : Thriller – OK but your jacket makes me think of the ‘V’ series too (kind of lizards come on earth from an other galaxy).
I remember that series! I used to watch the original 80s when I was a child. Those lizards! You are right, the jacket is kinda similar
Killer.
I am just in awe over this coat. I can’t imagine how long it would take me to put something like this together! Maybe a month or two? Your son is very lucky.
You are such a cool mom! The jacket looks so professional. I’m very jealous!
Wow! I am so happy to see a kid excited about some 80s music fashion, first of all, being a child of the 80s (well, 70s!) myself.
And, you deserve Mom-of-the-year for this. Seriously. What an awesome thing to do for your kid!!
He also loves Queen and Earth, Wind, and Fire. We have to listen to them everyday before bedtime
Oh wow, this is KILLER! I absolutely love it! Great job!!
Lucky lucky young feller… Such a cool jacket that I’m sure he’ll treasure for a long time wayy after growing too big for it I’m sure!
‘Cause this is awesome! So well done!
Oh, you’re such a wonderful mummy, and Sidra is lucky to have you! The jacket came out beautifully, I admire your perseverance.
What a lucky boy! That jacket is amazing. Your son is going to be the coolest kid at school. Fantastic work–it makes me want a Thriller jacket.
You are such a cool mom!
It looks so awesome! You are amazing.
Amazing coat! I love it!
This is an amazing jacket! You are the coolest mom ever. I think you did a great job – I know how daunting all of those layers can be.
Sidra is one lucky boy and absolutely too cool for school!
The jacket is to die for! I am sure it can be absolutely wearable for girls too (I want one!) And Sidra is such a beautiful boy! He’s lucky with his mom
The jacket is amazing, great job! He’ll remember you making this forever, so I’d definitely say it’s been worth all the work!
great!bravo…il est ok pour halloweem!Aaargh!
your creations is wonderfull!
This is fantastic! You’re very clever and Sidra is very lucky to have you as a Mum. My 3 yr old asked me if his shorts were ready yet 10 minutes after arriving home from the fabric store with his camo print, if only it was that quick!
LOL Sidra still does that! We were going out for lunch when I agreed to make him the Thriller jacket, and 10 minutes after we were back home, he already asked when the jacket would be ready ;P
super impressive and amazing!!! so glad you stuck with it, because it turned out great. i think my daughter is starting to have the same attitude – she has more confidence in my sewing than i do sometimes!
It looks great! When i sew with a “sticky” fabric like leather, i put a piece of Scotch tape on my presser foot to help it slide along. Not the completely see-through kind, but the translucent kind that is very smooth and satiny. You could also try masking or painters tape.