DIY French Cycle Jacket (aka. Luftwaffe Jacket)

That is some remarkable and seemingly effortless work. You must have had some readily serviceable sewing and design talent based on smilier transferable skills to pull that off so well.

Thanks again guys for the amazing feedback, really appreciate it! As I mentioned its my first foray into tailoring (apart from chopping a jacket short a number of years back and trying to clean up the seam by folding and gluing it.....didnt work out so well! ). I'm a design graduate (industrial) a self taught cabinet maker and basically interested in working with my hands and learning new skills, whether it be creating or dissembling! So I'm always interested in how things work, fit, etc etc. That said I have two leather jackets in the wardrobe that I must root out with a view to altering them into something new, perhaps you guys might be able to give me some suggestions.

Regarding the front clasp, having wore the jacket for a couple of days now I do think it needs one, when sitting/driving the bottom edge, without a clasp tends to curl up a little, I recon my jacket could have been a little shorter to avoid this fold when sitting (the originals certainly were shorter). I reckon I've come across a couple of contenders for a clasp....

There is this one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GK-Women...hash=item44154c2854:m:mKqTr2TXnqyfqaK6Tw1smHA




This one is the same style of slip through and lock together buckle, but maybe a little bit feminine? I dont know, it might tie in round with the round alu buttons if I age it a bit?



The second contender, this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-si...hash=item284eac2e17:m:m8QRYO7Hgb55YbwbCZLZIyg





This one I like and came across by accident! It looks period and is a little different to the usual clasp.


I'd be interested to hear what you guys think. Cheers!

I think you can find better ones to be honest, the first one is a definitely no and the second is ok-ish, but nothing special. You’ve done such a great job so far that a little patience won’t hurt and you may find something nicer, more vintage looking and with more character.
Just my thoughts.



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If these are your only options, I'd go with the second one.

Edit: Why not this one? https://www.ebay.com/itm/CIVIL-WAR-...289071?hash=item48a7f1d4ef:g:j6QAAOSwBahValz9

Cocker said:

If these are your only options, I'd go with the second one.

Edit: Why not this one? https://www.ebay.com/itm/CIVIL-WAR-...289071?hash=item48a7f1d4ef:g:j6QAAOSwBahValz9

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Civil war Luftwaffe pilot? Makes perfect sens...

I vote something square in the same spirit as no 2. Also i vote nickel/chrome, not brass.

Carlos840 said:

Civil war Luftwaffe pilot? Makes perfect sens...

I vote something square in the same spirit as no 2. Also i vote nickel/chrome, not brass.

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Well, if it was not written "CIVIL WAR", would you have known what it was, except a bronze ornated interlocking buckle?

Cocker said:

Well, if it was not written "CIVIL WAR", would you have known what it was, except a bronze ornated interlocking buckle?

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I might have not guessed civil war, but it is pretty clearly out of place on that jacket, it doesn't match anything in any way!

Don't know why I was sure the zips were brass... In this case, yes, indeed, it's not matching!

Hey Spitfire:
How’s the jacket doing? Did you come up with the buckle? I hope you haven’t laid it down anywhere. It will get stolen. Not Ha!
How bout an update?
Be well. Bowen

AbbaDatDeHat said:

Hey Spitfire:
How’s the jacket doing? Did you come up with the buckle? I hope you haven’t laid it down anywhere. It will get stolen. Not Ha!
How bout an update?
Be well. Bowen

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Hey Bowen, thanks! Nothing much to report I'm afraid, been wearing the jacket out and about when I can. Fits well with a black roll top sweater! I've not fitted a buckle yet although I have order the square release buckle as linked in my previous post, so, we'll see how that looks....


In the mean time, I've picked up another jacket today in a charity store, was only a few €€'s so I figured it was worth a shot!





I cant put an age on it, maybe 15/20 years old but its a lovely goatskin, very soft. I'm thinking an Ostmann style for this one. Now, unfortunately, unlike the previous jacket theres little excess to remove and reuse.

What needs doing? Well another breast pocket to be added on the right side, there is an inside pocket I may be able to remove and use for this. Sleeves are far too roomy so they'll be taken in as well as some width off the chest region. Zipper is also acting up so I might replace that too.

Stay tuned!

Ok, so I got a buckle. I like it, its pretty new and shiney, but I can take care of that.

Had to get out the paper clips again!







I'd be interested to hear what you guys think

SpitfireIV said:

Ok, so I got a buckle. I like it, its pretty new and shiney, but I can take care of that.

Had to get out the paper clips again!

I'd be interested to hear what you guys think

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Greetings Spitfire:
Looks good. What do you have in mind to de-shine it?
Be well. Bowen
PS: your Spitfire is way cool. I remember being in a new one when we folded up the bonnet. B