How to Make a Crazy Quilt Coat from Odds and Ends

If you love clothing that is artsy and unique, and can sew a zigzag stitch on a sewing machine, then you can create a really fun coat (or jacket, T-shirt, or bag). It's a great way to use outgrown clothing and sewing scraps by recycling them into a work of art.

1. Gather up clothing, fabrics, patches, and trims that have designs and colors that you like, and that you don't mind cutting up.
2. Cut out various sizes and shapes from the materials, or cut out particular objects or designs (like the faces used in this coat) from the fabrics. Leave a little border around objects so you will be able to see them after sewing with a zigzag stitch.
3. Choose a coat or jacket that you like (or buy one) that you can sew all the pieces on. The one I used is made of sweatshirt fabric with fleece on the inside. It can be a neutral or a coordinating color.
4. Lay out the fabric pieces and patches you have cut up onto the coat, using your instincts to balance colors and designs. Overlap them a bit, if you like that effect. Move pieces around until you are happy with the overall design.
5. Pin the pieces onto the coat just enough to keep the design. You'll have to sew around pieces that are under other, overlapping pieces first, so you will have to move pins around as you sew.
6. Sew the patches on the coat with a zigzag stitch (or other decorative stitch), being sure to sew all around the underlying pieces first, then sew around overlapping pieces. You can use various widths of zigzag stitches for a little variety or vary the stitch if you have other suitable choices on your machine. You will see the thread, so you could use all one color or change colors between pieces depending on the look you want.
7. Try on the coat and look into a mirror to see if you are happy with the design. You can always add some more patches if it seems unbalanced or looks like it needs "more".
8. Add a trim, lace, or pompom border to the bottom of the coat if you like. This is a vintage daisy trim. You can also add a trim to the sleeves or hood or anywhere you like.
9. Enjoy wearing your unique crazy quilt coat.
   
   

• You can use different types and textures of fabrics to create different looks: knit fabrics, cottons, bark cloth, even fur!
• Shop in thrift stores to find inexpensive clothing with colors and designs you like. Children's clothing often has fun and fanciful designs.
• To add pockets to your coat, cut off existing pockets from other clothing and sew them on as patches, or cut shapes out of fabric and fashion your own patch pockets.
• Look for unusual and fun buttons you can use to replace the existing buttons on the coat, or sew on your design.
• Vintage trims and fabrics are great to use.
• Ready-made patches, even Girl Scout badges, are great to use in your design.
• Use your computer to print out pictures you like onto fabric that you can use in your design.
• Use stamps or hand paint designs on some of the fabrics or part of the coat.
• If you don't want to make a coat, try the technique on a T-shirt or bag for equally artsy results. If you're really ambitious, cover the entire coat with patches.
• You don't have to be a super seamstress to create quirky clothing. Part of the charm is the lack of perfection.
• This is a great way to salvage clothes that would otherwise need to be thrown out (for example, a garment that was stained - just throw the stained area away, and use the rest of "crazy quilt" projects!)

• Be careful of pins left on patches that have already been sewn on when you sew another layer that overlaps them. Avoid trapping pins inside patches; you'll need to remove the stitching to get the pin out.
• Try to use fabrics that are colorfast and won't bleed when washed. You may wish to hand wash your coat.
• Try to use fabrics that won't ravel too much, since this technique leaves the raw edges exposed. If using fabric that tends to ravel, use a tighter zigzag stitch around that piece.

• A coat or other piece of clothing to be crazy quilted
• A variety of fabrics, scraps, patches, trims and embellishments
• Good scissors for cutting fabric
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine with zigzag or decorative stitches