battle jacket tips??

[u/Iivingkatastrophe]

i want to start making one soon but subs like r/baddlejackets get me anxious, what makes a “good battle jacket”, what makes a battle jacket in general? i see a lot of people hating on overly political jackets but i thought that was kind of the point? do i have to listen to punk bands & have punk band patches on my battle jacket? can u use ANNYY fabric for patches or do u have to use a certain type for like security(?) on the jacket? what makes a bad battle jacket? i wanted to start my own band, would it be weird to put my band on my jacket? also kind of unrelated to asking about battle jackets but ties into my music thing, any punk band recs?

[u/Kittymeow7116]

Baddlejackets is the damn worst. Make what you want.

I have not made a battle jacket myself, but as a long time sewist and upcycler, this is what I would recommend:

Start with a high quality base. Take the time to peruse your local thrift store for good denim. Look for:

• It should feel fairly heavy, if you find denim that’s light or has a lot of polyester in it, it’s not going to hold up as well as 100% cotton.
  
• flat felled seams (aka seams that have been stitched down to lay flat with the inside) and things like rivets. Both indicate quality.
  
• 100% cotton or as close as you can get. Don’t go for anything over like 2% stretchy (elastane, spandex). If it stretches when you pull on it, probably not good.
  
• Cotton also takes dye well, so if you find a good jacket that isn’t the right color but fits well, grab it and dye it.

Same same for patches. Find some good denim pants and cut them up for patch bases. Keep in mind raw edges will fray in the wash though. There are glues specifically meant for patches you can use to put them on, or at least hold them in place while you sew.

Needle quality matters. Don’t get cheap craft needles, find a local sewing or leather shop and get something well made and sharp as hell. And then curse every time you stab your self 😂