Making my own reproduction A-2

[HarrietTheSpy]

Managed to find time to squeeze in some work on the mockup. This time I used a heavier weight fabric instead of muslin. The cuff and waistband are just tacked on to see how they fit and the zipper isn't the proper length, but I wanted to be able to try on the jacket while the front was closed. Overall I'm really happy with the fit, I just want to make the body of the jacket an inch longer--mostly because that will bring the entire length to 18" right now at 17" I'd have to shorten the zipper because the separating zippers don't come in a 17" length and while I could shorten one, it's kind of a pain and I think the jacket will look better if it's just a bit longer.

 

[B-Man2]

Managed to find time to squeeze in some work on the mockup. This time I used a heavier weight fabric instead of muslin. The cuff and waistband are just tacked on to see how they fit and the zipper isn't the proper length, but I wanted to be able to try on the jacket while the front was closed. Overall I'm really happy with the fit, I just want to make the body of the jacket an inch longer--mostly because that will bring the entire length to 18" right now at 17" I'd have to shorten the zipper because the separating zippers don't come in a 17" length and while I could shorten one, it's kind of a pain and I think the jacket will look better if it's just a bit longer.
View attachment 57197View attachment 57198View attachment 57199

Looking pretty cool! Nice work.

 

[2BM2K]

To check the sleeve length need to try out different positions as they tend to ride up. Car driving and holding the steering wheel is a good test.

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Looking good, I'd agree with you the body needs a tad more length, yes 1" should be spot on
Might I also suggest slightly smaller pockets, to my eye they are a wee bit high, they could be closer to the waistband and possibly be fractionally smaller to get the best balance.
However, you might find the combination of a smaller gap between bottom of the pocket and the waistband combined with an extra inch on the body length might be enough?
BUT..............I never measure my pocket positions on A-2s, always have judged them "by eye"

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Here's the first one I made, 40 years ago.......how time flies by
Photo was taken abour 10 years ago when I managed to buy it back from the poriginal owner
..............and look, the pockets are too big!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ausreenactor]

Hi Harriet

Have you decided on your leather yet?
If not
Avoid anything with too loose a surface, or slightly spongy won't look right and is a bugger to sew

Don't know where you live but if I was making my first leather jacket I'd buy a leather sofa on ebay and use the leather from that
There are usually loads on ebay for pennies (or cents if it's the same in USA) Probably, judging by the number of "big name" actors advertising these on the telly
I'm guessing Bernie Made Off with their "Pensions" years ago

Recently sold................
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leather-...916151?hash=item1cfd6dce37:g:qmsAAOSwSeFf8GMz

3 Seater Leather Sofa Please Read Description | eBay

<p>3 Seater Brown Leather Sofa </p><p>The seats are worn but with a throw this would do to put someone on</p><p>The measurements that I have added are very much approximates as this is stored at my sons </p><p>Collection only from S71 Barnsley </p><p>I am starting this auction at 0.01 but if...

www.ebay.co.uk

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Seater-Leather-Sofa-Please-Read-Description-/184610309834?hash=item2afba1c6ca:g:fgkAAOSwzEpfvW8Q&nma=true&si=Z4X2CNKLNd7UlGbI1FkZQ98cfVI%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

There are dozens more listed right now......

I would go for a 'couchy' Couchy A-2!

 

[HarrietTheSpy]

Looking good, I'd agree with you the body needs a tad more length, yes 1" should be spot on
Might I also suggest slightly smaller pockets, to my eye they are a wee bit high, they could be closer to the waistband and possibly be fractionally smaller to get the best balance.
However, you might find the combination of a smaller gap between bottom of the pocket and the waistband combined with an extra inch on the body length might be enough?
BUT..............I never measure my pocket positions on A-2s, always have judged them "by eye"

Thanks! I agree that the pockets seem a bit high. I'm quite short--4'11"--so getting the proportions correct were a little challenging. The pockets are already fairly small so I'm going to see if adding the inch and lowering them works. But I'm also realizing that because I've had to scale it down so much overall, even a half inch in places can make a big difference.

 

[HarrietTheSpy]

I think this is the final draft. I added an inch to the body--I just attached additional fabric so it looks clumsy because you can see the seam. It won't be like that on the final jacket! Lowered the pocket (there will be two on the final jacket, I was just being lazy), and took 1/4 off of the collar. And my 1970s Talon zipper arrived from Ebay. I'm going to keep an eye out for an older one, but this will work if I can't find one that's in my budget. I'm really happy with this fit and think I'm ready to start on the leather. Although it might take a few weeks to work up the courage to actually cut into it

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Hi Harriet
You've nailed the pocket position
If you are nervous about cutting the leather, why not mark the pattern out in chalk (or similar) on the wrong side of the leather first so you can double check everything before cutting into any leather
How many sq ft have you at your disposdal?

 

[HarrietTheSpy]

Progress is coming along fairly well--no photos yet but soon I hope. I am struggling mightily with the pockets. One detail I can't seem to find information on--are the pockets lined? and if so, are the lined with the same leather as the body, or the cotton lining fabric? I'm using the cotton lining and I cannot get it so that there isn't a tiny edge showing when I sew on the pocket. I'm sure there is a way to do this so the lining doesn't show, but I'm just not sure how to do it. It's not obvious when you look at the jacket straight on, but it bothers me that it's there. And while I do a lot of sewing, I haven't really done lined patch pockets before. Thanks for any assistance!

 

[mulceber]

Hi Harriet, A-2 jacket pockets are unlined, although the pocket flaps are double-sided: so, same leather as the jacket's made of, but facing inward, if that makes sense.

edit: found a picture from goodwear that illustrates the pocket flap:

Here's another picture illustrating what the inside of the pocket looks like:

 

[HarrietTheSpy]

Oh wow, that's so helpful, thank you! I could find pictures of the flap being lined with leather, but not the pocket itself. I've made these pockets several times and fortunately had extra leather, but this is going to make it a LOT easier.

 

[entertainment]

Along these lines, if you go to goodwearleather.com, John Chapman takes a lot of pictures of his jackets for the different contracts which will show a lot of details (which vary a lot). It is also worth looking at the sale page which has photos of lots of jackets that aren't on the main page.

The pocket often has a flap of leather that folds down inside to catch the snap. You can see the outline in mulceber's first photo. I think the second photo shows a different detail and perhaps a less common way of reinforcing the snap with a small floating piece of leather.

 

[mulceber]

I think the second photo shows a different detail and perhaps a less common way of reinforcing the snap with a small floating piece of leather.

Man, I was thinking “nobody’s gonna notice that I used pics from 2 different jackets...” NOPE! Good eye, @entertainment. The first was from a Perry and the second a Monarch.

 

[HarrietTheSpy]

Thanks for the advice with Good Wear Leather. I've been using the Acme Depot page for reference on details, but there are some great photos at Good Wear as well.

 

[London Cabbie]

Looking forward to seeing finished A2

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

As you can see from this pic the pocket flap isn't fully lined
The joining stitch to the body goes through just the one thickness

 

[HarrietTheSpy]

As you can see from this pic the pocket flap isn't fully lined
The joining stitch to the body goes through just the one thicknessView attachment 61132

That is very helpful, thanks so much!