I brought a Kahki army jacket from Urban Outfitter: Renewal, a month ago. The jacket is plain and a perfect blank canvas to get some customise things going. This project is quite time consuming depending on your sewing skill. It took me a good four hours or so. If you have spare time on the weekends or have it as an ongoing project. There are so much more you can go with this project. For example: add fringing on the sides, work on the pockets etc. You can use any type and sizes of beads you fancy and if sewing is not your thing you can always use flat-back beads and use fabric glue or glue gun instead. Epullettes also look good on knitted jumper and dresses so go crazy!
Shopping list:
- Army jacket
- Needle and thread
- Embroidery scissors
- Glue
- Some pearls
- Some studs and spikes
- Gems
- 1m of gold and silver chains each
Step 1. Plan where you want your gems and studs, secure them onto the jacket with glue. Wait for the glue to dry and screw in the studs. I use different sizes as it adds more depth.
Step 2: Pick a place to start your pearls. Thread string of pearls using different sizes at random. Leave about 5cm of thread before you knot the end. This will give you space to manipulate the pearl string where u desired. use a new thread to secure each beads
Step 3: Manipulate the chain to where u want and secure it with thread like you would with the pearls. I use a silver chain to go around the edges to neaten up the work. Now you're half way done...
Step 4: Repeat all the steps again on the other side. And there you have it!