How to keep moto jacket panels open? - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

How to keep moto jacket panels open?

catgirl

Veteran

Short of tape, how can one keep the panels of leather jackets (or other moto jackets) OPEN? Like this:

http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs.....LEATHER%20

My collarless moto jackets keep flapping closed, and I find it annoying when I want a more open neckline. Can leather be ironed?

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Tina.b

Aida

Veteran

Good question! Two of my biker-style jackets are tweed so the stiff fabrication makes them stay put, a third is soft leather and seems to have been ironed into place. How did the Ella Moss do? The pairs of those I have at home liked to flap closed, too.

catgirl

Veteran

The Ella Moss did okay but I did have to reopen the flaps now and then. With there were magnets or something hidden in the seams.

bj1111

Veteran

have you tried folding the flaps open and weighing them down with books (or laying them front side down so the jacket weighs itself down)? i worry that ironing will destroy the leather.

Deborah

Veteran

I have been known to iron certain delicate fabrics by placing another fabric over them to protect them. I don't know how this works with leather but I have done it with pleather.

Diana

Veteran

Fashion tape maybe? I'd be afraid to iron leather. I feel like it might change the texture irreversibly.

diane

I would try pressing with a cloth on a low heat first, but may be hard to change the factory crease. Probably going to a leather restorer is your best bet.

Kalli

Maybe you can have magnets inserted into the leather?

Marlene1

Maybe those magnapin thingies? Never tried it....
http://www.magnapin.com/magnapin-uses.htm

ironkurtin

Veteran

Safety pins from the inside to the corners? With soft fabric like that you can do it without dimples if you use large pins and don't go all the way through the top layer.

Vildy

Veteran

I like that magnet idea.

You can iron leather on a very low temp and probably with the press cloth.
There are probably tips all over the internet where people are sewing leather.
Not all leather is as strong as you think it is and I would be cautious about any kind of pinning for fear of straining it to rip.

Thistle

Veteran

I second the magnet idea. I think anything else might damage the leather.

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

I'd put it in the dryer for a few minutes, just to warm up the leather. Hang the jacket and arrange the collar as you like it. Then take a low-tack tape--I still have an old roll of paper tape meant to go on photographs but painters tape should work--and tape down the edge. I'd push the fold as well, the idea isn't to put a hard crease there but to encourage the leather to naturally fold there.

Once the jacket cools down it should lay better. I've used this basic idea with a jacket that was packed and got a weird crease.

bj1111

Veteran

great tips on this thread!

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks, ladies! I'm afraid to pin leather. But the magnets sound possible, or fashion tape and weights. Will report back!

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I have a bit of an irrational fear with magnets, I'd worry that they'd fall off and a small child or dog would eat them (bad news). Then there's the issue of hiding the magnet? With the magnapin, the outside magnet is covered with a broach or scarf, but I don't think you want to be wearing two broaches.

I'd stick to fashion tape. Perhaps try lightly ironing and using books to crease the leather, but I suspect fashion tape will win in the end.

merwoman

Veteran

Great question Una!
Like the thought about magnets - what about those earrings that stay on with magnets - for those who don't want unsightly holes - that might do the trick as well.

kkards

Veteran

no ideas on the flaps, but i just wanted to say that i loved the jacket and the shorts that the model was wearing

Marlene1

MamaPJ - re MagnaPin - I assumed that Una would put one half of the contraption under the lapel and the other half inside the jacket - I agree that two brooches would be a little much! But I have no idea if they're strong enough to do the job...

Tina.b

Veteran

I have an Iro leather moto that does this and it drives me metal. Great, timely thread. I'm going to try to weight it and see if that has any impact.