Acorn Decorations from Tweed Jackets

Acorn Decorations from Tweed Jackets

While putting together a collection of Upcycled Fall Decor projects for a blog post, I ran across this oversized acorn decor project that I just fell in love with. It’s not my originally idea (important for me to point out), BUT I wanted to create my own version of acorn decorations. Of course, not just any fabric would do, though. I wanted to make them with a tweed sport coat.

After all, I still had remainders from tweed sport coats from making these tweed-y projects!

I also knew this project was meant to be when I was recently thrifting in Asheville, NC and found the perfect wooden salad bowls that I could use as acorn caps.

Wood salad bowls at a thrift store

See? Won’t they perfect as caps for some acorn decorations?

Wooden salad bowl with a scalloped edge

So, as far as my tweed sport coats were concerned, I had ample fabric left. But my eyes immediately honed in the sleeves. Why? Because real-life acorns taper to a point, right? And sleeves are naturally tapered.

Plus, I hadn’t touched the sleeves in my previous tweed projects (such as these DIY brooches, below)s, so I had plenty of options in case the idea didn’t work out.

jacket pins from wood medallions and tweed

Anyway, I gathered my main elements (tweed sport coats and the wooden salad bowls) and got to work. With Cottonball at my side, of course.

Tweed sport coats from the thrift store and wooden salad bowls

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Upcycling a Tweed Sport Coat for Fall Home Decor

First, I needed to isolate a sleeve from a tweed jacket for the project. So, I cut it off at the arm pit, straight and perpendicular to the sleeve itself.

Sleeve of a tweed sport coat

Then, I turned the sleeve inside out, and sewed a loose running stitch about 1/3 of the way up from the cuff.

Running stitch across a sleeve of a tweed sport coat

I used a contrasting thread color here so that you could see my running stitch. But since no one will ever SEE any of my sewing, the thread color doesn’t matter in the end.

Next, I gently tugged the needle-end of my thread and gathered the sleeve from the tweed coat.

I ran my needle through the gathered fabric (a thimble helps here), before knotting it off securely.

Upcycling a tweed sport coat to make the decorative acorns

Then, I turned my “sleeve bag” right-side-out. Before stuffing my acorn decor, I took one additional step: adding some river rocks to the bottom of my acorn-to-be.

Rocks for weight and stability in the acorn decor

Why? To give the acorn decor some weight at the bottom! Once I add the wooden salad bowls, they’ll be quite top heavy. So, a few stones in the base will offset that and help them stand more easily.

Wood Salad Bowls as Caps for Acorn Decorations

NOW it was time to stuff my decorative acorns! And I was *not shy* about the amount of fiber fill I used.

Fiber fill in the sleeve of a tweed sport coat

I used a needle and thread again to sew another running stitch along the top of the tweed fabric and again gathered it a touch before knotting off.

You don’t need to tug it all the way closed- just gathered enough so that your wooden salad bowl fits on top.

Closing up the decorative acorns with a running stitch

Using my favorite basic craft glue, I then secured the wooden bowl on top of my tweed acorn!

And while the glue dried, I added a small weight (like a can of tuna or cat food) on top of the bowl to keep it flat and even.

Acorn cap from a wooden salad bowl

For “stems” on the acorn caps, I upcycled some old wooden knobs and drawer pulls! I think those longer skinnier ones will be perfect, don’t you?

Wooden knobs and drawer pulls for decorative acorns

Finally, I simply glued a drawer pull to the top of one of my acorns.

Wooden salad bowl and knob as an acorn cap

Acorn Decorations from Tweed Jackets

And just like that, my plush acorns were done! Tell me that’s not the most adorable autumn craft project you’ve ever seen…

Fall craft ideas with a tweed sport coat

Perhaps the funniest thing now is opening the coat closet to see a bunch of sleeveless tweed coats hanging there!

Upcycling project ideas for tweed sport coats from the thrift store

But, I’ve now gotten three repurposed projects from the same tweed coats- gotta love that use of resources!

I just want to make a dozen more of these acorn decorations to use as Fall home decor!

acorn decorations

I’m also excited to announce that my first book is now available! If you enjoy upcycling clothing and simple sewing projects, then you will love my book on flannel crafts!

Craft book for flannel shirts

If you enjoyed this upcycling idea for  Fall home decor, then you’ll also love these glass pumpkins that look like stained glass!

Alcohol ink on glass pumpkins for fall home decor

Craft on!

S

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Upcycling ideas for a tweed sport coat or tweed jacket

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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.

Comments

  1. very cute Sadie!

  2. I love these! Great idea!!

  3. You are so creative! I just love them! I have this saved – so many projects going on now but I want these for next year so I put a reminder for August 2019 Calendar!! Thanks for sharing!

  4. Jane Clelland says

    Love this project!! Great idea!

  5. Janet johnson says

    I like these. I will keep my eyes open for those bowls.

  6. You are so darn creative I could read your blog all day! This was fantastic! Nice acorns!!!

  7. Robyn Wright says

    Clever girl!

  8. teri denman says

    Oh gosh, I love these acorns! I even love the nut bowls “as is” – I’d be torn using them for anything else! Alas, I guess the days of 70’s Mom’s putting out the nuts and nut crackers on the living room end tables are in the past. *sigh*

    • Sadie Seasongoods says

      We only used our nut bowl set during the holidays, but it felt so special! I always tried to crack the walnuts perfectly in half so that I could make little boats from the shells. 🙂

  9. Rita Corblies says

    OMG Now I will be looking for small wooden nut bowls…and tweed fabric….They are so “Autumn”!

  10. chris tucker says

    it has been a while sarah , lots of health issues, but i still read every post and i had to comment on these i am in love and they are simple enough i can even do them xx

  11. Claire Armstrong says

    These are so cute and clever. I love what you have done here!

  12. Sarah, these are just the cutest acorns I’ve ever seen! The thought of your tweed jacket stash hanging in the closet with missing arms and pieces, just cracks me up!! A perfect fall project!

  13. omgosh these are adorable!!!!!!! This fall gave us so many acorns and I can’t find anything to really do with them, next year, I will paint them and put them in a glass pumpkin bow. with top- any
    thing else?

    • Sadie Seasongoods says

      I’ve only used them in similar fashion- in vases, wide-mouth bottles, etc. But if I think of anything, I’ll let you know!!

  14. Really cute. Instead of thrift store hunting I looked around my house. I used flannel material the bottom of a soda bottle (as the top) and a wine cork (after we drank the wine of course) as the stem. It was a lot of fun trying to get the sizing just right.

  15. This is the coolest thing I have seen in a long time:-)

    Greetings from Germany,

    Kali

  16. Wow, you just blew my mine with these fabulous ideas. I love them! thanks for sharing. Stay safe and healthy.

  17. Omg love the acorns my fav

  18. Carolyn S Buckhorn says

    Each day I turn on my computer I said ” lets see what Sadie is doing today ” . I really enjoy your post..Thanks for all the awesome idea you share.

  19. Rebecca Payne says

    I love this idea.

  20. eyeloveknots says

    These are awesome!

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