Schott 525 with Patches - Some Lessons Learned

[LordOfLeather]

I have dozens of posts in my head that I want to share on TFL but rarely take the time to actually do so. Well, I'm feeling inspired today while wearing my Schott 525, so thought I'd share some pictures and my first experience adding patches to a jacket.

I bought these patches at the American Library Association Conference several years ago (I'm a librarian), but hung onto them for a few months as I tried to decide which jacket to sacrifice. This felt like a big decision. I finally decided my Schott 525 was the lucky winner -- it has a large back panel so no seams will interfere, patches seem fitting on a classic black leather/nickel hardware Perfecto, and it's not a custom piece that cost more than a mortgage payment.

Here are some photos, both old and new:

While I'm content with the jacket at this point, the person I paid to put the patches on didn't do a great job and I was initially frustrated about it (and the amount he charged for sloppy work). As shown in pictures below, he didn't follow the stitch lines when closing up the jacket and the leather is pinched along one seem. Thankfully, it's on the interior seem of the front and is not visible when the jacket is zipped. When worn unzipped, however, there's a slight wave in the seem where it once hung straight. This is nothing anyone but me will ever notice, of course.

Additionally, the sewing machine must have jumped out of line while sewing the "LIBRARY" patch.

I had been using this guy for shoe and jacket repairs since the early 2000s and he has done some amazing work over the years. Unfortunately, he has also occasionally done sloppy work, so I knew I was rolling the dice. He has since retired and I wish him the best. He's one of those guys you can't help but love. Difficult to stay mad at him, so I've let it go.

I love the irony of these patches. Motorcycle clubs are always exclusive, and you need to earn your patches. A public library is the most inclusive place in most communities. It's free of expectations and costs nothing to use the space or get a card.

Cheers.

 

[Tom71]

Thanks for sharing this. A patched-up MC jacket is always a special treat, not least as it comes at some risk to be associated with the wrong kind of company,

Visually a winner too, although I am on the fence about the amount of “nerdyness” that goes with these specific patches.

Jacket fits and suits you great, of course, and the bike is also sweet.

 

[Madhouse27]

Great post. I too have some patches and have been trying to find just the right jacket to apply them to. I can’t bring myself to alter my favorite three (613sh, vintage 618 and a Roadstar) so I’m kind of looking for “cool but not too awesome” for the project. I currently have a cheapo 618 that has holes from a back patch removal that I picked up to practice on.

 

[LordOfLeather]

Thanks for sharing this. A patched-up MC jacket is always a special treat, not least as it comes at some risk to be associated with the wrong kind of company,

Visually a winner too, although I am on the fence about the amount of “nerdyness” that goes with these specific patches.

Jacket fits and suits you great, of course, and the bike is also sweet.

Thanks!

I hear what you're saying about the nerdyness, but I have no shame. I've embraced my inner nerd. We're all nerds in one way or another -- this entire forum is people nerding out over handmade goods (and I love it).

I like the patches because motorcycling often gets stereotyped as anti-intellectual, while librarians get stereotyped as quiet, timid, or sheltered. This rejects both cliches in one shot. It says, "You can love books, believe in free access to information, and still enjoy machines that shake the windows." (which the Guzzi does much better since I upgraded the exhaust)

I was worried riders in real clubs might give me **** about it, but so far I haven't had any issues.

 

[LordOfLeather]

Great post. I too have some patches and have been trying to find just the right jacket to apply them to. I can’t bring myself to alter my favorite three (613sh, vintage 618 and a Roadstar) so I’m kind of looking for “cool but not too awesome” for the project. I currently have a cheapo 618 that has holes from a back patch removal that I picked up to practice on.

I hear you. I contemplated picking up a cheap vintage jacket to put them on, but then I thought, "If I put them on a jacket I don't like very much, I probably won't wear the jacket over other jackets I like more."

I've gotten a lot better about not holding onto my possessions too tightly, but there are still many jackets I wouldn't have done this too.

Are you planning to sew them on yourself? I considered this, as I've sewn plenty of patches on other garments back in the day, but I wasn't comfortable unstitching a seem to access behind the lining and sewing it back neatly. In hindsight, I might have done a better job than the guy I hired.

 

[Madhouse27]

I hear you. I contemplated picking up a cheap vintage jacket to put them on, but then I thought, "If I put them on a jacket I don't like very much, I probably won't wear the jacket over other jackets I like more."

Yes, that is the dilemma.

My plan is to get a heavy duty sewing machine that can handle leather and learn to sew on patches. I think there is a need for this in my area so the potential is there to make a few bucks (and have some fun) if I can become somewhat proficient. My wife is a good seamstress so I’m thinking I can have her help with reattaching linings etc (the hard stuff).

 

[Tom71]

Thanks!

I hear what you're saying about the nerdyness, but I have no shame. I've embraced my inner nerd. We're all nerds in one way or another -- this entire forum is people nerding out over handmade goods (and I love it).

I like the patches because motorcycling often gets stereotyped as anti-intellectual, while librarians get stereotyped as quiet, timid, or sheltered. This rejects both cliches in one shot. It says, "You can love books, believe in free access to information, and still enjoy machines that shake the windows." (which the Guzzi does much better since I upgraded the exhaust)

I was worried riders in real clubs might give me **** about it, but so far I haven't had any issues.

Obviously, being “nerdy” is a good thing in these dire times. Also, I do appreciate you bridging the gap between MC culture and a quintessentially intellectual task like reading.

Personally, I prefer to keep my own Jekyll & Hide firmly separated, but that’s subjective.

Cool jacket, not less with the patches!