How to Make Ladies' Short Jackets

Having your notions at hand speeds the sewing process.

Being able to sew your own jackets can add variety to your wardrobe, since you can choose the fabric you want, along with the color and the design. Jackets may appear to be hard to sew, but if you select a pattern that matches your sewing skill, mastering the construction of a jacket is not difficult. Short jackets flatter women who are shorter or who have full hips, since they emphasize the upper torso.

Things You'll Need

• Pattern
• Fabric
• Assistant (optional)
• Measuring tape
• Pins
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Hemming or seam tape
• Needle
• Thread

Instructions

1. Select the pattern and the fabric for the jacket. The back of the pattern contains a list of suggested fabrics and necessary notions you need to sew your jacket.

2. Ask someone to use a measuring tape to check the length from the back of your neck to the point where you want the hem of the jacket. A short jacket usually rests on or near your waistline. You can shorten or lengthen the pattern when you lay it out.

3. Find the sewing directions inside the pattern and lay the pattern pieces as the guide indicates. Pin and cut the pieces out. Make any markings that the pattern uses for pockets, darts, pleats, front band, buttons and collar placement.

4. Use the pattern directions to put the jacket together. Jacket patterns vary in the steps involved in the jacket's construction. When you have the sleeves and side seams in, trying on the jacket for a preliminary fitting helps you make any alterations before finishing. If your jacket has pockets inside the side seams, sew the seams to the point where the pockets start, pin the balance of the seams toward the hem, and try on the jacket, carefully avoiding the pins.

5. Finish the seams as the pattern instructs. If you are sewing a lined jacket, you probably do not need to finish the seams since they won't be visible when you take the jacket off.

6. Hem the jacket. If you are using heavy fabric, use hemming tape or seam binding. This tape finishes the bottom edge of the fabric and lays flat against the inside of the jacket, reducing bulk. If you are sewing a dressy jacket, it's a good idea to hand sew the hem for the bottom of the jacket and the sleeves. If your jacket is casual, sew the hems with your machine.

7. Make the buttonholes if your jacket closes by choosing the buttonhole setting on your machine. If you use shank buttons for the jacket, you may have to sew them on by hand.

References

• Your Choice of Jackets; How to Sew a Jacket the Easy Way; Joanne El-Amin