How to Design Your Own Sweat Jacket

Let your creative juices flow and design something you will be proud to wear.

Jackets are convenient, especially in the spring and fall, when the weather isn't quite warm enough to venture out in shirtsleeves, but too warm to wear your winter coat. A sweat jacket makes a handy transitional accessory. If you haven't been able to find what you are looking for in the shops, then you may want to design your own sweat jacket at home. It can be a tangible way to express your creativity and, depending on your talent, could open up a new career.

Things You'll Need

• Sketchpad
• Pencil
• Fine-tipped pen
• Colored pencils

Instructions

1. Sketch out your initial design in pencil on the sketchpad, just drawing out your idea of how you would ideally like the finished sweat jacket to look. Do you want 3/4-length sleeves or long sleeves? Do you need thumb-holes in the wristbands? Would you like it to be extra-long, cropped or regular length?

2. Sketch only the front of the sweat jacket on a separate piece of paper from the sketchpad, concentrating on the overall shape of the jacket. Do you want the jacket to be tightly form-fitting or loose? Set this drawing aside.

3. Sketch only the back of the sweat jacket on a separate piece of paper from the sketchpad, concentrating on the overall shape and silhouette of the jacket.

4. Place your two drawings next to each other and work on filling in the details on your drawing. If you would like a hood, add it to both drawings, in the appropriate perspective to fit with the drawings. If you would like a zipper, add that to the drawing of the front of the first drawing. Include things like pockets and drawstrings.

5. Add and erase details to your drawings until you are satisfied.

6. Edit your rough design by adding any graphics or words that you would like to appear on the sweat jacket to your drawings. Note the types of fabric you plan to use, and include interfacings, linings and notions, like thread, buttons, zippers and trim.

7. Retrace the outline of your jacket drawings with the fine-tipped ink pen, to create darker and cleaner lines.

8. Finish your design by coloring your sweat jacket design carefully with colored pencils.

References

• "Fashion Design and Presentation"; John Patrick Ireland; 2003

Resources

• "The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style"; Simon Travers-Spencer and Zarida Zaman; 2008