after recently taking part in film petit for one of my fave flicks of all time - ferris beuller's day off, i knew after having so much fun making my daughter's "sloane jacket" that i had to do a pattern for all of you!  this jacket is such a blast to make! it was probably the most fun sewing i've had in a long time!  the fringe, oh the fringe!  i heart it and my daughter hearts it too!  i hope you enjoy embracing your inner sloane and whipping one up for your little girl or heck - even for yourself! you could easily use the tutorial portion and draft up your own pattern pieces based on an existing jacket of yours.

i made this jacket to fit my daughter so it's roughly a 4/5T size.  she's a small little thing though just to give you a heads up for sizing.  i've written a tutorial for you all below and there is also pattern pieces you can download for the size 4/5T.  to see more pics of my sloane jacket and to read my film petit post click here.  This is a quick and easy sew with no seams at all whatsoever to finish! yes! using a soft fleece makes this kid friendly and also super simple to sew! a winning combo in my book especially since my daughter is super sensitive to what she wears.





MATERIALS

- Approx. 1 yard soft fleece fabric
- Co-ordinating thread
- Washable fabric marker

PATTERN PIECES

- Click below for the pattern pieces for the Sloane Jacket.


INSTRUCTIONS

*All seam allowances are 1/2" unless otherwise noted.

STEP ONE:  ASSEMBLING THE JACKET

Print out your pattern pieces being careful that the sizing is accurate.  Be careful to also make sure that you have noted the RS and WS of your fleece. Mine is white and it can sometimes be a tad tricky to tell the difference if you're sewing coffee deprived or in dim lighting :)  Cut out your pattern pieces.  You should have the following:

(2) fronts, (1) back and (2) sleeves

You should also have (5) rectangles to make your fringe from (sizes are noted above in the materials section).  Do not cut your fringe until instructed too later in the pattern.  Make sure to transfer the lines on your front and back jacket pieces for where to sew your fringe (make sure whatever fabric marker you are using is ok for the kind of fleece you are using).

With your back piece and your left front piece RS facing sew along your shoulder seam with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Repeat for the back piece this time with your right front piece.  Trim your seam allowance.

Now fold your neckline (this should be your entire neckline meaning your 2 fronts and the back) down 1/4" and topstitch it for a nice finish from the RS.  *See illustration to the left.

STEP TWO:  MAKING & ATTACHING YOUR SLEEVES

Gather the sleeve cap in between the pattern markings by using the longest stitch length (or gathering setting on your machine) with no backstitching and a 1/4" seam allowance.  Leave a long tail after sewing and pull gently to gather your sleeve cap.  Repeat for your other sleeve.  *See illustration below.

With RS facing each other lay your sleeve on your jacket sleeve opening and pin in carefully adjusting your gathering to make sure it fits your sleeve opening.  *Option: You can also choose to baste (sew in with a 1/4" seam allowance & no backstitching) in the portion of your sleeve cap that is gathered to eliminate any shifting or moving of your gathering while you sew in your sleeve.  Sew your entire sleeve cap into the opening with a 1/2" seam allowance. Trim your seam allowance.


We are now going to sew your sleeve arm and the side seams of your jacket on the side you just attached your sleeve cap to.  First though you need to place (1) of your rectangles along your sleeve arm centered between the cuff & underarm, RS facing RS of front sleeve (you want to see the RS of the fringe when you look at the jacket from front on when you are done making the garment). Pin along sleeve seam (sandwiching the sleeve fringe piece inside) and side seam.  Next starting at the bottom corner of the side seam of your jacket with RS facing each other and using a 1/4" seam allowance stitch your side jacket seams with RS facing each other continuing up and along your sleeve enclosing your sleeve (also sewing your sleeve fringe piece to your sleeve) and sew along the length of your sleeve. *See illustration above.  Fold the bottom sleeve hem 1/4" and topstitch to finish sleeve.  Repeat the above steps for your other sleeve and for the other side seam of your jacket.

STEP THREE: FINISHING EDGES

Hem the bottom of your jacket at a cropped length that is good for your child. I folded mine up 1/4" and topstitched along the hem.  Next fold your front sides under 1/4" enclosing your neckline and bottom hem underneath and topstitch this down as well close to edge. Trim all your seam allowances neatly.

STEP FOUR: ADDING THE FRINGE

Fold your back fringe piece in half.  Mark 4.25" down from top folded edge. Draw a line from this mark to the top opposite corner. Cut along this mark.

With your jacket RS facing up pin the back fringe pattern piece RS facing up on your back jacket piece along the pattern lines designating where to place fringe. Stitch  along top edge of rectangle from one end to the other.  Lay jacket flat and cut your fringe evenly approx. 1/2" spacing for each cut.



Next take one of your front fringe rectangles and pin down on your left front side along the pattern markings.  Sew along the top edge of the rectangle.  Lay jacket flat and cut your fringe evenly approx. 1/2" spacing for each cut.  Repeat for the right side of your jacket front.  Your fringe length should just hit the bottom of your jacket.


Now using the same 1/2" spacing cut the fringe for your sleeves.  I did mine on an angle for fun going from short near the armpit down to a longer length before the sleeve cuff. 


That's it! You're done! So easy and fast right? Don't you love not having any seams to finish?  I hope you have fun with it!  If you have a child that is younger or older than a 4/5T size find a jacket of yours that's a similar shape and use it as a guide to make your pattern pieces. There are a lot of tutorials online showing you how to draft a pattern using an existing garment.


Try your new coat on your wee one and go rock out to "deunkeshein"! Tell Ferris and Cameron I say hi! Happy sewing!!!

p.s. if you make a sloane jacket please email me pics or add them to our flickr group! i love seeing your finished projects and so do my readers!