Men’s Jacket Sloper
This is the first of what I hope to be a whole series of posts on each step I go through to make a jacket, from drafting the initial pattern to the finished garment. I finally completed a working version of a men’s jacket sloper, which is what I consider the first step. This is a simple pattern with a front, back, and sleeve to establish the general shape of a jacket. None of the details that you would expect to find on a finished pattern such as pockets, side panels, lapels, collar, lining, etc., are on this version.
I tested the pattern in muslin and the fit is pretty good for a first attempt. Depending on what I end up doing with the lining, I might need to add some ease and drop the armhole a little bit to allow for any added insulating layers. Initially I was going to keep this a really simple, single layer, lightweight jacket, but with the temperatures dropping this fall, I’m tempted to try and make something that will keep me warm in colder weather.
As soon as I get this sloper tweaked to perfection, I’ll start adding all of the details that make it a real jacket pattern.
Excited to see this when it’s complete!
This is great…go for the thicker jacket (you can do it!)
I’m excited to watch you complete this project! I’ve been sewing for my son many years. Creating a sloper for him would prove very valuable. May I ask…At what step is the collar created? Should I be patient? lol
I will be working on the collar, lapels and other details next. It will definitely take me a while to get all of the pieces drafted and up on the blog, but hope to have it done in the next couple of weeks.
I am looking forward to progress on this and future projects. Keep it up! Do you have any recommendations for an inexpensive sewing machine (new or used)? I am interested in sewing shirts, pants, etc. Thanks.
Hi Ben,
It’s hard to recommend any sewing machine that I don’t have personal experience with. My suggestion would be to go into a local shop and talk to someone who knows sewing machines. Some of these places will let you try them out first before you buy one. Sometimes there are good deals on sites like ebay and craigslist, but if you don’t know what to look for you could also end up with junk.
Sorry I can’t be more specific here. Good luck!
You really ought to draft yourself a 2 piece tailored sleeve. The one piece sleeve you have looks more like a shirt sleeve. A tailored sleeve has more crown height and will not drag when worn.
Thanks for the suggestion Jamie. I will probably do a 2 piece sleeve when I return to my jacket project. This first pattern was meant to be very simple, just to get the basic shapes down.
Taylor
What was your source for this draft?