Bring your fabric and your sewing supplies, and walk out wearing a new jacket. This jacket is so simple to make that even those who have never made a garment can master it easily. There is no printed pattern involved - just your body measurements. A simple, elegant addition to any wardrobe.

Supply List
• Show 'n' Share
• Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies (including fabric shears, measuring tape, pins, thread to match your fabric). If you don't want to bring your sewing machine, you can bring everything else, cut out and pin the jacket together, and do the sewing at home.
• Fabric: This should be something that drapes well and looks good on both sides, and from both directions. I find the African and Balinese batik rayons to be perfect, but there are a lot of other beautiful fabrics out there. (If you have a sarong sitting around doing nothing, this would be a great use for it. And the hems would already be finished.) If the fabric is too stiff, it will look rather boxy in this style. Here's an opportunity to show off a border print -- the cuffs fall on the selvedges.  The sheers currently available would be wonderful, but will take longer to finish due to the need for finishing the seams attractively. Even polar fleece will work.
• To determine how much fabric to bring, decide how long you want the jacket to be (This style is very attractive at fingertip length or longer) and multiply by two. If necessary, allow extra fabric to match stripes, plaids, or prints.  If you are a sumptuously sized woman or have very long arms, you might want to add 1/4 yard if you want long sleeves.  Note:  the fabric width determines the basic sleeve length because the crosswise grain extends from one cuff across the shoulders and down to the other cuff.  You can extend the sleeves, using the scraps cut away from the underarm, or by allowing extra fabric.

• Have a buddy take & record the following measurements:
• _______  Desired length of coat, from prominent vertebra at base of neck to hem.  This coat is designed to be a little longer in back & shorter in front.  Fingertip length tends to flatter most people.
• _______  Largest circumference of your body (usually abdomen, hip or high hip).
• Cut fabric twice the desired length.  If necessary, match stripes, plaids, or prints.
• Fold fabric lengthwise, then crosswise.  Place on the table with the crosswise fold away from you (shown as the "big fold" in the diagram below).
• Calculate the value of "X", according to the following formula:  X = (Y + E) / 4, where Y is your largest circumference, and E is the desired ease (usually between 10 and 15 inches (25.4 to 38.1 cm)).  Here's a space to write it in:
• X = _______
• Mark the underarm seam by pinning through all layers as shown.  The 11" (28 cm) is the default sleeve length.

• Depending on your fabric, and the way you want to finish the raw edges, decide what seam allowance to use (default is 5/8" (1.6 cm)), and cut through all layers parallel to the pins, at the desired seam allowance outside them.
• To form the front opening, cut along one of the lengthwise folds, starting from the hem, and stopping two inches (5.1 cm) below the big fold.
• Optional:  finish raw edges of underarm seam allowances.
• Sew underarm seams.
• Finish hem, neck edge, and cuffs (if necessary; nominally the selvedges fall on the cuffs).
• Optional:  extend sleeves.

Amy cut her jacket from a silk sari purchased in Singapore in 1999, and made a matching skirt & blouse (completed June 2001).

Candy's nearly finished jacket, cut from a tablecloth.  She left slits at the bottom of the side seams.  Because she used a tablecloth, the cuffs are already finished.  She didn't cut for length, and so her hem is already finished too.

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