Chinese Jacket

This jacket was a birthday present for a friend of mine. The lovely pink really flatters her complexion and I am happy to say she was delighted with it. She will look very glam on her days at home.

Once again the jacket is made from a Cotton Traders sweatshirt. They are such good quality but  I wish they would not put a prominent logo on the front.  I have managed to hide the logo on previous jackets. with ruffles and collars and pockets.  This time I have placed a button over the logo. It doesn't exactly hide it, but it disguises it.

I may do a little research on the internet to find another source, but I do want this quality.

What you need:

• a sweatshirt
• some toning fabric (I used this little floral print)
• a piece of wadding or fleece to interline the collar
• a pattern for a Chinese collar (or make one yourself)
• some buttons to cover

How to do it:

Begin by cutting all the ribbing off the sweatshirt.

Carefully measure and cut a straight line up the centre front of the sweatshirt to make it into a jacket.

Make a pleat at the centre back of the neck about 2 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide when folded.

With right sides together, pin and stitch the outside of the collar to the neckline.

Sandwich the collar lining between the outside of the collar and the fleece/wadding.
Stitch around the edge.
Trim the fleece so that it will fit neatly into the collar pieces.

Hand stitch the lining into place.

Stitch front facing to each side of the jacket.

Turn under the raw edge and machine stitch.

Face the hem the same way and tidy up the edges by folding ends under and tucking front facings into the hem facing.

Do the same at the collar edge.  If necessary, stitch by hand.

Now face the ends of the sleeves in the same way.  Machine stitch the facing to the sleeves.  Turn under and finish by hand.

Make four loops 4 1/2 inches long by 2 inches wide.
Fold in half lengthwise and then fold in each side to the middle.  Press and edge stitch.

To insert the loops, open up the stitching in the front facing on the right side at measured intervals and insert the loops.  Re-stitch by machine.

Cover the buttons following directions on the packet and sew them on the the left side.

Press the facings and collar gently.