Minky Swing Free Girls Jacket Pattern

Thanks for your patience, friends! I told you last week that I would have a pattern for you for the Minky Swing Jacket and I think I finally have it together enough to share it with you! Please note, this free pattern is in one size – 4T, although it’s roomy enough that you could easily size it up a few sizes by extending the sleeve length and hemline. And frankly, even littler ones could probably wear it just fine. So a very forgiving 4T is what I have for you today! You can find the link to download the pattern pieces below, followed by a quick tutorial for sewing the jacket together.

Supplies:

Minky Swing Free Girls Jacket Pattern – download and print here
3 yards minky fabric (1 ½ main and 1 ½ lining) – this is a generous fabric allottment
elastic cording for loop
1-2 buttons, any size

1. After printing and assembling the pattern pieces, use the pattern to cut the pieces for the jacket. Cut 1 bodice piece on the fold for the back. Cut two bodice front pieces (one left, one right). Cut two sleeves on the fold. Repeat for all lining pieces (one back, two front, two sleeves). Cut two collar pieces on the fold (not shown).

2. Match bodice fronts and bodice back, right sides together, at the shoulder seams. Sew with ½″ seam.

3. Open front and back and finger press the shoulder seams open.

 

4. Align the center fold of the sleeve with the shoulder seam. Pin to fit the sleeve cap into the armscye with right sides together. Stitch the sleeve to the armhole.

5. Repeat with the other sleeve.

6. Fold bodice front to meet bodice back, right sides together and matching raw edges of the sleeve. Match and pin underarm seams. Stitch from underarm down to hemline. Stitch from underarm seam to sleeve hem. Repeat Steps 1-6 to form the lining in the same manner as the main jacket.

7. Place collar pieces right sides together and stitch around outer edges (you can serge if you wish). Turn right side out and work the seam with your fingers to fill out collar and form a smooth shape. Topstitch around the seam edge to help it lie flat and maintain shape if you wish.

8. Turn the main jacket right side out. Pin the collar to the jacket neckline, matching raw edges. Baste in place using a ¼″ seam.

The above picture shows how the underside of the neckline will look when the collar has been basted in place. If needed, clip into the curves around the collar.

9. On the wearer’s left hand side, on the front of the jacket, attach a 3-4″ loop of elastic cord by stitching repeated zigzag stitches over the ends of the cord just under the collar seam and ¼″ in from raw edge.

10. With the main jacket right side out and the lining turned wrong side out, slip the lining over the top of the main jacket. Stitch around the neckline and down both sides of the front bodice to join the jacket to the lining.

11. Lay the jacket out flat and match the side seams of the main and lining. Stitch along the hemline, about ¾″ from the edge, leaving a 4-5″ opening for turning. Trim corners as needed and turn the jacket right side out through the opening. Topstitch along the entire hemline, closing the opening in the process. You can also topstitch down each side of the front – I like how the topstitching provides a little crispness to the seams on this type of fabric (particularly since you can’t iron it!)

12. Tuck the lining of the sleeve into the main sleeve. Fold under the hems of both the sleeve and the sleeve lining, so they are turned in toward one another.

13. Pin the main sleeve and the lining sleeve together at the hems. Stitch together with a ⅜″ seam, making sure to catch both the lining and the main sleeve hems in the line of stitching.

14. Attach button(s) to the jacket by sewing one directly across from the elastic loop. I sewed these larger buttons right on top of the collar. The second button (on the same side as the loop) is decorative only and is completely optional.

Your Minky Swing Jacket is complete! Good job!! You can read more about how the Minky Swing Jacket came to be here.

 

I’m also sharing some hand sewing basics over at I Heart Naptime today.