Florence Pocket Coat - Free sewing patterns

Smart, sophisticated, and suited to the season. Need another reason to make this gorgeous garment from Amanda Walker? How about the fact that it can be stitched in five simple steps! Just the thing for layering over a pretty dress or a classic trouser and tee combo, the Florence coat features generous pockets, beautifully finished seams, and a stunning scooped neckline.

Essentials

Fabric, 2.5m (150cm)
Fusible interfacing

Sizes

8-24

Cutting Guide

Back jacket: cut one on the fold
Front jacket: cut one pair
Front facing: cut one pair
from fabric and one pair
from fusible interfacing
Sleeve: cut one pair
Pocket: cut one pair
Pocket facing: cut one pair
from fabric and one pair from
fusible interfacing
1.5cm seam allowance throughout, unless otherwise stated.

1 Download and print the pattern from sewmag.co.uk, then print and follow the cutting guide. Fuse the interfacing to the front, back and pocket facings. Neaten the lower edges of the pocket facing and position to the top of the pocket, right sides facing. Stitch across the top curved edge and down the edge of the pointed part of the pocket. Trim the bulk from the corners and turn the pocket facings back to the wrong side, tease out the corners and press flat. Press in the seam allowance down the edge of the pocket and across the base. Pin the pockets to the positions marked on the side edges of the front jacket pieces and edgestitch the pocket in place.

2 Neaten the shoulder edges of both the front and back jacket, then position and stitch the front two jacket pieces to the back and press the seam open. Sew the front facing pieces to the back neck facing across the shoulder edges. Press the seams open, then neaten the outer edges of the facing. Lay the jacket out flat with right sides uppermost. Lay the facing around the neckline and front edges of the jacket with right sides facing the jacket.

3 Match the shoulder seams, back neckline and front edges together. Stitch in place around the neck edge and down the centre front opening. At the base, sew across the facing 3.5cm from the base of the jacket, this will become the start of the hem. Trim the bulk from the corners and clip the curve of the back neckline. Turn the facing over onto the inside of the jacket and tease out the edges and press flat. Under-stitch around the back neck facing to stop the facing from rolling out.

4 Lay the jacket out flat with right sides uppermost and position the sleeves into the armholes. Match the notch in the head of the sleeve to the ends of the shoulder seam, pin and stitch in place. Neaten the seam allowance together and press the seam towards the inside of the jacket. Neaten the underarm edges of the sleeves and side edges of the jacket in one continuous line.

5 Match the underarm edges of the sleeves and the side seams together, pin and sew, press the seams open. Fold and press the hem of the sleeves and the hem at the base of the jacket. Hand-stitching the hems in place. Hand slip-stitch the edges of the facing to the jacket to stop the facing from rolling out.