In the past I've always bought my fleece/softshell/knit jackets, but as they wear out I'm finding I've got fussy about features and fit and so am looking to sew my own.
My requirements - full length front zip and zipped pockets. Front princess seams (maybe back also but that's less critical) and a short stand collar. I also wanted something which could be sewn from fabrics with minimal stretch as I wanted a skimming fit not a tight fit.
After much debate on The Sewing Place I ended up tracing off and sewing up this pattern from Ottobre Woman 5/2014 model 17.
I measured myself and fell between the 48 and 50. I cut out and sewed up the 48 and its a little big on the shoulders and bust. I didn't include my normal high round back alteration and it rides up a little at the back hem.
I followed the instructions for the zipped pockets and they worked beautifully. The key is the inner pocket is slightly smaller to accommodate the zipper tape.
I didn't like their instructions for the collar, so for the collar, front zipper and hem I followed the method outlined by Karina from Lifting Pins and Needles on YouTube which worked very well.
I hand sewed the inner collar to the neck seam as I didn't think I'd get neat topstitching through all those layers on my machine.
I then topstitched the zip and hemmed the sleeves. I also hand stitched the pockets to the zipper tape and hem as they showed beneath the hemline when I put my hands in them. This feels like a workaround and I think could be done better.
I have a very warm and cosy fleece jacket and learned a lot from doing it. The fit isn't quite there yet but I learned so much and have made a wearable jacket.
