Chore Coat Jacket -- Beginner/Intermediate Garment Making Class

A chore coat is one of those handmade wardrobe pieces you’ll reach for again and again. Practical, comfortable, and effortlessly stylish, it can be thrown over jeans, layered over a sweater, or worn over a dress. With its relaxed, slightly boxy fit and—most importantly—lots of pockets, it’s the perfect three-season jacket.

In this class, you’ll learn the techniques you need to sew your own chore coat while working from the pattern of your choice. Rather than following one specific pattern step-by-step as a group, we’ll focus on the garment-making skills that are common to most chore coat patterns. This gives you the freedom to choose the style and details you love while building skills you can use on future jacket projects.

Skills You'll Learn

Depending on the pattern you choose, we'll work on techniques including:

• Constructing patch pockets and other chore-coat detail

• Sewing collars and cuffs

• Creating sleeve plackets

• Installing buttons or snaps

• Sewing buttonholes

• Working with interfacing

• Tips for achieving a clean, professional-looking finish

Because jackets involve quite a bit of sewing, you may not completely finish your chore coat during class—and that's okay! Our goal is to give you hands-on experience with the more challenging parts of construction while an instructor is available to demonstrate techniques, troubleshoot, and answer questions. You'll leave with the skills and confidence you need to complete your jacket at home.

Pattern Choices

Students may choose from one of the following chore coat patterns:

Ilford Jacket by Friday Pattern Company

Painter Jacket by Wardrobe by Me

The Ottoline by Merchant & Mills

Already have another chore jacket pattern you'd love to make? Contact us before registering to see if it will work for the class.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

This class is best for students who already have some sewing experience and are ready to tackle a more involved garment project.

This is not a Learn to Sew class. Students should be able to independently thread and operate their sewing machine, wind a bobbin, sew an accurate seam allowance, and have some previous experience reading a sewing pattern or making garments.

Supplies

Students will need:

• Printed or PDF pattern of their choice

• Approximately 2.5–3.5 yards of woven fabric, depending on pattern, size, and style. Please check your pattern

• Coordinating thread

• Buttons or snaps as required by your pattern

• Fusible interfacing as required by your pattern

• Basic sewing supplies such as scissors, pins, and marking pens/chalk

Fabric requirements vary by pattern and size, so please refer to your specific pattern before purchasing fabric.

Recommended fabrics: medium-weight woven fabrics such as denim, canvas, twill, corduroy, linen blends, or other bottom-weight fabrics. Lighter woven fabrics can also be used for a more shirt-like jacket.

We recommend washing and drying your fabric before class using the same method you plan to use for the finished garment.

Prep Work: Students should come to class with their fabric cut out and ready to sew. Should you have questions about sizing and/or how to cut your fabric, please contact us prior to class.