Make a Slouchy Velvet Blazer – Free Sewing Pattern & tutorial

Blazers, Vests, Jackets – they are always in demand. They go with everything, be it dresses, skirts and blouses, pants. Layering starts there.

We always have room for one more blazer. And here it is – the all time favourite in Velvet. This hip length ( or longer) slouchy blazer has a shawl collar, an open front and long sleeves

How to make the pattern

It is better to make a paper pattern for the back pattern first and then base this paper pattern to cut the front panels. This way there is no waste of the precious velvet fabric.(rather than marking directly on the fabric as I normally do for other inexpensive fabrics) 

Back pattern

A <span “>- B = 32″ – this is the height of the blazer plus 2 inches. You will  get a blazer of about 30 inch ; this is hip length or longer depending on the height/build of the person.

Mark A-F  a line parallel to the top edge 8 inch from the top ; 

A-F = 8″

A-C = 1/2 of shoulder to shoulder + 1/4″ ; You will have to measure from your left shoulder tip ( Where your sleeve begins) to the other shoulder tip. Divide this by 2 and add 1/4 inch. 

C-D = 3/4″. This is marked for the shoulder slope. 

E-F = 1/4 of Bust round+ 1 1/2″

G-H = 1/4 of waist round+ 1 1/2″

B-I = 1/4 of hip round+ 1 1/2″

Mark straight down from C to the line E-F to M; From M mark diagonally 1 inch – N 

M-N = 1″

Join D-N-E in a soft curve for your back bodice armhole.

Join E-G-I in a soft curve for the side seam. 

Mark the neckline width A-L = 2 inch

From A  mark down 1″ to J ; Join from L- J in a soft curve for the neckline

Your back pattern is ready. Cut the fabric piece with it. 

Front panel pattern 

Keep the back pattern on another piece of paper. Make the following changes

Mark inside 1″ from M to S. Mark 3/4 inch diagonally to T; Join D-T-E in a soft curve for the front armhole line.

Cut along L-R-I-G-E-T-D. This is your front panel pattern. You need to keep this on a center folded fabric so that you get 2 fabric pieces which are mirror images- left and right panels

Keep this front panel on the folded fabric and cut pieces. Ensure that you have cut everything as you should. 

Shawl Pattern.

Now to make the shawl pattern; You need a long fabric strip of about 70 inch long for making this.

You will have to join fabric pieces unless you have that long a fabric piece. Fold it by half and mark the pattern. One side is straight and the other slightly slanting. The straight edge will be sewn to the front panel edge. 

How to sew the blazer

Step 1 Embellish the blazer

There are many ways you can transform the fabric you have. Velvet takes  to embossing, embroidery, sequins and beads very well . I have chosen to do bead Embroidery.

Checkout the post on the basic bead embroidery stitches here

I have decided to do a simple bead embroidery motif on the shawl porion of the blazer. You can totally skip this. I will understand, because  my daughter has refused to wear the Blazer unless I remove the beads. Is it her age?. I love bead embroidery! 

You will have to mark on the back and do the work, because it is velvet and marking on velvet with chalk or other embroidery transfer methods are difficult. You can make some basting stitches to mark where you will be doing the work . Checkout tips on sewing with velvet here

Step 2 Cut out the sleeves 

Follow the sleeve pattern in this page. Make long and wide sleeves.  I have taken 12 inch width at the bottom edge of the sleeves ( total width). This is totally dependant on you and your wrist measurement or the style of sleeve you want.  

Step 3 Join the shoulder seams of the front panel and the back pattern.

Keep it in place like below picture and see which goes where. Pin and then stitch right sides together. 

Step 4 Hem the sleeve wrist edge.

I am using catch stitch ( hand stitching ) to do the hem. You can machine stitch as well

Step 5 Join the sleeves to the bodice

Remember to keep the center of the sleeves aligned with the shoulder seams and pin 

Stitch with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Step 6. Stitch the side seams of the bodices as well as the sleeves.

Step 6 Finish the edge of the shawl piece

Turn under one edge ( the slanting edge ) of the shawl and stitch. 

Step 7 Join the shawl to the blazer

Keep the shawl and the front panel right sides together and stitch the shawl to the front panel.  I would start from the center of the back bodice and then reach one side end go back to the back neck and proceed stitch to the other end. 

Step 8 Hem the blazer. Finished

You can wear your slouchy velvet blazer any way you want it , but blue jeans seems to suit it best . Checkout Tony Braxton if you do not believe me.

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