Great beginner jacket

I MADE A JACKET!!! And I got so excited about it that I forgot to leave a review here… ?‍♀️

Anyway, I made the Pona jacket at the beginning of February and it’s my first ever attempt at sewing outerwear. I’ve had a coat planned for YEARS but I still don’t feel ready to tackle it. When the Pona jacket was released last year, I bought it immediately and I’m pleased to inform you that it is a great first outerwear project. There are no closures to stress you out, the fit is relaxed and the construction is easy peasy. I want this to be a summer jacket so since I’m not planning on wearing anything much underneath I sized down quite a bit. My regular Helen’s Closet sizing is between a 4 or a 6, depending on what I’m making. For this one, I went with a 2. I’m really happy with the fit but for a colder weather version I’d probably go back to my usual size so there’s more room for a jumper.

I made the cropped version and one modification I made was to slash the side/top of the pockets. I don’t like top opening pockets on cropped jackets. I like to be able to put my hands in them from the side, instead of feeling like I’m pretending to be a rabbit or something. ?

This would’ve been a very quick project if I hadn’t chosen to bind my seams. I have no regrets though because it looks amazing inside.

The instructions, as usual, are a cut above. Helen’s are probably my favourite instructions to follow. They’re clear, to the point and there are always helpful tips scattered throughout.

If you’re in the market for an easy jacket pattern, I highly recommend the Pona. I have a post on my blog with more photos and further details if you’d like to have a read.