I finished sewing this fleece jacket shortly after Christmas and have worn it a lot since then.  I’m so glad I have it today because it is 4° here.

Yes, you read that right, that’s the number four with nothing else before or after it.  Never mind what it is with the wind chill. Brrrr…….

It was a fairly quick project.  The only thing that slowed it down was top-stitching and trimming all the seams.  I’m glad I took the time for this step, though, because it gives it a more finished and professional look inside and outside.

McCalls 5252 is a nice pattern, with lots of options, but keep in mind that it runs really big.

See how huge the sleeves are?

Here’s a closer look at the top-stitching.  I sewed a perfect rectangle for the velcro for the mp3 player pocket.  Too bad it’s crooked.  Grrrr……

Doncha just love fleece? I remember when I first discovered it on a quilting group trip to the American Textile History Museum in Lowell.  Of course, no field trip is complete without shopping, so we then went to the nearby Polartec outlet store.  (Sadly, it’s no longer there.)

I’d never seen polar fleece before was amazed by the stuff. I decided everyone would get fleece bathrobes for Christmas that year. The bag I brought home barely fit on the bus, much less in my trunk.  : – )

Anyhow, here’s my review of the pattern.

Happy sewing and stay warm!

Pattern Description: Misses’ and men’s unlined vests and jackets. Loose fitting, unlined vest or jacket has yoke front, collar or hood, zipper closure (vests A & D, jackets B & E; jackets C & F are pullover) with or without sleeve and inseam pockets.

Pattern Sizing: The pattern envelope says small-medium-large, but this pattern runs rather huge.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes. Although, you might notice that the model is pulling the front down with her hands in the pockets. I’m guessing that’s because it’s tough to put a zipper in fleece with getting at least a little rippling.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yup, they were good.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? What I liked:

I really like the interesting lines of this pattern. The little mp3 player pocket is great, too, as I walk around listening to audio books all day.

What I disliked:

When they say “loose fitting” they aren’t kidding around! I measured the actual pattern and compared them against a finished garment that fit. I ended up making a medium, though according to the pattern I should have done a large. As you can see, it’s still kinda big. However, it is nice to have the option of LOTS of layers underneath. 🙂

Fabric Used: I use a fleece from Joann’s.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I didn’t alter the pattern at all, but if I made it again, I’d probably make the sleeves and armscye less wide. It just seems way too deep to me.

I also would make the back of the pocket (the part closest to the body) out of fleece, rather than lining fabric. The thin cotton I used just doesn’t feel substantial enough, and a little extra bulk isn’t going to matter in this very bulky garment.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might make this again, but definitely in a small. The fleece is very warm and comfy on chilly winter days.

Conclusion: A great winter wardrobe item! But be sure to measure a similar garment that you like the fit of and compare those measurements to the pattern tissue (less seam allowance) in order to choose a more accurate size.

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