From Prada to Calvin Klein, reflective fabrics have made a huge impact on the runways for Fall 2018. When thinking of reflective garments, you tend to imagine safety uniforms, but we’ve gone way beyond the standard utilitarian purpose with our Avelia Bomber! Here, fashion meets function with this mesmerizing eye-catching textile! As always, Mood Designer Fabrics has this amazing rainbow colored reflective fabric that will surely get you noticed! The way the light reflects and bounces off this fabric is almost magical. With iridescent hues of purple and green, this would pair nicely with solid black knit stretch pants or maybe a black knit Ponte jumpsuit!
Not only will you get noticed, but you’ll also spark up several conversations wearing this Avelia Bomber. The jacket is fully lined and its fluorescent properties will look amazing with every move you make. Cute details like the faux zip pocket and green rib knit are just icing on the cake! Imagine wearing this on a night out with your girls! Or how about a weekend shopping trip in the city? Whether you’re out sporting this beauty during day or night, just make sure you stop and take a few selfies; some cool street art would make an awesome backdrop!
Fabrics & materials used:
- 2.5 yards of Rainbow Reflective Fabric
- 2.5 yards of Eggplant Poly Lining
- 1 Emerald Metal Zipper
- 1 Black Separating Plastic Molded Zipper 25.5 (I trimmed my zipper to 21″)
- 5 pc Dark Green Rib Knit Trim
- MDF091 – The Avelia Bomber Sewing Pattern (free download below!)
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. See chart below for sizing specifications. Note, this specific pattern is available up to a size 30.
First let’s assemble the lining:
- With right sides together, pin back pieces together and sew at the center back seam. Open and press seam allowance.
- With right sides together, pin back to front at sides and sew. Open and press seam allowances.
- With right sides together, pin back to front at shoulders and sew. Open and press seam allowances.
Next, let’s baste stitch and set in our sleeves:
- With a basting stitch, sew along the cap of the sleeve between notches as shown. Slightly pulling on the thread from both ends, gather and smooth the cap creating ease. This will help set the sleeve in much nicer.
- With right sides facing in, fold sleeve matching notches and pin. Stitch along the edge. Press seam allowance.
- With right sides together, set in sleeve and pin in place. Stitch sleeve, and press seam allowance. (Set aside lining for later).
Moving on to our main fabric:
- Follow steps as above for the lining. Make sure to press seams open and flat. For this fabric, you are going to use a very low setting-press lightly to avoid burning.
- Right sleeve: Here we are going to add the faux pocket with zip detail. First, we will create a self-drafted guide and facing to mark the placement of your zipper. The zipper we are using is 4.5”. Measure the length of your zipper and the width then add ½” on each side. Draw a center fold line down the middle of this guide to mark where you will cut. Use this guide to cut 2 pieces from your main fabric. One piece will be used as your facing/guide and the other piece you will use to attach the zipper. Once you have your pieces cut out, you can mark where you would like to place the zipper. Measure down about 4” from the top of the sleeve cap and pin your zipper to mark placement. Pin facing with the right side up and stitch along the stitching line. Fold facing in half and make a small incision on the center cut line. Lay flat and continue cutting through the center. Make small angled incisions from the center to all four corners, but not clipping past the stitch line. Turn in facing and press flat. Pin zipper to the other piece of the fabric guide and stitch into place. Place faux pocket opening over the zipper and stitch to the sleeve as shown. Continue steps as above with basting the sleeve cap for ease. Pin sleeves at sides and stitch. Set in sleeve and stitch to finish.
- Bottom rib hem (4 pieces): Right sides together, pin 1 set of bands together at side and stitch. Do this for both sets. Now attach both sets of rib hems together and stitch together as one continuous piece.
- Now attach the jacket to the bottom rib hem. Line up the rib with jacket bottom at the back seam and side seams. Pin and sew.
- Attach lining: With right sides together, match lining at the bottom edge, again matching back and side seams. The rib should be sandwiched in between as shown. Pin and sew.
- Turn up the lining and start to place inside the jacket. Push sleeves through and lay jacket flat as shown.
- Zipper placket: With right sides together, pin placket together and stitch along the edge as shown. Stitch across the bottom and turn right side out then press. Place zipper right side up and pin left side of the zipper to placket along placket as shown. Unzip and set the right side of the zipper aside. Stitch zipper in place. With right sides together, pin zipper placket to the right side of the jacket and sew. Pin right side of the separating zipper to Jacket at left side and stitch. Make sure bottom edge is aligned when zipped closed.
- Attach knit cuffs to the outer jacket: With right sides together pin knit cuffs at seams and stitch. Attach cuffs to outer sleeve openings with right sides facing. Match cuffs to side seam to sleeve seam and pin. Make sure to stretch the knit as you sew, fitting it into place.
- Now we can attach the lining to the sleeve opening and cuffs. With right sides of fabric together, matching seams, pin the lining to the sleeve opening sandwiching the knit cuff in between as shown. Sitch and pull sleeve through jacket with lining.
- Collar: With right sides of rib collar together, match notches, and sew along the edge as shown. Leaving the lining free, pin collar to jacket at neck opening matching notches and sew. Pin the lining to the neck sandwiching the rib knit between the outer jacket as shown. Turn under the bottom of the knit collar making sure the seam allowances are hidden. Pin in place and top stitch along the edge.
- Finish the sleeves by turning up the cuffs and sewing in place. Turn up the bottom hem edge and pin and sew in place to finish, and you’re done!
For More Ideas and Pattern Hack Using the Avelia Bomber Pattern, Click the Link Below:
Avelia Bomber Jacket Redux – Free Sewing Pattern
57 comments
Is there a video tutorial? I always wanted to make a jacket like this. this is a bit advanced for me. I would really love a video tutorial
We’re hoping to start including video tutorials soon!
I love this! Is there anything similar in a men’s?
Magnifique
Love the jacket and thank you so much for the step by step tutorial. I’ve feared lining forever, but not anymore. I have a beautiful knit that would be stunning. I’m pumped and motivated. Thank you so much!!
What is the seam allowance on the patterns? Included or does it need to be added?
Hi Anne – a 1/2″ seam allowance is included in all of our patterns, unless otherwise stated in the instructions. 🙂
Thank you so much for this pattern. I made one, added pockets and used snaps instead of a zip.
Hey Tanya,
Did you do anything special to add the snaps instead of a zip?
So sophisticated AND snazzy! I would love to also see a tutorial on your jacket.
J’aime beaucoup vos création car je trouve des modèles a ma taille en France T58 ,et en plus il y a une diversité de modèle. Merci.
Hello, this seems to be a loose fit. If I want a tighter fit, should I make the jacket one size smaller than the measurement table says ?
Hi Laura! Yes, you could certainly do that. This is more on the loose fit side, so there’s definitely room to adjust.
I would like to make this jacket into a reversible jacket. I was just trying to figure out how the zipper placket would work for it.
Hi Mackenzie – there’s no placket in this pattern, so you’ll just need a reversible zipper pull.
very nice
All of the directions are wonderfully detailed, and the pictures are very helpful but the pattern was never sent to my E-Mail! I hope you can fix this. Thanks.
I just made this jacket (having been led to the pattern from the reversible jacket instructions here – https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/mood-diy-free-reversible-bomber-jacket-sewing-pattern/ )
I have some notes in general and also some tips if anyone else is making the jacket reversible.
Bomber Jacket sewing notes:
The waistband pattern piece here is wrong – it should be cut on the fold (to double the width) and the instructions imply that there are four sections to align with the back and side seams, but the pattern piece is the right size for two sections creating a centre seam only. With the tubular knit the fabric is only wide enough to do this rather than one continuous waistband, but the four sections would work too if the pattern piece was correct.
I also chose to make the back panel as one piece rather than two joined together so took out the seam allowance from the centre of the back pattern and cut it on the fold.
Cut waistband and collar on the fold so there’s no joining seam at the outer edges – otherwise it’s very uneven and bumpy and a nightmare to sew – the fabric should lie nice and flat on the fold. I did this by the instructions the first time and had to unpick everything and re-cut the pattern pieces.
No need for a zipper placket on the reversible jacket – so don’t cut this out if you’re making the jacket reversible.
I wanted a different style of collar – see other bombers where the collar tapers down to the front rather than sticking out like this, and I also chose not to do the sleeve pocket.
I didn’t follow the instructions for attaching the waistband, cuffs and collars – instead I did the inside out method and the whole jacket can be pulled through the side seams before the zipper has been attached – once the sleeves are attached then double check they aren’t twisted inside – the best method for this is to ‘wear’ both sides of the sleeve before attaching – do a basting stitch first to check it isn’t twisted then sew on the machine. after everything is sewn in the right place, sew the two inside hems together with a zigzag stitch to hold them in place on the sleeves, collar and waistband.
attaching the zipper is HARD and super fiddly – make sure the waistband matches at either side of the zip (which is less important than back and front) and make sure both sides meet at the top – this really means it’s very important to sew the seam allowance accurately on the waistband to front panels.
I added in seam pockets on both sides of the reversible jacket by cutting 8 pocket pieces and sewing them to the front and back pieces before stitching the side seams, then stitching the bottom seam together at the waistband stage. I added a bit of interfacing to hold the shape of the pocket opening so the jacket still sits flat.
You can see the first attempt of my reversible bomber here! -https://twitter.com/JoHelferArtist/status/1288784171633192960
Dang! I already made my cuts and was just realizing this was an issue, and found your comment too late. It totally makes sense though, and mimics the issues I’m experiencing (working on a reversible bomber). Thanks for confirming!
Question – did you cut the cuffs on the fold too? I’ll re-cut the waistband and collar on the fold.
And, I saw the same note about the center seam on the back. For one of my jackets, I took out the back seam (it’s a shiny/lining type side) and on the other, I kept it. Agreed it’s probably unnecessary but I’m doing a patchwork type thing on the second jacket, so it helped.
I didn’t recut the waistband, just sewed my two strips together so it’s not as wide as the example jacket. I also cut the back on the fold. It’s a bit tight, I should have made one size up, but oh well. https://twitter.com/maddiekellerr/status/1378132654319575040
Are there two versions of this pattern? I printed one but I’m looking at the pattern on my phone and the jacket front and back pieces are opposite labeled. Which is front and which is back?
On the 1st page of the pdf (general view) the back and front pieces’ names have switched places. The piece on the left with the lower scoop in he neck is named the back and vice versa. In the pattern you use cutting the fabric the pieces are named correctly.
Thank you, Marita! Sometimes when our pattern maker corrects something that has been mislabeled, they may not update the overall page view. But rest assured, the full sized pattern pieces are correctly named! 🙂
Can you do this without a lining?
Hi Maria! Yes, this version we made is unlined. 🙂
Hi! I have been trying to download the pattern for this and for the redux and I always get an error message or a temporarily unavailable message. Can the link be reset or sent to me directly?
Hi Sheryl! Sorry about that, if you email [email protected] they should be able to send you the PDF directly.
Hello! How much yardage is needed for a size 25 and size 30?
Hi Kayla, sizes 24-30 fall under the X-Large size in our Shop This Look section in the upper right hand side of the post! It looks like 3 yards of the self and lining are estimated for an X-Large. 🙂
Does it come in men’s sizes?
Hi, Robert! This is a unisex pattern. 🙂
I’m confused! The pattern here: https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/mood-diy-free-reversible-bomber-jacket-sewing-pattern/ leads to this page. The pattern that I am given a link to only includes 7 of the 9 pattern parts needed to make the coat. Am I missing something here? Very confused!! And what does sizes 0/2 – 28/30 correspond to? What is considered an XL size?
Hi, Tom! Hope you had a lovely weekend. Our original reversible bomber jacket pattern is no longer available and has been rereleased as this Avelia Bomber Jacket so the design is slightly different, but it is still a unisex bomber jacket pattern. The size chart is shown above near the materials list! 🙂
I measured the person the jacket is supposed to go on, some sizes correspond with size 16/18 but some correspond with size 20/22 should i make the jacket bigger or will that make it way too big?
Hi Hannah, we’re sorry for the late response. We get A LOT of questions each day! You may have solved the problem on your own, but I wanted to go ahead and answer this anyway. If you’re between a few sizes you have a few options: If the garment isn’t form fitting, you could probably get away with making it in the larger size. However, if you want to try your hand at pattern altering, you can! Just cut out the 20/22. On the points of the body that are closer to a 16/18, mark them on the pattern. Redraw the lines to meet the smaller points with the larger, taking care to ease any curves. Sew a muslin first to ensure the best fit!
Has there been a video tutorial?
We haven’t done a video tutorial, but our Mood Sewciety Facebook Group might have some helpful tips!
Bonjour est ce que les tailles sont aussi valables pour hommes??
Oui! Refer to the size chart for the measurements. 🙂
Thank you for this pattern! I really loved how my jacket turn out.
Any tips for making this mens? I cannot fathom which size to go for? Mens Medium/Large / Chest:40in
Hi Joshua, I would try a size 16/Large. This is a unisex pattern, so it’s going to be a bit roomy. 🙂
So you only need 2.5 yards of each fabric to make a size 30?
Hi Keith! We recommend 3 yards for a size 30. 🙂
Love the way you offer patterns with the fabrics, linings, zippers and rib knit to finish the look. That’s great marketing and reaches across skill sets. I’m an advanced garment home sewer
Elizabeth Moore:
I’m in the middle of making the bomber jacket. But I have another question – I’m lining a cream knit A-line dress which is very see-through. would you recommend a knit fabric I can purchase at Mood to line the dress?
Linda Fischer
[email protected]
Hi Linda! Without knowing specifics, I recommend taking a look at our linings with stretch. We’ve got some nice fluid fabrics, like a stretch charmeuse or stretch viscose!
This is a bit late but thank you so much. I found exactly the lining I needed. This is a great site. Still planning to make the bomber jacket. So much sewing and so little time is my problem.
I keep trying to download a pattern, messages say I need to sign up for free Emails! How do you think I see these patterns, but, they never ever download! ONE MORE TRY THEN I DELETE THE WEBSITE TOTALLY!
Hi Karen, I’m sorry you’re having difficulty downloading our free sewing patterns. If you’re still running into trouble, you can email [email protected] and they’ll send the pattern over to you. 🙂
I am making this jacket and so close to being done but I’m having trouble finishing the sleeves and attaching the lining to the rib knit can you please clarify how to do that thanks
Hello there!
Thanks for visiting the Mood Sewciety Blog! We’re proud to have released over 350 free sewing patterns, and we hope you’re enjoying them.
Behind the scenes we’re a dedicated team of three, and we want to be able to offer top notch support. We have exciting plans for our patterns on the horizon, and as we continue to grow, we’ve decided to focus our sewist support on patterns from the last 2 years. If this pattern hasn’t been recently reduxed or updated, we won’t be able to respond to technical questions on these older posts.
If you come across any pattern errors, rest assured our team is on it – just let us know!
Don’t miss out on our Mood Sewciety Facebook Group – a fantastic space for fellow sewists to connect, share wins, and tackle challenges together.
Thank you for your understanding and happy sewing!
Best regards,
The Mood Sewciety Blog Team
Would love to see this as an A0 and projector friendly pattern!
Hi,
I love this pattern, but I was wondering if you’d be able to give any advice on altering the collar. I was hoping to make the jacket with a standard shirt collar rather than one made out of rib knit, making it more like a work jacket/ bomber hybrid. Would this work with the body pieces or would I need to wholly alter the pattern. I would also be wanting to make the jacket reversible – would this work with this type of collar?
Thank you!
Hello there!
Thanks for visiting the Mood Sewciety Blog! We’re proud to have released over 350 free sewing patterns, and we hope you’re enjoying them.
Behind the scenes we’re a dedicated team of three, and we want to be able to offer top notch support. We have exciting plans for our patterns on the horizon, and as we continue to grow, we’ve decided to focus our sewist support on patterns from the last 2 years. If this pattern hasn’t been recently reduxed or updated, we won’t be able to respond to technical questions on these older posts.
If you come across any pattern errors, rest assured our team is on it – just let us know!
Don’t miss out on our Mood Sewciety Facebook Group – a fantastic space for fellow sewists to connect, share wins, and tackle challenges together.
Thank you for your understanding and happy sewing!
Best regards,
The Mood Sewciety Blog Team
Bonjour, je me suis inscrit et je n’ai pas reçu le patron. Est ce normal ?
Envoyez un e-mail à [email protected] pour le modèle!