Sew a French Jacket

The classic French jacket is a timeless wardrobe essential. Traditionally made from soft wool bouclé and lined with luxurious silk charmeuse, it relies on a range of specialist hand-sewing techniques. The fabric and lining are quilted together to create a cardigan-like jacket that is beautifully structured and fits close to your body.

What You’ll Learn

Learn the specialist techniques required to construct a refined bouclé cardigan jacket. This course introduces both fused interlining and quilted couture sewing methods, with a focus on fit, structure, and finish. Students gain confidence working with bouclé fabrics, silk linings, trims, and hand-sewing techniques to achieve a polished, professional result.

Suitable for confident makers with sewing experience

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What to Expect

This course involves detailed, hand-finished construction and many students will need to continue their project over more than one term to achieve their desired level of finish.

Our courses are open to all skill levels and held in our Pymble studio on Sydney’s North Shore. We offer morning, afternoon, full-day, and evening options, running Monday through Saturday.

Classes run once weekly for 3–3.5 hours across an 11-week term. Courses are typically priced in the $900–$1,000 range, depending on the number of hours.

Patterns, Fabrics & Trims

On enrolment, you will receive guidance on suitable patterns and sourcing fabrics and trims, with fine wool and cotton options available to order through the academy during the first session.

Class Times & Booking

You’ll be able to view upcoming class dates and pricing before confirming your booking.

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French Jacket | Course Summary

Through guided, hands-on instruction, students work through the following techniques and processes:

  • Discussion of the technical aspects of fit, interlining techniques, and finishes used in a bouclé cardigan jacket

  • Planning of each student’s individual design project

  • Personal fitting of the jacket toile by qualified design staff and refinement of the pattern for personal fit

  • Adjustment of the collar pattern where required

  • Assessment of fabric and backing fabrics, and planning the layout, cutting, and sewing of jacket fabric, interlinings, and linings

  • Planning of sleeve finishes as appropriate

  • Marking fabrics, matching patterns where applicable, and cutting out the jacket

  • Underlining the jacket

  • Construction and finishing of pockets

  • Sewing the jacket to the fitting stage and refitting the garment

  • Setting sleeves

  • Sewing buttonholes

  • Creating and attaching trims