For those in-between days that we’re all too familiar with over December, Amanda Walker’s cropped gilet will become your ultimate go-to. Made in a super-soft cream faux fur, it’s snuggly to wear and makes for a friendly five-step introduction to working with this heavier weight fabric – just remember to keep your vacuum nearby as this material has a tendency to shed!
1 Download the pattern at sewmag.co.uk, then print out and follow the cutting guide. Cut out the pattern pieces as indicated in the cutting guide. With right sides together, pin and stitch the faux fur fronts and back together at the shoulder seams. Repeat for the lining pieces. With right sides together, lay the gilet and lining out flat, matching necklines. Pin and stitch around the neckline.
2 Clip the seam allowances around the curve, then understitch on the right side of the lining close to the seam line. Lay the gilet out as before and match the edges around the armholes. Pin and stitch together. Clip the curved seam allowance then turn the gilet right side out by threading the front parts through the shoulders. Tease out the seam allowance around the neckline and armholes. Press flat.
3 Cut a length of cord long enough to fit around your button. Make the cord into a loop and position it to the right-hand side of the front gilet at the edge of the neckline. Sew the two ends to secure. Match the side seams together, pin then stitch from the base of the gilet up to the underarm, making sure the armhole seams are open when sewing the seam. The side seam for the gilet and the lining is made in one continuous seamline.
4 Leave a gap of roughly 15cm in one of the lining side seams. Press the seam open. Turn the gilet inside out and match the base edges of the fur and lining and the centre front edges together, making sure that the side seams line up. Pin and stitch together – the cord loop will be sandwiched between the lining and the gilet.
5 Turn the gilet right side out through the gap in the lining. Cl
