Simplicity 8962 is a fully lined, single-breasted, two-button men’s jacket that has notched lapels, patch breast pocket, lower patch pockets, and inside welt pockets with loop-and-button closures. The center back includes a vent, and the two-piece sleeves feature functional sleeve vents and three-button closure. The button placement was not printed on the pattern pieces. There’s a Simplicity sew-along video tutorial available on YouTube, which our tester found helpful. The supplies list is missing two buttons for the inside welt pockets. This pattern can easily be adapted to include traditional tailoring techniques. To ensure the patch pocket lining does not show on the finished jacket, choose a matching lining color, and cut the lining pieces 1/8 inch smaller than the pattern pieces suggest. Opt for suiting fabric such as wool, tweed, cotton, linen, or corduroy.
(Sized Men’s 34–52 for chests 34–52 inches)
—Tested by Faith McLean, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

 

Threads sewed this version in wool twill from MoodFabrics.com. The fabric was relatively light and resulted in crisply pressed seams. A heavier fabric, such as the tweed used on the pattern envelope, would result in softer edges and a more casual look. The jacket’s sleeves were lengthened by 2 inches to fit our long-limbed model, Threads Art Director Steven Fleck.