How To Make a Bouclé Jacket

Written By Robyn Phillips

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How To Make a Bouclé Jacket

The timeless Bouclé Jacket(otherwise known as a Tweed Jacket), created in 1954 by Coco Chanel, and iconised by Jackie Kennedy in 1963, is one of the most chic and enduring of garments, just as at home atop a pair of denim jeans as when paired with a sharply tailored skirt. Withstanding the tests of time and trends, the jacket has remained a constant on screens, on streets and on the fashionable elite, and proven unequivocally that it is one item that will never, ever, go out of style.

The time and effort invested in creating a DIY bouclé jacket is richly rewarded when you are left with a classic item that you’ll wear many times over. Selecting the right materials is so important, to ensure that your piece is as lovely as you’d hoped. We have a wide range of bouclés to choose from, so to help you on your way, our fabric and couture consultants have put together five beautiful matching fabric sets to create a stunning version of your own. Each set consists of a cut of fabric, a matched lining and a matched trim, and comes with a complimentary Vogue pattern to get you started.  Read on for our expert’s tips, and to shop our Bouclé Jacket construction sets, now available online at Joel & Son Fabrics.

Clean lines, an understated design and personally tailored to fit your body like a glove – enjoy our useful guide to making a bouclé jacket.

Chanel AW18 Bouclé jacket

The pattern:

If you’re making this item, you are probably after a classic shape. We suggest the Vogue Misses Collarless Jacket pattern. You can buy this pattern here, or receive it free when you purchase one of our sets.

Fabric:

You will need roughly 1.5 metres of fabric for a classic, short, round-neck jacket.

Bouclé, a buckled tweed, is a delicate fabric because of its loose, open weave, so it is advisable to treat your fabric, and ultimately the finished garment, with care, to minimise pulling and bobbling. Its delicate structure also makes it difficult to tailor – this is why many bouclé designs omit a collar or a lapel and why the fabric lends itself well to the classic cardigan style shape.

It’s important to get the ‘Lining’ right:

Your jacket lining should be matched to the colour of your jacket.

Line your jacket with a non-static material so as not to distort the way that the jacket hangs when worn. A more modern choice is Bemberg anti-static lining fabric, or you can use a silk-satin if you want a more luxurious finish.

Finally, for an authentic shape and fit, that a certain French fashion designer would be proud of, you need to sew a slightly weighted chain into the bottom of the lining – this ensures that the jacket falls properly.

Tilda Swinton in a Little Black Chanel Boucle Jacket

Sealing the edges of the jacket:

Seal the edges with a trim or a binding. The trim should be somewhat matching and highlight the colour of the weave in the main body of the jacket – you don’t want contrast.

If you’d prefer a more youthful or contemporary look, you can stick to frayed edges.

Colours;

Neutrals are of course a safe option – you cannot go wrong with creams, stones, beiges or black. However, with so many stunning bouclé colourways available, why not try a pretty pastel or a statement colour like our gorgeous fuscia wool blend, that can be thrown on to liven up a sleek black outfit or a pair of plain trousers.

You can view our full range of specially selected matching fabric sets here, or click onto one of the options below.

We have classic darks and neutrals
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Midnight Blue Wool Bouclé Jacket Set
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Pretty pastels
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Pink/Multi Bouclé Jacket Set
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And for a truly luxurious piece, you cannot beat the quality of this creamy golden colourway
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Gold Sequinned Bouclé Jacket Set
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