I drafted this pattern in desperation. Our office is freezing and I just wanted something WARM and COMFORTABLE. I’ve had my eye on a biker jacket for ages (have a look at my lust collection on Pinterest) but they’re not really snuggly enough for my liking when it’s really cold. So this hybrid of a cardi and jacket fills the niche for me.
Please note: the Biker Jacket Cardi is no longer available as a free PDF download – you can now buy it as a multisize paper pattern. Sorry for any disappointment, but there are lots of other free patterns so please have a browse.
I have used a thick weave black cotton fabric here. And the edging is a really unusual wooly glitter knitted “ribbon”. As it has a bit of stretch to it, it works just like a bias binding and goes round all the corners easily. The contrasting edging gives it a bit of a Chanel couture look I think.
My second version is made in a loose weave yellow wool. The contrasting lining gives it a much more jacket-like look than than cardi look. The edging on this one is a standard khaki coloured bias binding. This jacket is so easy to make and I love how different it looks open or closed (or even half open). I used some really big feature poppers here to add to the biker look.
This jacket here is a very slight adaptation of the original Biker Jacket Cardi pattern. For anyone who wants to have this more traditional “biker lapel”, you just square off the rounded corners of the front panels – have a look at the diagram at the bottom to see how to do it. This pattern hacked version is lined in a fabulous faux shearling with matching trimmed cuffs and the body made in a grey-on-grey dogtooth wool.
And finally, for my most recent version I chose this beautiful brown velvet. It transforms it into more of an evening jacket. The inside is lined with a fabulous faux snakeskin which reveals itself on the lapels as the jacket falls open.
Hi, i like it but i can’t print. Could you help me ? Could you write cm ) Thank you
Hi Emine, I have tried to do the measurements on some of the patterns but the biker jacket is just too difficult with all the curves and irregular angles. I will have a go this weekend at finding a way of making it simple and I will let you know if I can do it. Laura x
I tried again and I printed it. I choosed poster and printed it 🙂
That’s great. Let me know how it goes. x
Hi, I really love your patterns and want to make the Biker Cardi. My computer runs Windows 8 and it will only give me the option to open as a PDF so I cant get how to make it larger format to print the tiles. It is only coming out A4 size. Do you have any ideas?
Hi Judith, It should open as a PDF – that’s right. But it really needs to open in Acrobat Reader which is a free program that opens PDFs. If it is opening in Acrobat then you should be able to follow the instructions that are on the free pattern page. You go open the PRINT window and change the settings. If it isn’t opening in Acrobat you could download it from the internet (just search it). It will be useful for lots of other documents too and is very safe and easy to install. Does that help?
Thank you I will try that
Hello Judith, I am in the process of revising the way I supply patterns after seeing yours and other peoples problems. I have sorted out the Biker Jacket Cardi. Now, when you click on the pattern, it should come up as a multipage document ready to print. Happy sewing!
I look forward to seeing the asymmetrical jacket, Laura. This one looks great.
I tried to print this pattern, unfortunately, I didn’t success because only the first page is printed and I didn’t find the other pages.Help me please.
There is only one large page. It should tile out in lots of pieces that you stick together if you follow the printing instructions. It is important to open it through Acrobat, not through your browser. Choose PRINT. Look for Page scaling and change the setting to: Tile large pages. Set the Tile scale to 100% and the Overlap to 0. Then Print. I hope this works x
Hi Laura,
Your site and generosity are amazing! I’m planning on making this cardi soon so thanks much. I will have to adjust the size and it would help me to know what the dimensions are for a UK size 12, your reference point. I’ve looked online and found a range of responses.
Gratefully, Julie
Hi Julie – you are very welcome. I love doing it! Here is a conversion table from Marks & Spencer who are very standard British sizes! http://outlet.marksandspencer.com/info/womengeneral
[…] Find the Biker Jacket Cardigan here. […]
thank you for this pattern, it’s lovely.
I printed it, I followed all the printing instructions. But when putting it together I realized that it was printed in portrait instead of landscape, maybe you should mention this on your blog.
Thanks for this
Thanks for the free pattern.
Did it take more than 17 pages?
I used “poster” also. It took about 17 pages to print.
Hi, yes it is 17 pages.
I have just bought the biker jacket pattern but can’t find the video tutorial it refers to. The page says ‘404’
Hi Pam, There is a tutorial in progress but it isn’t finished yet. I thought I had removed the reference to it -where did you see it?
If you are going to be featured in all free sewing, your pattern should BE free. This is bait and switch of the nasty kind. Sorry I like the jacket but will not be buying something advertised as free.
I understand your frustration but this pattern was free for 2 years before, after a lot of requests, I converted it into a multisize pattern. Unfortunately the original post still stay on Pinterest and I have no way of changing or deleting them. There are lots of other free patterns on the site at the bottom of the website shop.