Classic Tuxedo Jacket (Evening Jacket) with Shawl Collar, Chest Welt Pocket & Center Back Vent
Introducing a men's sewing pattern for the formal tuxedo jacket with shawl collar – Classic Black-Tie Elegance.
When To Wear
This jacket is the essential element of a black-tie ensemble, ideal for:
- Evening Galas & Receptions: Traditional single-breasted tuxedo styling with refined shawl collar.
- Weddings & Formal Occasions: Perfect for grooms, groomsmen, and distinguished guests.
- Concerts & Special Performances: An elegant jacket designed to pair seamlessly with tuxedo trousers.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Single-breasted tailored jacket with a slim, elongated line.
Collar: One-piece shawl collar, cut together with the front, typically finished in satin or silk for formal contrast.
Closure: One-button front fastening.
Pockets: Welt chest pocket; two lower flap pockets with welts.
Sleeves: Full-length, two-piece tailored sleeves with vents.
Level Of Difficulty
Advanced. Precision tailoring is required for the shawl collar, welt pockets, and structured fit.
Fabric Recommendations
Traditional tuxedo fabrics with contrasting facing:
- Main Fabric: Wool barathea, worsted wool, or fine gabardine.
- Collar Facing (part of front): Satin, silk, or grosgrain.
- Lining: Silk, viscose, or acetate lining fabrics.
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- One button for front closure
- Sleeve heads and shoulder pads for structure
Cutter’s Must
From Main Fabric:
- Front (with integrated shawl collar) – 2 pieces
- Back – 2 pieces
- Side – 2 pieces
- Upper Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Lower Sleeve – 2 pieces
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Flap – 2 pieces
- Pocket Facing - 2 pieces
- Lower Pocket Bag - 2 pieces
- Chest Pocket Welt (marked on pattern as "Off-Set Welt”) – 1 piece
- Upper Pocket Bag - 2 pieces
From Lining Fabric:
For drafting the lining patterns, use the following patterns with the following modifications:
- Back lining: use Back pattern adding a 2 cm ease pleat at center back and excluding vent extensions, cut 2.
- Front lining: use the Front pattern excluding center front facing area, cut 2.
- Upper Sleeve - use Upper Sleeve pattern excluding vent extension, cut 2.
- Lower Sleeve - use Lower Sleeve pattern excluding vent extension, cut 2.
- Flap - use Flap pattern, cut 2.
- Lower Pocket Bag - use Lower Pocket Bag pattern, cut 2.
- Upper Pocket Bag - use Upper Pocket Bag pattern, cut 2.
- Shorten the lining length by 2 cm at the hem.
From Fusible Interfacing:
For drafting the fusible interfacing patterns, use the following patterns:
- Front – 2 pieces
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Flap – 2 pieces
- Hem allowances of Fronts, Back, and Sleeves – copy they width and length and cut according to it.
Important Information
Before cutting your fabric:
- Print and lay out pattern pieces to determine yardage.
- Check mirrored pieces, notches, and grainlines.
- For patterned fabrics, align carefully for symmetry.
Assembly Instructions
Preparation
- Fuse Interfacing
From the wrong side, apply fusible interfacing to the Fronts, Center Front Facings, half the height of the Chest Pocket Welt, and the hem and sleeve hems. - Mark all notches, dart points, and vent lines clearly.
Chest Pocket
- Slash the lower pocket opening, stitch and press open the dart; baste the pocket opening.
- Single-Welt Breast Pocket (Left Front)
- Fold the Chest Pocket Welt lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch the short ends. Turn right side out and press.
- Pin the welt face down along the placement line on the left Front.
- Place the pocket bag of lining fabric on top of the welt; pin the main pocket bag face up on top and stitch 5 mm on each side of the marking.
- Cut the opening along the center between the stitch lines, clipping diagonally into the corners.
- Turn pocket bags to the inside. Serge-stitch the free edge of the welt to the pocket bag.
- Align pocket bags and stitch around the perimeter.
- From the right side, secure the welt ends to the coat with small diagonal tack stitches.
Hip Pockets
- Flaps
- Stitch each flap to its lining, turn right side out, and press.
- Welt Hip Pocket with Flap
- Press the pocket facing lengthwise, wrong sides together.
- Pin pocket facing to the Front along the placement line, facing downward.
- Pin Flap to the Front along the placement line, facing upward.
- Place the pocket bag of lining fabric on the pocket facing; place the main pocket bag on the Flap.
- Stitch 5 mm on each side of the markings.
- Cut the pocket opening through the center between stitching lines, clipping diagonally into the corners.
- Turn pocket bags to the inside and fold pocket facing to form 1 cm frame.
- Serge-stitch the free edges of the pocket facing and flap to the pocket bags.
- Align pocket bags and stitch around the perimeter.
- From the wrong side, stitch the ends of the pocket facing and flap to the triangular seam allowances.
- Repeat the process for the right-side pocket.
Back Vent
- Join center back seam to the top of the vent.
- Turn the left vent facing to the right side along the hem allowance; stitch along the hem foldline and turn right side out.
- Turn the hem allowance of the right back to the right side along the vent facing edge; stitch and turn.
- Lay the vent to the left side and secure at the upper edge with a diagonal reinforcement stitch.
Main Body Assembly
- Join side panels to front pieces; press allowances open.
- Join back side seams; press allowances open.
- Stitch shoulder seams.
Shawl Collar & Front Edges
- Join center back shawl collar seams of fronts and facings.
- Attach back neckline of front shawl collar to back neckline.
- With right sides together, join center front facings to jacket fronts along lapel and collar edges.
- Clip curves, grade seams, and understitch where possible (especially along front edges).
- Turn center front facings to inside, push edges out neatly, and press along the roll line to form the shawl collar curve.
Sleeves
- Two-Piece Sleeve with Vent
- Stitch Upper and Lower sleeve together to the vent notch, easing the upper sleeve as required; press allowances open.
- Turn sleeve right side out.
- Turn the vent seam allowances and sleeve hem to the right side, stitch the vent corner diagonally, trim excess within 1 cm of the seam, and press allowances open.
- Turn hem and vent allowances to the inside, hand-stitch with a cross-stitch, and form the vent overlap.
- Sleeve Cap
- Ease-stitch between sleeve cap notches and pull threads to fit the armhole. Steam-shrink the fullness at the cap.
- Join the sleeve seam and press open.
- Set sleeves into the armholes, stitching from the sleeve side.
- Hand-stitch sleeve-head wadding along the sleeve caps.
- Sew in shoulder pads.
Lining
- Assemble lining body in the same sequence as outer jacket: join center back, sides, and shoulders.
- Stitch sleeves lining, leaving a small opening at one sleeve seam for turning. Set lining sleeves in.
- Attach lining fronts to front facings and back lining to back neckline of shawl collar.
- Attach lining to hem, sleeve hems, and vents.
- Turn jacket right side out through the sleeve opening.
- Close lining opening with machine or hand slipstitch.
Finishing
- Work one front buttonhole on the left front; sew one button on the right front.
- Tack facings at shoulder seams and under pocket ends to prevent rolling.
- Final press: shape the shawl collar on a tailor’s ham with steam and a pressing cloth; allow to cool before handling.