Fall + Flannel = Shacket

If there is one piece that transitions easily between crisp fall mornings, mid-day warmth, and chilly autumn nights, it’s a shacket. Today, I’m excited to share my latest Fabric Mart make: the Ellie and Mac Patterns Connie Casual Shacket, sewn in a dreamy plaid flannel coating fabric. Here’s a glimpse at how it came together, along with a few construction tips for planning your own version!

The Ellie and Mac Patterns Connie Casual Shacket pattern offers plenty of options needed to make the perfect transitional top layer for fall. With a relaxed body, oversized sleeves, three lengths, and a curved or straight hem option, you can make your dream shacket a reality. 

For this sew, I selected a plaid flannel coating fabric with a soft blend of sage green and cream tones from the Fabric Mart website. Heavyweight flannel is ideal for a shacket because it provides structure and added warmth. As a bonus, this particular fabric is extra soft and snuggly, which I love.

In addition to the fabric, I ordered two packs of Dritz heavy-duty snaps in the copper color to use as closures for the shacket. Using snaps avoids the buttonhole fight I frequently undergo with my sewing machine and thick fabric. I also used iron on interfacing and bias tape for this project, which I pulled from my sewing stash. 

When cutting out the shacket, I was very careful to align my plaid. To get perfect stripe alignment with folded fabric, simply pin the stripes together so both layers match up. This will ensure that your mirror image pattern pieces will have the same stripe pattern on both sides. 

Next, look for the pattern repeat. The pattern repeat is where the pattern starts over again from the beginning. Maybe it’s a new color introduced in the plaid, or something else distinguishing in the pattern. To match the pattern front and back pieces you may need to lay the already cut pieces over the remaining fabric to help find the repeated part of the design so you can cut the next piece with the same design pattern. The first time you pattern match it is a very slow painstaking process, but it is definitely worth it for those who don’t mind an extra challenge. 

I made the hip-length, curved-hem shacket and graded between a size medium bust and a size large waist and hip, based on my measurements. I also omitted the pockets because I don’t always care for pockets on the front of button-downs. 

Another variation made from the original pattern is using pre-made double fold bias tape as sleeve placket binding in lieu of using the main fabric with the provided pattern pieces. The double fold bias tape greatly reduced bulk and enhanced the overall aesthetic of the sleeve opening. I would highly recommend making this change when working with heavyweight fabrics.

The decision to use heavy-duty snaps instead of buttons is a decision I wholeheartedly stand by! With my Dritz heavy duty snap pliers (also for sale on the Fabric Mart website) the snaps were added to my shacket in no time. If you’ve ever hammered heavy duty snaps before, trust me, it isn’t fun, you’ll be amazed at how easy the Dritz snap pliers make the application process. If you’re wondering whether the pliers are worth the extra money, they absolutely are! 

This shacket has the potential to become the top layer I reach for the most this fall. The sage green and cream colors are fairly neutral, pairing easily with my postpartum mom wardrobe of black jeans and a black shirt or nursing tank top. The relaxed fit of the shacket also means it works well with a heavier layer underneath for late autumn into winter. If you don’t have a shacket, I hope I’ve inspired you to add one to your sewing to-do list for fall! 

SHAINA | @shaina_sews