In the 1950’s everyone coveted these handsome heavy wool jackets with contrasting leather sleeves and knitted collar, waistband and cuffs, made in their school colors. And they are still very popular today – in school colors, floral silks, or leather!
The A-1 Flight Jacket, developed by the Air Force in the 1920’s, was the precursor to the Varsity Jacket. The short, leather blouson jacket had knit wool collar, cuffs, and waistband to keep out the wind and chill in an open cockpit and provided ample freedom of movement. This dashing style eventually found its way to campus as a sport coat and became what we now call the Varsity Jacket.
Today the Varsity Jacket has reached the status of an all-American classic. It can be found in a variety of fabrics from traditional wool (solids, checks or plaids), to washed silk, suede, and leather.
Our pattern, sized for men or women, offers instructions for making the traditional wool body with leather sleeves and pocket welts, and also contains knitting instructions for the collar, cuffs, and waistband.
Suggested fabrics: Medium to heavyweight fabrics such as wool, corduroy, gabardine; heavyweight cotton; suede or leather. Also, summer weight fabrics such as rayon or washed silk.
