Hello there! I’m very excited to bring you another exciting pattern hack for the Pona Jacket – adding a lining! This transitional jacket pattern is unlined and features an extra-wide facing. It is relatively straight forward to line this pattern and it makes it even more versatile for fabrics like wool, which can irritate the skin.
In addition to the lining, I also lengthened the longer view of the jacket 5″ and added a waist tie to this Pona using our waist tie pattern hack. I thought it would look particularly good in this plaid wool and I love the final look!
I made my lined Pona from medium-weight wool I sourced locally and a rayon Bemberg from Blackbird Fabrics. I have had this plaid wool in my collection for quite some time now and it is so great to finally make something with it. It is one of the prettiest wools I have seen, the orange lines running through the print are particularly gorgeous.
Drafting the Lining
First things first – let’s make the lining jacket pieces. You will need some big sheets of paper to work on. Make sure you are happy with the length of the jacket before you get started with drafting the lining. Trace the front, back, and sleeve jacket pieces onto paper.
Trace the neck facing and front facing pieces onto the front and back.
Shorten the jacket lining and sleeve lining 1.5″ (3.8 cm).
From the lines marked for the facing, measure out 1.25″ (3.2 cm) away from the lining . This is two times the seam allowance for the pattern (5/8″ or 1.6 cm). Cut away all excess paper eliminated by the facings. Label your lining pieces so you know what they are later.
A note about adding a back vent extension in the jacket lining. Many jacket linings include a back vent extension. Wiggle room in a lining is very important! You don’t want the lining tugging at the jacket and creating unsightly bunching or uncomfortable restrictions. I did not add this to the Pona lining because the jacket is so loose and oversized already. I did not feel it was worth it and I did not notice a difference once it was completed. Check out this article from Seamwork – A lesson in Lining – for more info about adding the back vent extension to the lining and other drafting details you may wish to include in your Pona Lining!
Sewing the Jacket
Sew the Pona as per the instructions with a few exceptions:
Step 3: No need to finish the seam allowance since we are lining this jacket. If working with a fabric that frays really easily, you may still want to finish them.
Step 5: No need to finish the edge of the facings.
Step 6: No need to pre-press the 1/4″ (0.6 cm). You can still pre-press at the notches.
Step 8: No need to finish the seam allowance here.
Step 9: Do not topstitch the sleeve hem yet.
Step 14: Stop sewing around 2″ from the inner edge of this seam
Step 16-18: Skip these steps
Step 19-22: See below:
A note about pockets: I waited until the very end to sew on my pockets. This means I sewed them through the outer jacket and lining. I like that it secures the jacket and lining together, but it also means that I have some topstitching visible on the inside of my jacket. If you would prefer, you can sew your pockets (steps 19-22) earlier in the process and secure them to the outer jacket fabric only. I would recommend sewing them after step 2.
Sewing the Lining
Follow the jacket construction steps. Staystitch the neckline of the lining back. Sew the lining back and fronts together at shoulders. Sew the sleeves in flat. Sew the side seams and arm seams in one go BUT leave a 6″ gap in the arm seam of one arm. This is the hole we are going to use to turn our lining inside out.
Sewing the jacket and lining together
Turn the jacket inside out if it isn’t already. With right sides facing and sleeves tucked inside the jacket, pin the lining to the jacket all around the neck facing and front facing.
When you get close to the hem, you will notice that you have excess lining fabric here. Stop pinning 2″ from the bottom of the facing and resume pinning along the hem. Pin at the side seam first and work your way back to the front facing and along the back. Do the same in the opposite front corner.
The goal is to leave this corner open for now, and we will hand sew it closed after the jacket is turned right side out. We want excess fabric here to give us a hem pleat, so our lining has some verticle wiggle room and does not pull on the bottom of our jacket and bunch it up.
Sew all the way around, leaving those front corners open. Start and stop sewing 1″ away from the edge of the lining at the bottom of the front facing and the outer edges of the hem. This part is tricky to wrap your mind around, so just try your best and it will all come together in the end. It should look something like this:
Pull the sleeves wrong sides out and away from the jacket. Match the right sleeve with the right sleeve lining, ensuring that the sleeve is not twisted.
Fold up the bottom edge of the sleeve lining towards the wrong side about 4-6″. Insert the sleeve lining into the sleeve, matching the underarm seam and checking again to ensure nothing is twisted around and you have two right sleeves (not the right jacket sleeve and the left lining sleeve – I’ve been there).
You should have right sides facing thanks to turning up the sleeve lining hem. Pin and sew all around using a 1/4″ (0.6 cm) seam allowance. Yes, sewing this is very awkward, but at least it is a short seam!
Turning the jacket and lining right side out (bagging the lining)
Now comes the fun part! Turn your jacket right side out through the opening left in one of the sleeve arm seams. If you forgot to leave a hole, don’t panic! You can create one with your seam ripper. At this stage, it feels impossible that the jacket will turn right side out and the sleeves will not get all twisted up inside, but they don’t! Trust me. Slowly pull it all through that hole and you will be amazed!
Once right side out, check that the sleeves are functioning as expected. If you have twists or mismatched sleeves, you need to turn it inside out and unpick where the lining meets the sleeve at the sleeve hem. Try again to sew the sleeves and sleeve linings together.
At the bottom of the front facing, you will see your little gap in the lining and the extra fabric here. We are going to press the hem of the jacket before pressing our hem pleat and handsewing this little gap closed.
Finishing the jacket
Press around the front facing, neck facing, and collar. Topstitch 1/4″ (0.6 cm) from the edge of the lapel from the collar to the jacket hem.
Continue to press the hem of the jacket up 1 3/4″ (4.5 cm), continuing the fold where the jacket front naturally turns under to meet the facing. Push the lining out of the way to press only the jacket fabric.
Topstitch along the jacket hem, about 1/4″ (0.6 cm) from where the jacket and lining meet. Sew from one edge of the facing to the other.
Fold the raw edges of the lining in towards the inside of the jacket and smooth the lining down so that it pleats over the hem of the jacket. Press the pleat flat. Try on the jacket to see if the hem is lying nice and flat and straight. There should be no bunching at the hem. Hand sew the gap at the bottom of the front facing closed.
Repeat this process for the sleeve hems. Fold up the sleeve hem 1.75″ (4.5 cm). Topstitch around the hem, pushing the lining out of the way. Put on the jacket and let the sleeve lining naturally pleat down over the topstitching. No need to press this, but you can if you like!
The last step is some final touches to secure the lining to the jacket in key points. You can sew a thread chain under the arm to connect the lining and jacket here. This helps to ensure the lining and jacket do not shift around too much while taking the jacket on and off.
You will hand sew the gap in the sleeve seam closed once you are done hand sewing inside the jacket.
I added belt loops and a waist tie to my jacket after the fact, so you can see my stitching on the inside of the jacket. This also helps to secure the lining and jacket together here. We have a tutorial all about this waist tie here.
I opted to sew my patch pockets after the jacket was complete, so I sewed them on through both the jacket and the lining. This means the stitching shows a bit on the lining, but I do like how it secures the lining even further and makes these pockets really stable. If you would like to have pockets sewn onto only the jacket fabric, sew them on after step #2 in the jacket instructions.
Whew! That is how you add a lining to the Pona Jacket! Please let me know if you do try this and if you have further questions. I love that this lining addition makes this jacket feel even more versatile and I LOVE how this wool version turned out. I know I will enjoy wearing this autumnal jacket for years to come. Happy sewing!
Here are some additional resources for sewing a jacket lining:
Seamwork – A lesson in Lining
Grainline Studio – Sewing Tutorial | How to Bag a Jacket Lining
Tilly and the Buttons – How to bag a coat lining (video)
Sewing Report – How to Draft a Lining for a Jacket (video)
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52 Comments on “Pona Jacket with Lining”
Perfect timing! I’m just planning out a lined wool long Pona for the winter (possibly underlined in flannel for extra warmth) and this is going to save me so much puzzling. Thank you!
Yay, so happy to hear that! I love the sound of your wool Pona, I can’t wait to see your final garment! 🙂
Cute jacket! Love the belt
Thanks so much, Lauren! 🙂
I love this version! Thank you for the thorough instructions.
Of course, I’m glad you found it helpful!
Love the fabric and lining you chose. It looks very classy!
Many thanks!!
Hi Helen! I wanting to sew a lined Suki Robe for a long time now but have been hesitating not knowing exactly how to go about it. This tutorial is perfect timing, but I’m wondering if you have any suggestions that are unique to the Suki. I’ve had the most perfect fabric waiting for Ms Suki for 2 years! Thank you so much!
Hi Mary! Lining the Suki is a dreamy idea! I would do a very similar process to this hack here. Cut the body and sleeve pattern pieces in the lining, shorten the hem by 1.5″, and sew the whole thing together before you sew on the front band and fold over the bottom front edge. It will be so lovely!
Thank you Helen! You’re so helpful and awesome!
You’re so welcome!! 🙂
I haven’t made Pona (yet….!) but I just wanted to comment on this post. Thank you for your clear and concise explanation of adding a lining. You are so generous with your tutorials and hacks. I love learning (especially sewing learning!) and one can readily see the time and effort that you put into this blog post – great written instructions! Pictures! Graphics!
So I just wanted to say – you are awesome and thank you.
🙂 Erin
Erin! Thank you so much! You totally made my day. I am so glad you like the post and appreciate all the details as much as I do 🙂
My sentiments, exactly! As I was reading this entry for the lining hack I was thinking, wow Helen clearly put lot of time into this tutorial with the detailed drawings and written directions. I absolutely LOVE your fabric and lining choice! I’m a little nervous to try this but with the help of this post, how can I go wrong?!.! BTW, I also LOVE your podcast with Caroline, and I look forward to it every week! I’ve been catching up on older episodes during your time off! Love you girls!
Hi Jodi!
Thank you so much! Your comment really made my day!!! 😀 You got this!
That is beautiful. Time for a Pona with lining
Yay, I’m so excited for you!!
This is so brilliant. I’ve made two Ponas, one for me and one for my daughter. I can’t wait to try this lined version. I have some grey wool plaid very similar to yours that has been languishing in my stash. And I have some red lining that would work well. Thanks so much.
That sounds so dreamy!! Thanks for checking out the hack!!
I did this! So thrilled that I learnt a new skill in my first ever me-made jacket. Thanks for making what I thought would be a stressful task relatively stress-free. The Pona rocks!!!!
Well done Geri!! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
I’m so happy I found this post I’m making matching plans jackets for me and my daughter, and wanted them lined. Thank you!
You’re so welcome! I’m so excited for you to sew Pona for yourself and your daughter, and I’m looking forward to seeing the final photos 🙂
Hey Helen!! I am getting ready to sew the Pona and do this lining hack!! – quick question: do I cut the lining back on the fold and cut two of the lining front like you do the main pieces of the jacket?
Hi Shantall! Yes, you cut them the same as the pattern pieces once you draft your lining.
Working on my Pona now. Thanks for the lining tutorial! I am thinking of a pleather collar instead of the main fabric. Will probably have to line the collar as the pleather is so light. Also, I have a Bemberg white with small black polka dots lining fabric that was destined for another purpose, but will be purposed for this. Thinking of a knit sleeve, too. Main, collar and sleeves would be all in black. Can’t wait to make a special jacket to wear someday, outside the house! Damn you, pandemic! Back to my happy place, my sewing studio!
That sounds amazing, Alice!
I have some blue corduroy I have been thinking of turning into my first Pona. Any thoughts on what type of fabric I could use for a liner? Would I buy the same amount as the yardage for the jacket? Thanks for this tutorial…love all the details!
Corduroy sounds lovely! I would use a cotton or rayon Bemberg for the lining (like I did here). Slippery fabrics tend to be ideal for lining because they allow you to easily take the jacket on and off. You need a bit less fabric for the lining, it depends on the size. I like to draft my lining pieces and then measure them out to figure out the exact lining I need. You can also reference the cutting layouts for guidance here.
Thank you – I’m feeling brave so I’ll start on this soon. Great tips and instructions.
You’ve got this!! We’re always here if you get stuck or have any questions. Happy sewing, Zayda!
ooooo now Im so stuck. I can’t figure out how to attach the lining to the bottom/hem area. I will check out the videos you suggested here but any tips are welcome.
Hi Zayda,
This really is the hardest part of the process, so don’t despair! You want to sew the hem of the jacket to the lining while the whole thing is still inside out. The trick is, in the corners where the lining meets the facing, you need to leave a gap so the lining can fold down. I like to sew down my facing, stop short of the corner, and resume sewing on the hem. I hope that helps!
Disaster averted!! Ok, I put it down and then my trusty seam ripper and I went back to work and I figured it out. Not sure if my previous message went through but just in case, I think I figured it out. Cant wait to finish!!
Yay!! So glad to hear it!!
I want to make the Pona with a (fancy) lining – cotton/linen – but don’t want to line the sleeves. I’m an advanced beginner and have help as needed. This should work right? Any other photos of linings available somewhere?.
Hi Rivkah! I think for unlined sleeves the best process would be to sew the jacket and lining as instructed here, but instead of sewing the sleeves in flat, leave them off and sew the side seams. Turn the whole jacket right side out through one of the arm openings and then sew the un-lined sleeves in as set-in sleeves, attached them to both jacket and lining. I hope that helps!
Hi Helen, I’m wondering if you could give me an approximate idea how much fabric I need to buy for my lining please? My measurements put me around a 12 for the coat, so would I basically duplicate the fabric requirement for the outer coat? I.e. 3.3 yards? Thank you 🙂
Hi Camilla, I apologize for the delayed reply! I needed about 2 yards of 57″ wide lining fabric for my jacket. About 1 yard for the jacket back and small sliver next to the front-facing, and the other for the sleeve.
Just finished a coat for my daughter using this hack. I had previously made her a short jacket from this great pattern, she loved it, and it fit beautifully. Thanks for the advice on using the high bust measurement for sizing. I had first thought the jacket would not work for her because her bust size is outside the size range. Using the high bust size and relying on the fact that the jacket is generally over sized meant that it worked! Yay! Then I decided to tackle the coat with a lining as you outline here. Of all fabrics, she chose a polar fleece which actually worked out beautifully – found an amazing cotton sateen fabric at Mood Fabrics with leopards (not the print, actual leopards!) for the lining, and your directions were perfect for putting it together as a lined coat. A very nice cozy coat! Also by the way I used a lining fabric for the sleeves so her arms would fit in and out easily. I also did not do any of the topstiching because it was fleece! But the fleece and the cotton sateen seem to be holding to each other so just did a few strategically placed tack down stiches. Sorry for the very long post! Great pattern and a great hack!!
Hi Diane! Thanks for sharing! This sounds like such a fun project and a great gift for your daughter. I love incorporating animal prints (and images of animals is even better) into linings – that is so much fun!
Ooh, just bought the pona pattern. Really excited about making it. I think that the lining may be a bit beyond me sadly. This looks hard. Looks an amazing coat on you.Can’t wait to make the jacket anyway. Have bought some corduroy fabric ready to go.
Thanks Caroline! I love that Pona is lining-less so it can be more beginner-friendly! Maybe one day you will return to it and the lining will be a breeze!
I’m nearly done lining my short Pona but mysteriously I don’t seem to have any extra lining fabric at the bottom to make the little follower for ease. Not sure how it happened and can’t decide if I should forge ahead or try to piece on an extra strip before attaching. Will I be sorry if I don’t add the ease back in?
Hi Liz! This is a tough one – it might be totally fine if you attach it as-is, but if the lining is at all shorter than the body (and lining tends to have very little give/stretch, whereas coating has some), the jacket will start to pool at the bottom. It might be best to sew a little extra to the lining at the hem or shorten the jacket so you get that extra bit!
Hello! I’m about to make the Pona and I plan to line it, but I’m curious as to how much lining fabric I will need to make the longer version. Can you give me an estimate? This will be my first lined anything, so I’m excited!!! Thank you in advance!
Hi Faith,
I’m so excited for you! The amount needed depends on your size and the length of jacket you wish to make. I would purchase 2.5 meters of lining to be safe.
I’m so very pleased you made this post. I was thinking about making my first Pona Jacket with reversible linen I purchased from the Fabric Shop about 6months ago, and when I saw this post I decided to take it up a notch and make it a fully reversible jacket. It came out better than expected. Thank you for giving me the confidence to be able to tackle the project.
Hi Kim,
That is so awesome! Good for you for tackling such an advanced project. I would love to make a reversible Pona one day, too!
I’ve made an unlined Pona and I love it so much I want to make another one, but this time I’d like to line it. How do I figure out how much lining to buy for the shorter version, size 2? Thanks so much.
Hi Liz! The best way to figure out how much lining to get is to draft the lining pattern pieces and lay them out on a table or on the floor to determine how much is needed. I would estimate 2 meters to be safe, but you can probably squeeze it out with 1.5.