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The Metra Blazer from Love Notions is my newest blazer project and lets just say that I’m a sucker for blazers. It’s the type of garment that I have always LOVED sewing above others… since my teens and countless amounts have gone through my machines.

You might think that a blazer is too far for you in your sewing journey, but as far as blazers go, the Metra blazer is not too complex, nor does it have 1000 pattern pieces. It’s designed for knit fabric and it’s unlined.

In this post, you can see my 4 versions, once as per the pattern with all the bells and whistles and the other, simplified and faster to sew.

The Metra Blazer is $5 only 3rd of February 2023. Get yours HERE with my affiliate link if my sewing content inspires and helps you with your own sewing. Thank you! Use the code Pins10 for an extra 10% off, even on top of sales.

Today, a full course has been released and if you purchase it only today, the pattern will be included in the course. If you already have the pattern in your account, the course can cost a little less. Check it out with my affiliate link HERE.

Features of the Metra

The Metra Blazer is designed for knit fabrics and offers two collar views, though they share the same sewing technique.

The front piece includes the collar that is sewn with traditional shawl collar techniques. There is a narrower and rounder lapel option and another with a wide lapel with “corners”. This front piece is cut 4 times, two mirror images. One set will be the facing. You can do it all with the same main fabric or choose a contrast. The edges of the neckline are top stitched at 1/4″

There is a small side panel that is not a princess seam. In this seam that united it to the front, you will see pockets that look like welt pockets, but they are not welt pockets. There is no actual pocket bag. When you put your hand inside your pockets, the entire front is the “pocket bag”.

The sleeves are one piece and long. They are set in on the round. The back has a center seam with shaping.

My choice: The wide lapel version. I cut one set of front pieces from black contrast fabric, chose to under stitch the neckline instead of topstitching, and sewed all my hems by hand.

Best fabrics for the Metra

The Metra blazer is designed for knit fabrics, and medium to heavyweight fabrics will work best. The minimum horizontal stretch required is 25%. Now, the rest is my opinion based on my experience. These types of collars need a fabric that is stable and structured. The fabrics listed above are ideal.

The center piece is large and in a double layer. None of the pieces are interfaced, so a lighter drapey fabric will collapse and not hold its shape. These types of fabrics would never be my choice for a blazer with this style. Examples: Rayon frech terry, stretch velvet, stretch velour, some athletic knits. I think some fabric manipulation would be required to have a nice result with these. This means interfacing both layers of front pieces…..

My choices:

• Stripey mystery knit that is super heavy & structured. It had been begging to be a blazer for years. It’s got the recommended 25% stretch horizontally and 10% vertical stretch. It comes at a whopping 17oz/sq yd weight (500gsm). I used black Liverpool knit for one set of front pieces to have a contrast.
• Green scuba crepe with a little bit of a nap. The wrong side is darker in tone and just as pretty. Its a heavier knit with lovely drape and it does not curl, perfect for a “raw” simplified version.
• Ponte Roma print. It has rayon in the composition and that makes it soft with a little bit of drape. This is easy to work with and the facings are easy to manage.
• Black scuba suede made another simplified version possible.

Sizing discussion

Sizes XS-5X are available in this pattern. There is a standard bust and a full bust option. I chose a straight XL with the standard bust option.

The style is semifitted and only a light layer underneath will be appropriate. There is positive ease, but not a whole lot. If you want the option of wearing a layer underneath that has more volume, consider sizing up. Remember that the thicker your main fabric, the more it takes up part of the theoretical ease in the pattern.

Positive ease:

• Bust: 2″ or 4″ if using the full bust piece
• Hips: 4″ or 6″ if using the full bust piece
• Bicep: 3-3.5″

The finished length from the nape of the neck to the hem is 22.5″. This number means that some length adjustments were needed. I am 5ft 8″ and 3″ taller than the 5ft 5″ the pattern is drafted for. You can see my changes in the digram below.

Sewing considerations

Prep work

• There are many areas where you need to draw the 3/8″ seam allowance and in the intersection, mark a DOT. Thery are on the shoulder, collar pieces, corners of the pocket entrance. Some of these areas need to be stabilized with a small square of interfacing, and some stay stitching also helps when needing to snip into corners and dots.

Shawl collar in two steps

• The step where you sew the two collar layers to the neckline can be super fiddly to do all at once. There are three layers there. Both collars sandwiching the neckline. I prefer to sew the main center front to the back piece first at the shoulders and neckline with a basting stitch. Once that is done precisely, and taking care with the snipped corners, the facing front layer can be put right sides to the wrong side of the back piece. This is then sewn with a normal stitch length and on top of the previous seam.
• There is a small section I have sewn by hand! At the snipped corners of the shawl collar, when sewing the facing to the neckline, I can’t see the snipped corner that is at the bottom where the feed dogs are. I don’t want puckers there. I sewed 1/4″ in both directions from the dot by hand controlling where the hand needle goes in and out.

Break point to conceal understitching

• I am not strictly following pattern instructions. Though I have made no changes to the pattern, however, I chose to not finish the neckline with top stitching. I want a clean, polished look for a style that will be more formal. Also, my fabric has stripes and I don’t enjoy having visible seams running through stripes.
• I have opted to do under stitching instead, and in order to do this, there is a section where the lapel will naturally fold when the garment is on the body. This specific area will be the breakpoint. Here is where we snip into the seam allowance so the under stitching can be done in different directions. This ensures it’s all hidden where it has to be and accomplishing its function to keep the lapel clean and the seams rolling in to the correct side.

These sewing considerations are best seen in action right? you can see my full video below.

The videos on my channel

All the important techniques: shawl collar, burrito roll & pockets

In my video, you will see it all! From all the prep work needed to get your pieces ready… interfacing, stabilizing corners to how to sew the pocket pieces that look like welt pockets, the shawl collar with all the snips, to enclosing the seams on the inside via a burrito roll. The extra steps I did to be able to under stitch the neckline and not top stitch are all here too. Lots to see for your entertainment!

A simplified version, no facings, raw hems!

In this video, you can see a very simple way to sew the Metra blazer if your knit has a nice wrong side, does not curl or fray. The center piece is cut only once and there are no facings or hems folded up. Just a few seams and Voila! a great blazer with 1000 less steps to complete.

A glorious ponte roma print & a sleeveless “raw” version

My latest two versions are so pretty! I made one in a beautiful ponte roma print. This one has the facings and hem and the only thing I left out were the pockets. The print is busy… no one will know and I don’t use pockets. The second one was SO EASY. Just a few seams. The scuba suede looks amazing with raw edges and it shortens the sewing process a great deal. I left the sleeves off and love it. See the details on my channel.

Lets see!

Stripe Metra blazer as per the pattern

I opted to prioritize a formal clean look for my blazer…all to be able to wear it with nice dresses and heels. But it can also be dressed in a more casual way.. though really, really casual styling does not really exist for me!

Enter one of my trusty denim skirts. This can be replaced by jeans for a similar look. My Metra blazer is black and white and I had to pair it to a red woven cami underneath for the classic black – white – red combo that is one of my favorites, an goes will with my favorite red lipstick that has me written all over it. This is the way I dress casually. You will never EVER see me in flats and sneakers 🙂

Simplified blazer with raw edges

There is a lot of top stitching in this version. It will not only make the blazer look pretty, but also keep the seams flat. The hems are raw and so is the shall collar. I had fun transforming the 1 piece sleeve into a two piece sleeve.

Above you can see my lapel is actually the wrong side of my fabric and also the gorgeous texture of the right side.

Fun ponte roma print

I used a beautiful Ponte Roma print for this one. It has rayon in the composition and that makes it soft with a little bit of drape. This is easy to work with and the facings were easy to manage. I did all the steps, including under-stitching the facing. I omitted the pockets here because no one will see them and I just don’t use pockets. I love the colors in this print!

Sleeveless “raw” edges

This is the easiest of them all to sew! just a few seams, no facings, no hems, no sleeves lol. This is a staple for me and I have worn this over everything about a million times.

Final thoughts

This is a fun blazer pattern and its not complex compared to other projects I have sewn. It’s a great step into making this type of garment, if you have not yet done so. I would like to put a single button just below the fold of the lapel in the future.

About the pockets. They are pretty, but I won’t be using them at all. I don’t want to deform the look in the front of my blazer with bulky objects in there. But that’s just me. I carry a handbag all the time. My things can go in there. To be honest, next time, I will sew that seam closed without the pocket there.

I really enjoy the comfort of the blazer. I can move and stretch freely and I could not do that with a structured tailored woven blazer in this style.

Happy sewing 🙂

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