Is there a recommended easy pattern out there for a jacket for my Mom? Keep in mind there is limited sewing experience and that would check off zippers from the list! Are Kimono styles easy?

kimono styles are very easy...mostly straight lines, no curves. You might also look for raglan sleeve patterns.

Have you thought about making a quilted sweatshirt jacket? They're very easy to do and very warm and wearable. several different ways to do them as well.

oops!

Check this out.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-52947-1.htm

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-48662-1.htm

Hi I have done two sweatshirt jackets for friends and they loved them. I did a theme one for each..one lady loved dogs, cats and was a retired pediatric nurse, she alo love my birds and angels so I did her jacket with bright colors using the theme fabric of nurses, birds, dogs and cat fabrics and pulling playful coordinated colors from that to add to it, batiks went well. I sewed it on top of the fabric overlapping using multicolor thread and it even made it more colorful but flip and sew is also an option. it was not lined except the sleeves and that way they can be turned back up if she wanted. i used regular binding for the center and chose no buttons per her choice but did decorate with angelheart buttons and put a heart on the back over the fabric in a coordianted color and her name. I then used some decorative stitching of different kinds and quilted it lightly.
I started the fabric sewing at the top of the back of the sweatshirt with it cut on the sides and under the arms making it like a T laying the fabric out as I went and working my way across and down.
Because I chose to cut the fabric in all different angles(like a crazy guilt) I cut and layed the colors in piles and i could just pull from that but doing in squares or rectangles is good alo..depends on the effect you want.
I covered the whole shirt but some people do hit an miss also. I used black sweatshirts as it worked best with my colors and the neck. it was suggested to get the shirt one size larger then what someone would wear.
There are all kinds of ways to make it work.
I saw it at a quilt fair and got the pattern and can see so many possibilities...with or without pockets. I did put a pocket on the inside and a label from me to her and date.
I liked the more scattered playful look and as a beginner, my mistakes were not mistakes at all. The quilting on top is optional also. My second one was for a dear friend who passed away unexpectedly after I had given it to her and her family wanted me to have it even tho her name and logos of bird rescue was on it.... I entered it in art clothing exibit to honor her and got second place so I am quite fond of sweat shirt design..it lets my mind fly free if I choose and be more detailed when I need to be.
I know because it is gift of love and choosing fabric that speaks of your mom will make it real special..Good luck an have fun.
There are many different patterns out there with the Kamona sleeve also. Let us know how it turns out...

I was going to recommend both of these. I think they would be easier to do then starting something from scratch. I think garment construction would be tough. The very idea of putting in sleeves gives me nightmares.