Have you ever been inspired by the clothes other people are wearing and thought, ‘Man, I wish I had something like that’. Well, that is sort of what happened to me the other week. I was outside talking with a neighbor, when her 2 year old daughter came strolling out in the cutest floral vest. My eyes immediately went green, and I found myself jealous over a toddler’s outerwear. Bwahahaha – sad, but true. I told her Mother my love for her daughter’s vest, and she simply said, ‘Well, why don’t you make one?’.
And that is just what I did.
I happened to have this lovely quilted Japanese Nani Iro Fuwari double gauze fabric sitting around, just waiting for the perfect project. I would have used it sooner, but 1 yard of any fabric is almost never enough for anything. Except this. 1 yard of quilted fabric is just perfect for a vest.
How to sew a women’s vest.
The easy way.
Skill level – beginner
Time needed – 1 – 1.5 hours
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- 1 yard double sided quilted fabric
- Jacket or loose fitting tee
- 1 button
- Basic sewing essentials
HOW TO SEW AN EASY VEST
- Place your jacket or T-shirt directly on top of your fabric, on the fold. Cut around the neckline, armsyce, side and front seams, and hem to draft your pattern. Make sure to add seam allowance as desired.
- Before you start sewing, finish all raw edges on every pattern piece with either a serger or zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. (Of course, you could fully line this vest – but we are talking the easiest DIY here, not the lined version with collar and pockets.)
- Place your vest front and back right sides together, pin and sew shoulder seams.
- Open up your vest, and fold the raw edge of your armsyce towards the wrong side, curving as you pin. Sew and repeat for other armsyce and neckline.
- Fold vest right sides together, matching up the side seam. Pin and sew.
- Fold the hem of the vest towards the wrong side, pin and sew. Sew button and buttonhole on opposite sides of the front of the vest.
- *Optional – for a diagonal bottom edge, simply turn the bottom front corners up towards the wrong side and pin in place. Sew around to secure.
And you are finished!
Rock that bad boy like the 2 year old you aren’t. Maybe even stand pigeon-toed like all fashion bloggers and stare awkwardly at your toes, as you try desperately to not get blown away in the gail-like wind gusts happening outside.
I love this outfit…converse and all. I am so ready for Spring :).
Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…
Happy sewing!
I love this!!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later today that features your tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=87016 –Anne
Way cute! Now to hunt down some awesome fabric.
Your website came up when I typeed in current Spring Trends 2016 for home sewers or something like that! This vest has intrigued me…after I read through your 16 suggestions for trends. I especially like that your jeans are not ripped! (I’m not a spring chicken but think I am…so I, like you, love my converse (now up to almost 20 pairs!!!)
Mary in Oregon