How to Make a Sleeveless Vest Sewing Pattern
Making your own vest pattern is a great project for beginning crafters. It is an excellent way to practice how to take proper body measurements and allows you to explore your own creativity. Vests can be customized for virtually any fabric, including denim, leather, fleece and cotton. They can have buttons or a zipper, or be designed to hang open over your chest. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Making a Pattern from Scratch
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1
Measure your body, paying special attention to the shoulder length and width, the length of your body from your underarm to your waist, the width of your back and the length from the middle of your sternum and the top of your spine to your waistline.
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2
Spread out the newspaper on a flat surface. Add a 1/2 inch to the sides of your measurements to allow for a seam allowance.
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3
Use your measurements as a guide to draw out a vest shape onto the newspaper. This step requires drawing aptitude. Cut out the pattern that you marked and use it to sew a vest. Since some tailors pin the pattern to the newspaper, the newspaper is flimsy enough to go though the pins and the fabric. However, if you want to just use the pattern to cut around, then you can use a more sturdy paper product, such as card stock or poster board.
Modifying an Exisiting Pattern
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4
Put on the old vest. This method works best if you have someone to assist you with marking the vest pattern.
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5
Starting from the left, fold over the fabric of the vest so that it is as form-fitting as you want it. Pin or use the duct tape so that the edge of the vest is not taped. Fold over part of the shoulder like a paper fan so that the excess material is on the inside. Be certain that you have secured it so that the fabric will not slip or move.
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6
Mark with the marker any areas that hang off your shoulder. If the vest hangs too low off your chest, measure the needed inches by marking lightly on the skin (or use an old T-shirt under the vest) and calculate the distance between the end of the vest and where you want it to fall on your chest.
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7
Fold up the back of the vest and tape or pin as needed. Most vests fall directly at the waistline.
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8
Repeat Step 2 with the right side of the vest so that the vest is fitted to your body the way you wish it to be.
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9
Remove the vest from your body, being careful of the pins. Trace the outline of your folded, pinned and taped vest onto the newspaper, adding any additional measurements added over the chest, bust or stomach. Add an additional 1/2 inch of seam allowance to your pattern before cutting it out.
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Tips & Warnings
If you cannot picture what the vest should look like in your head, then you should use the second method of making a sleeveless vest.
A good place to get an "old" vest is an estate sale, garage sale or consignment or resale shop. It is easier if the vest is larger than your body since you will take fabric away rather than attempt to add fabric.
References
Resources
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