How to Make a Flowy Jean Vest

Choose a light-weight denim for making a flowing vest.

A flowing vest adds a feminine touch to what might otherwise be a strictly utilitarian look. Make a flowing vest out of a beautifully patterned and colorful fabric to wear with your jeans, or make a flowing vest out of denim to wear with a colorful patterned dress or skirt. Make a pattern using a pencil, newspaper, scissors and a measuring tape. Pick out a shirt that fits you well to use for the shape of the armholes, the neck and the slant of the shoulder.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Newspaper
• Shirt that fits you well
• Scissors
• Pencil or pen
• 2 to 3 yards of fabric
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Ironing board
• Iron
• 1/2-inch-wide, four-fold bias tape

Instructions

Making the Pattern

1. Ask someone to measure your back from the top of your shoulder near your neck straight down to the waist. Ask your friend to also measure across your back, level with the armpit, from side seam to side seam. Add 3 inches to that number. Cut out a rectangle of newspaper that is as long as the first measurement and as wide as the second measurement.

2. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise. Spread your shirt out on a table or the floor so that the entire back is laid out smoothly. Don't worry about the front of the shirt, just make sure the back is smooth. Lay the rectangle of newspaper on the shirt, lining up the folded edge with the center back, and the top edge with the top of the shoulder. Use a pencil to draw along the curve of the neckline, the slope of the shoulder and the curve of the arm hole on to the newspaper.

3. Cut along the lines you drew on the newspaper. Cut from the end of the armhole down to the bottom corner of the newspaper rectangle to make a slightly angled side seam.

4. Open up the folded newspaper pattern you cut out. Lay it out smoothly on another piece of newspaper. Draw around the edge of the pattern. Draw another line 1/2 inch outside the first line all around the pattern. This is the seam allowance. Cut out the new pattern. This is the pattern for the back of the vest. Put it aside while you make the front pattern.

5. Spread out the first pattern piece you made. Draw a straight line from the top of the shoulder, where it meets the curve of the neckline, over to the bottom of the armhole on the opposite side. Cut along that line and discard the smaller piece of the pattern piece. Take the larger piece and smooth it out on another sheet of newspaper. Draw around the entire piece, and draw another line 1/2 inch outside the first line, all around the entire piece. Fold the original pattern piece along the original fold line. Draw along this fold on the new pattern piece to mark the center front line. Cut out this new pattern piece. This is the pattern for the front of the vest.

Making the Vest

1. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise. Fold the back pattern in half lengthwise. Pin the pattern to the fabric, matching the folds. Cut out the back of the vest.

2. Pin the front pattern to the fabric, lining up the center front of the pattern with the lengthwise grain of the fabric. Cut out two front pieces, one for each side.

3. Sew the front to the back at the shoulders and the side seams, right sides together. Press the seams open.

4. Pin bias tape around the armholes, stretching it slightly to fit the curve. Sew it in place. Pin bias tape along the neckline, front edges and bottom of the vest, stretching it slightly on the curves but not on the straight edges. Sew it in place. Press the vest and try it on.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate your vest with buttons, embroidery, pockets, rhinestones or anything else that strikes your fancy.

• The reason for using bias tape is to make sure denim fabric will drape softly. If you sew on a denim facing, the fabric edge will be stiff and thick.

• Make your own bias tape out of the same fabric as the vest. Cut 2-inch-wide strips at a 45-degree angle to the selvage of the fabric. Sew strips together to make binding long enough for the vest.

• If you want to fit the vest more closely, make a sample vest out of inexpensive cotton and try it on. Mark any changes you need to make on the cotton with a pen and transfer those marks to the pattern pieces.

References

• Cut Out And Keep: Draped Cardigan

Resources

• Make Your Own Great Vests: 90 Ways to Jazz Up Your Wardrobe; Carol Parks
• Amazon.com: Calvin Klein Jeans Women's Flowy Vest