How to Sew a Vest

Vests come in a wide variety of styles, from casual cover-ups to fitted sleeveless jackets to formal wear for men’s suits. Vests can be loose and open or closely fitted with princess seams. They can be plain and simple, or have pockets, lapels and decorative stitching. You can find vest patterns that are cropped, waist-length, hip-length or even as long as mid-thigh. With all these options, you can sew a vest in just the style, size and fabric you want.

Things You'll Need

• Vest pattern
• Fabric
• Matching thread
• Fusible interfacing (optional)
• Buttons (optional)
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Sewing machine

Instructions

Prepare the Vest Pattern and Fabric

1. Choose a pattern for the vest that matches the style you want. Some patterns contain several style variations for the same vest, and some come with other patterns, such as tops or skirts. Make sure to choose a vest pattern that has all the features you need, and that suits your sewing skill level.

2. Follow the guidelines on the pattern envelope when choosing fabric for the vest. Casual vests can be made from cotton, cotton blends or even denim or corduroy, while gabardine, wool or suiting fabrics work well for business vests. Formal vests can be made from fancy fabrics, such as satin or silk. Polar fleece is perfect for warm winter vests.

3. Choose fabric for the vest lining (if applicable). For a reversible vest, choose fabric that’s the same type as the main fabric. If you’re using thick fabric for the vest, such as wool, you may want to use a thinner fabric for the lining, such as polyester, to keep the vest from getting too bulky.

4. Pick out any other materials you need, such as fusible interfacing or buttons.

5. Wash, dry and iron the fabric and lining. Fold the fabric in half right sides together.

6. Cut out the pattern pieces using the cutting line for the size you need. If the vest pattern has several style options, cut only the pieces you need for the style you’re making.

7. Pin the pattern pieces to the fabric, making sure any pieces are on the fold that need to be. Cut out the pieces of the vest.

Sew a Vest

1. Place the vest back and vest fronts right sides together. (If the vest pattern uses several pieces to make the front or back, sew those pieces together first.) Pin the back and front together along the shoulders and sides.

2. Stitch the vest back and fronts together along the shoulders and sides, using 5/8 inch seam allowance. Press the seams flat. If the vest has a lining, sew the lining fronts and back together the same way. If the vest doesn’t have a lining, finish the vest by hemming all the edges (including the armholes) or adding facings.

3. Place the vest and the lining right sides together, lining them up along the edges, and pin them together. Stitch the vests along the front and neckline, and around the armholes. Stitch along the lower edge of the vest front, leaving the lower edge of the vest backs unstitched.

4. Turn the vest right side out. Use the eraser end of a pencil or a similar object to gently push out the edges of the vest.

5. Turn the un-sewn edges of the lower back to the inside of the vest, so that the folded edge is even with the rest of the back. Press the folded edges, and pin them together.

6. Top-stitch along the outside edges of the vest and the armholes. Make sure the lower edge of the back of the vest gets sewn closed in this seam.

Tips & Warnings

• Add buttons and buttonholes, pockets or decorations to the vest, if desired.

• Use caution when working with scissors, pins, irons and sewing machines.