Friday, January 08, 2010

It's Cold Outside!

So naturally, I decided I wanted something warmer to wear. Seems like every winter I suddenly get the urge to 'sew warm'. Forget style, etc., just find something to bundle up in. Well, maybe not forget style, but it's not at the top of the list. I found a very cute RTW fleece vest that had a very droopy back on me, since it hadn't had my swayback alteration. (Strange that they didn't do that, isn't it?) I knew I had fleece, and I copied the vest.


Link to First Photo. You may click through them all from here.

Since the back was the problem, I pinned the RTW vest at the waist, taking out about 2 inches in length, and then copied the pattern that way, tapering to the side seam. I used a needlepoint wheel to copy the seamlines, etc. onto pattern paper, marked the pocket placement, then trued my seamlines and that was about it. The original vest had no princess seam, it was simply a row of coverstitching at the pocket placement. I did an actual seam there since it made the pocket easier (I just did an inseam pocket) and because I don't have a coverstitch machine, and I liked the line. My fleece is textured while the original was smooth, so I think an actual seam was necessary to even show up. I also added a CB seam to get the shaping I had put in.





The details are simple.
+ The separating zipper is very basic, with no facing on the inside, as per the original.
+ Hems and armhole edges are simply turned under and stitched.
+ All seams are topstitched. This doesn't show as much on my fleece as the original, but it makes for a nice finish anyway.
+ The collar is interfaced. I didn't want to use a fusible on fleece, so I used a fused suedecloth that I had and didn't use for a previous project. It was nice and sturdy without being stiff, and worked perfectly for this.
+ Each of the pockets forms an interior pocket also, because of the way it's sewn at the sides and bottom but left open at the top. I'm not sure I'm crazy about this, but it might come in handy. I can always go back and sew across the top.



I will say that everything for this project came from my inventory. I even had the perfect 23" separating zipper used in the original. Warm and frugal, that's me!

This is as close a photo as I can find to the original, which was one color, and did not have zipper pockets.

16 comments:

wendy said...

oooh... now that looks so warm & cozy! how perfect that you had just the right size zipper, too.

and i think that shade of blue looks really good on you :-)

Sally said...

Very cool and I love the color! Isn't it nice when an "in the moment" project works out! Sally

gwensews said...

Nice, comfy and warm vest for a cold wintry day. It's cold in Michigan, too. Brrrrr! Glad to see you're sewing.

Jenny said...

It looks so cozy. Simple but effective. :-)

Ann Made Studio said...

It does look very warm and cozy and certainly something I could use these days:)

Laura said...

Super-cozy and cute. Very nice.

Lisa said...

Nice. I just wished fleece wasn't static electricity city!

KayY said...

Don't you love satisfying and quick projects where everything just comes together. This looks like the kind of thing I like to wear all winter!

Sigrid said...

Warm and comfortabel, just the things I'm longing for right now. Isn't it good we can make such things and adapt them to our own figure. Great result.

Fran said...

Very nice. Great adaptation -- I've been looking for a vest pattern similar to this with the high neck but haven't found one. I'm encouraged to make my own now!

Mardel said...

What a great quick project. And you are right, this time of year warm and cozy are on the top of the list.

Vicki said...

Looks nice and cuddly.

Sheila said...

Lovely vest and it looks so warm.

Anonymous said...

Looks great! And I vote for keeping the internal pockets.

Summerset said...

Very nice and cozy! I've heard about your weather. I just got a letter from my aunt who lives in Ashland (between you and Omaha) and she said there was a recent storm that dumped 14" in them. My family - both sides is from NE.

Maggie said...

Great looking vest. So nice to have you back. Your projects are always an inspiration.