I haven't started a 2024 diary - wondering seriously if I will make enough to warrant a new one and can instead just tack onto the 2023 Diary. For this
Warm and Cosy thread, however, I thought I could add some notes about the evolution of my vest here.
It started life as
Vogue 9138.
After muslining it last year, I decided I wanted a faced and lined version with real welt pockets (the pattern calls for a bagged lining with no front nor back neck facings). So facings, welt pockets and traditional lining were the changes I made (gifted heavy weight denim - probably intended for home dec sewing).
Even though I made some real bonehead mistakes with it (fused interfacing to the right side of left front - which I actually managed to undo and redo... ugh!), it turned out serviceable. Here's the final of that sew.
V9138 with added welt pockets and facings After some wearing, I didn't like where the darts ended - too high - pattern design, not a fitting thingy. I really love it otherwise, warm, ample welt pockets big enough to tuck a tissue in, but I still am not thrilled with the darts.
So last fall, with the help of several of my online sewing buddies, I started modifying the pattern to be an armhole princess seam and also added about an inch to the length. I did another muslin and I liked the longer princess seam version better.
Fast forward to the present: I am making it out of the remnant from this skirt - which I thought would look nice with the vest for a "look":
Vogue OOP 2433 (V2433) Ann Klein And here's a closer look at the fabric from that project:
Anna Klein, OOP V2433 - extra seam allowance on underliningIt's a very loose weave wool crepe. So I have been doing a LOT of hand sewing - for pattern matching on the plaid (one thread ) and whip stitching the edges as they are fraying like crazy. And like a nutcake, I decided to pattern match the pocket facings and do the welts on the bias.
Also I am trying 2 techniques that I want to add to my toolkit.
- Stays for the welt pockets
- a new way of doing the welts that reduces the bulk on the edges.
I finished the fronts Sunday and have started working on the lining and the facings. Realized that I needed to create a new lining pattern for the fronts - since they are now princess seams. Spent the morning trying out a version that is one piece with a dart, but am not completely pleased, so just finished making a muslin for a princess seamed version.
When I get a chance to post some of the in progress photos to my Flickr account, I will add them in here.
I keep thinking: Man, all this work for just a little vest! But it is giving me time to practice some tailoring techniques with which I would like to build confidence.