Tutorial Time: Autumn Angel Reversible Padded Vest

I know it's seemed like forever since I've had a fun sewing tutorial to share here.  Not long ago I finally got a chance to do a project I'd been thinking about for a long time.  I call it the Autumn Angel Reversible, Padded Vest. 

 Ideal for keeping warm in the chilly fall air but without adding a lot of bulk.  

And by making it reversible, there are two distinct sides to add some extra flair to the fall wardrobe.  

Here's How:

You'll Need:

- A collared vest or button up shirt to trace

- Paper & pencil

- 1/2 yd each of two cotton prints (for ages 0-2yrs, more for larger)

- 1 yd of bias tape 

- Scrap of fusible interfacing (enough for collar)

- 1/2 yd fusible batting 

- Snaps

First you'll want to trace a vest or shirt to get front & back pieces sized right.  Fold the back in half down the middle and while holding the fabric nice & flat trace around the neckline, sides, armhole & bottom.  Repeat with the front and collar (if you don't have a collar that's ok just skip those related steps below).  Allow for a seam allowance of 1/2 inch around the neck, sides & bottom of your vest  and collar pieces (NOT the armholes).  Cut out your paper pattern.  Then layout the pattern pieces over your fabric as follows with one part folded for the back to be one large piece (as seen on the far right side below):

Cut the two front pieces and single back piece from the batting.  You can either use a fusible type batting like Fusible Thermolam Plus from Pellon or polyester batting like Legacy.  You'll also need to cut a piece of fusible interfacing for the collar.  I used Décor Bond (also from Pellon) since it would be soft, but still give the shaping needed for the collar when it folded over.

Iron on the fusible side of the batting to the wrong side of the front & back vest pieces of one fabric (wool/steam setting).  I used the fusible batting so it won't shift around as I'm sewing all the layers or get bunchy when turning right side out.  At this point you could choose to quilt with diagonal lines or stippling, but I went in a different direction (more on that later).

Iron the interfacing onto the wrong side of one of the collar pieces.

With a 1/4 inch seam allowance, and right sides of the two collar pieces together, sew a seam around the sides and large curve of the collar.  Clip around the corners and curve and turn right side out.

Press around edges and topstitch around the edge of the sides.

Now pin the collar onto the neckline of one vest side's right side, lining up the center of the collar with the center of the back of the vest.  I wanted the collars to be contrasting, so to do that place the contrast side facing up.

Now, with right sides facing, pin the two vests together (with the collar sandwiched in between) and sew all the way around.  Turn it right side out through one of the armholes.

Then pin bias tape around each of the arm holes to finish, folding in and overlapping the raw edges and sew on close to the tape's edge.

I thought a fun alternative to traditional quilting would be to randomly topstitch around some of the bigger mushrooms in the print.  I like the effect it gives:

I used my favorite snap press & plastic snaps down the front.  I buy mine at KAMsnaps.  They add a little extra contrast color and makes the closure completely reversible (unlike buttons or a regular zipper).



So it looks great from both sides:

And also from the "shy side":

Now you can have a festive vest that gives two fun fall looks & will keep a little someone toasty warm too!

Sharing this with my FAVE LINK PARTIES too so click HERE to check them out!