Oh I had SO much fun making this vest for the SYTYC auditions! I wasn't planning on making this into a tutorial, hence the lack of photos during the process of the yellow vest. Haha! But I've had quite a few requests for it and I'm happy to oblige. :) So, I recreated another vest for my older son (age 3) and that's what the photos are from.
First off, let me just say how fun it was to come up with new boy clothes ideas!! I think this crafting world is very much focused on little girls things, and finding crafts for my boys is difficult. And now that I have two of them, I'm even more determined! So stay tuned for some more boy clothing ideas that I have in the works...they are so fun! :)
Now, I don't really have a pattern for this...I'm just going to show you how to get the right measurements so you can create your own. I made the baby vest based on another vest that my son already had...I looked at it and eyed it and measured it until I came up with what would work for my 6 month old. You'll probably need about a 3/4 of a yard of fabric for a size 3 vest. So here we go...
You will be cutting out 3 different shapes, and 2 of each shape. So a total of 6 pieces. You have the back piece, the right front piece and the left front piece. (Note, the left and right side are just mirror images of each other, so if you're being technical, there's really only 2 different shapes...am I confusing you enough?) Here's what the shapes of your pieces should look like, no matter what size you are making.
To get the correct measurements, you need to measure you little guy in four spots. First is around the chest, you'll be adding to this number later. Next is from the top of his shoulder to under his arm, and you need to add 2 inches to this measurement. Then measure from under his arm to about where his belly button hits. The last measurement is from his belly button to around his waist. These measurements will ensure that you get the right fit.
Take your chest measurement and add 5 to it. Now divide that number by 2. That will be the width of your back piece. Now take the other half and divide that by 2...those will be the widths of your two front pieces. Sounds like a complicated math problem huh?
So for example, my 3 year old's chest measurement was 21 inches. Add 5 to it and it's 26 inches. Divide that by two is 13 inches. So my back piece right under the arm all the way across should measure 13 inches. Now my two front pieces should each be 6 1/2 inches each. Got it? :)
If you look at the photo again, you can see where I've marked the measurements. You'll just need to plug your measurements in and kind of make your own template to follow with keeping the basic shape in tact. :) **Remember to add 2 inches to the shoulder to underarm measurement. Just so you know, my 3 year old's measurements for his shoulder to underarm was 4 1/2 inches (plus the 2 is 6 1/2), his underarm to belly button was 7 inches and his belly button to waist was 2 1/2 inches. This should give you an idea. :)
So remember, you're cutting out two right side pieces, two left side pieces and two back side pieces. Now onto the sewing. Use a 1/4 seam allowance. With right sides together, take your back piece and sew together everything except the two edges for turning. Turn right side out and iron.
Take your right front piece and with right sides together and sew everything but the edge for turning. Turn right side out and iron. Repeat with the left front piece.
Now with right sides together (it doesn't really matter which side is the front and back at this point), sew up the edges and shoulders of both your left front and right front to your back piece. Turn inside out and iron. Tada!!
I topstitched my whole piece after I got it turned right side and ironed!
Now to add your buttons. I personally hate button holes, so I try to avoid them at all costs. Here you can add your buttons and button holes or you can do like I did and just hand sew your buttons on. I actually sewed mine to both the left and ride front pieces so it would stay closed. The only problem I've found with this is that it might make it a bit more difficult to get it over their head. It worked with mine, but just be aware! You can do whatever you feel comfortable with!
I hope this tutorial was easy to follow...it's my very first sewing tutorial so don't hate me if it's not! :) Please, if you have any questions, let me know!!
First off, let me just say how fun it was to come up with new boy clothes ideas!! I think this crafting world is very much focused on little girls things, and finding crafts for my boys is difficult. And now that I have two of them, I'm even more determined! So stay tuned for some more boy clothing ideas that I have in the works...they are so fun! :)
Now, I don't really have a pattern for this...I'm just going to show you how to get the right measurements so you can create your own. I made the baby vest based on another vest that my son already had...I looked at it and eyed it and measured it until I came up with what would work for my 6 month old. You'll probably need about a 3/4 of a yard of fabric for a size 3 vest. So here we go...
You will be cutting out 3 different shapes, and 2 of each shape. So a total of 6 pieces. You have the back piece, the right front piece and the left front piece. (Note, the left and right side are just mirror images of each other, so if you're being technical, there's really only 2 different shapes...am I confusing you enough?) Here's what the shapes of your pieces should look like, no matter what size you are making.
To get the correct measurements, you need to measure you little guy in four spots. First is around the chest, you'll be adding to this number later. Next is from the top of his shoulder to under his arm, and you need to add 2 inches to this measurement. Then measure from under his arm to about where his belly button hits. The last measurement is from his belly button to around his waist. These measurements will ensure that you get the right fit.
Take your chest measurement and add 5 to it. Now divide that number by 2. That will be the width of your back piece. Now take the other half and divide that by 2...those will be the widths of your two front pieces. Sounds like a complicated math problem huh?
So for example, my 3 year old's chest measurement was 21 inches. Add 5 to it and it's 26 inches. Divide that by two is 13 inches. So my back piece right under the arm all the way across should measure 13 inches. Now my two front pieces should each be 6 1/2 inches each. Got it? :)
If you look at the photo again, you can see where I've marked the measurements. You'll just need to plug your measurements in and kind of make your own template to follow with keeping the basic shape in tact. :) **Remember to add 2 inches to the shoulder to underarm measurement. Just so you know, my 3 year old's measurements for his shoulder to underarm was 4 1/2 inches (plus the 2 is 6 1/2), his underarm to belly button was 7 inches and his belly button to waist was 2 1/2 inches. This should give you an idea. :)
So remember, you're cutting out two right side pieces, two left side pieces and two back side pieces. Now onto the sewing. Use a 1/4 seam allowance. With right sides together, take your back piece and sew together everything except the two edges for turning. Turn right side out and iron.
Take your right front piece and with right sides together and sew everything but the edge for turning. Turn right side out and iron. Repeat with the left front piece.
Now with right sides together (it doesn't really matter which side is the front and back at this point), sew up the edges and shoulders of both your left front and right front to your back piece. Turn inside out and iron. Tada!!
I topstitched my whole piece after I got it turned right side and ironed!
Now to add your buttons. I personally hate button holes, so I try to avoid them at all costs. Here you can add your buttons and button holes or you can do like I did and just hand sew your buttons on. I actually sewed mine to both the left and ride front pieces so it would stay closed. The only problem I've found with this is that it might make it a bit more difficult to get it over their head. It worked with mine, but just be aware! You can do whatever you feel comfortable with!
I hope this tutorial was easy to follow...it's my very first sewing tutorial so don't hate me if it's not! :) Please, if you have any questions, let me know!!
