Tailored V-Neck Button Front Vest
A fitted women's sleeveless vest in denim, hip length, with a shawl collar cut in one with the front facings, a two-button front, a horizontal waist seam and princess seams front and back. The panel seams, collar and front edges are topstitched 0.5–0.7 cm from the edge.
When To Wear
- Over a shirt, T-shirt or turtleneck in spring and autumn.
- With jeans or trousers in a matching or contrasting denim, as a casual alternative to a jacket.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Close-fitting, shaped by princess seams above a seam at the waist.
Length: High hip.
Collar: Shawl collar forming a V-neckline, with a seam at the centre back of the collar; the collar and front edges are topstitched.
Sleeves: Sleeveless. The armholes are finished with outer and inner facings, the outer ones topstitched on the right side.
Front: Curved princess seams from the armhole to the waist seam. Below the waist, a curved panel with its own facing frames the front edge, which is rounded at the hem.
Closure: Two buttons with buttonholes on the right front.
Back: Centre back seam, princess seams and a yoke with a pointed lower edge; the lower back is cut in one piece.
Finishing: Back hem allowance of 3 cm wrapped around the front at the side seams and topstitched; back neckline finished with a facing.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Many panels joined with topstitched seams, a shawl collar set between the vest and the facing, a faced lower front and armholes finished with double facings.
Fabric Recommendations
Denim in natural or blended fibres.
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing (lower front facings, front facings, back neck facing, armhole facings)
- 2 buttons
Cutter's Must
From main fabric:
- Center Back – 2 pieces
- Side Back – 2 pieces
- Back Yoke – 1 piece
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Center Front – 2 pieces
- Lower Back – 1 piece
- Lower Front – 2 pieces
- Lower Front Facing – 4 pieces
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- Back Armhole Facing – 4 pieces
- Front Armhole Facing – 4 pieces
From fusible interfacing:
- Lower Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- Back Armhole Facing – 2 pieces
- Front Armhole Facing – 2 pieces
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the designated pieces.
- Stitch the center back seam (Center Back pieces), press the allowances to the left, serge. Topstitch along the seam 0.5–0.7 cm from it. Stitch the back princess seams (Center Back to Side Back), press the allowances towards the center, serge. Topstitch along the seam 0.5–0.7 cm from it.
- Stitch the Back Yoke to the back, press the allowances upwards, serge. Topstitch along the seam 0.5–0.7 cm from it. Stitch the outer Back Armhole Facings to the back, press the allowances towards the facings. Topstitch along the seam 0.5–0.7 cm from it. Stitch the upper back to the Lower Back, press the allowances upwards, serge. Topstitch along the seam 0.5–0.7 cm from it.
- Stitch the Side Front to the Lower Front, press the allowances upwards, serge. Stitch the Center Front to the outer Lower Front Facing, press the allowances upwards, serge. Stitch the princess seams of the upper front (Center Front to Side Front), press the allowances towards the center, serge. Topstitch along the seam 0.5–0.7 cm from it. Stitch the outer Front Armhole Facings to the front, press the allowances towards the facings. Topstitch along the seam 0.5–0.7 cm from it.
- Stitch the center back seam of the collar, press the allowances open. Stitch the shoulder seams, clip at the corner, press the allowances towards the back and serge. Set the collar into the back neckline, press the allowances open.
- Stitch the collar seam of the Center Front Facing pieces, press the allowances open. Stitch the shoulder seams of the Back Neckline Facing and the Center Front Facing pieces, clip at the corner and press open. Stitch the inner Lower Front Facings to the Center Front Facings, press the allowances open. Serge the outer edge. Set the facing collar into the neckline of the Back Neckline Facing, press the allowances open.
- Place the facing on the right side of the front, right side down, pin and stitch along the front edges and the outer edge of the collar. Clip the allowances at the curves. Turn the front edges right side out, roll the seams and press. Stitch the inner Lower Front Facing in place through the attachment seam of the outer Lower Front Facing. Topstitch along the ends and the outer edge of the collar 0.5–0.7 cm from the edge.
- Serge the hem edge of the back. Stitch the side seams, wrapping the back hem allowance around the front. Press the allowances towards the back, serge. Turn right side out and press. Topstitch the back hem allowance in place.
- Stitch the side and shoulder seams of the inner Back Armhole Facings and Front Armhole Facings. Serge the outer edge. Place the facings on the vest right sides together and stitch along the armhole edge. Clip the allowances, turn the facings to the wrong side and stitch them in place through the attachment seam of the outer facings.
- Make buttonholes on the right front and sew the buttons on the left front.
