Asymmetrical Wrap Vest with Shawl Lapel and Contrast Collar
Introduce a sophisticated women's vest pattern featuring a striking asymmetrical wrap front, a tailored fit, a wide shawl-style lapel and a contrast-fabric collar.
When To Wear
This versatile vest is perfect for adding a touch of tailored elegance to various settings, including:
- Business Casual: Elevates an everyday office look with professional polish.
- Smart Evening Wear: Pairs effortlessly with trousers or skirts for chic dinner or casual events.
- Layered Style: An excellent layering piece over turtlenecks or blouses for transitional weather.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Fitted and sleeveless, creating a sleek and structured profile.
Neckline & Collar: Features a V-neckline framed by a wide shawl-style lapel cut in one with the center fronts (joined by a seam at the center back), layered over a contrast-fabric collar.
Closure: An asymmetrical wrap front secured by a column of five buttons.
Sleeves: Sleeveless design with lined armholes.
Pockets: Two vertical double-welt pockets with contrast-fabric welts (frames) are set into the front princess seams.
Back: Tailored with a center back seam and princess seams for shaping.
Hem: The overlapping right front has a rounded lower corner that sweeps across to the left side, while the back hem is straight.
Length: Sits at hip length.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. Requires familiarity with tailored garments, including collar construction, making double-welt pockets, and bagging a full lining.
Fabric Recommendations
For a vest with structure and a refined finish, consider:
- Suiting fabrics made from natural or blended fibers
- Contrasting fabric for trim (e.g., collar underlay, pocket frames)
Additional Supplies
- Fusible interfacing
- Lining fabric
- 5 buttons
Cutter's Must
If the patterns have a double contour, seam allowances are included. If the contour is single, seam allowances are not included. Seam allowances: all seams 1cm. Attention! First, print out the paper patterns and lay them out on the fabric width (fabric width can be from 90cm to 150cm) to determine how much material you will need (do not forget to account for paired and symmetrical pieces).
- From main fabric:
- Center Back – 2 pieces
- Side Back – 2 pieces
- Center Front – 2 pieces
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- Underlay Piece – 2 pieces
- From contrasting fabric:
- Collar – 1 piece
- Pocket Frame – 4 pieces
- From lining fabric:
- Center Back – 2 pieces
- Side Back – 2 pieces
- Side Front – 2 pieces
- Center Front – 2 pieces
- Attention! Lining pieces are cut from the main fabric patterns minus the Back Neckline Facing and Center Front Facing.
- From fusible interfacing:
- Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- Collar – 1 piece
- Back Neckline Facing – 1 piece
- Pocket Frame – 4 pieces
Sewing Instructions
When stitching pieces, pay attention to the notches - they must match!
- Fuse interfacing to the Center Front Facings, Collar, Back Neckline Facing and Pocket Frames.
- Stitch the center back seam, press allowances open. Stitch the back princess seams, press allowances open.
- Stitch the front princess seams, starting and ending the stitching strictly at the marked pocket line, press allowances open. Fold the Pocket Frames in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press. Stitch the frames to the front along the pocket opening. Clip the allowances at the corners, turn the frames to the wrong side and straighten. Secure the pocket ends from the wrong side with a double backstitch across the base of the corner triangles. Place the Underlay Piece over the frames on the wrong side and stitch in the ditch of the frame attaching seam.
- Stitch the shoulder and side seams, press allowances open.
- Stitch the center back seam of the lapel cut in one with the Center Front, press the allowances open.
- Stitch the shoulder seams of the Back Neckline Facing and Center Front Facings and press them open. Stitch the Collar into the neckline of the Center Front Facings and Back Neckline Facing, clipping the allowances at the corners.
- Stitch the princess seams of the back and front lining, press allowances towards the center of the pieces. Stitch the center back seam, press allowances to the left side. Stitch the shoulder and side seams, leaving an opening in the left side seam. Attach the lining to the Center Front Facings and Back Neckline Facing, press the allowances towards the main fabric.
- Place the garment with the lining right sides together and stitch all around the collar edge, front edges, and bottom hem. Clip allowances at curves. Turn the vest right side out, straighten, and press.
- Finish the armhole in two steps through the opening in the side seam: back armhole from shoulder seam to side seam, and front armhole from shoulder seam to side seam. Close the technical opening.
- Make the buttonholes on the front according to the markings. Sew on the buttons.
