Zipper Vest with Patch Pockets
A hip-length women's sleeveless vest with a shirt collar, a separating zip down the centre front, two large patch pockets and a decorative cord threaded through eyelets at the lower front corners. Fully lined.
When To Wear
- Over shirts, T-shirts and fine knitwear in spring and autumn.
- With jeans or trousers as an extra layer for everyday wear.
Key Design Features
Silhouette: Straight, shaped by side bust darts at the front and shoulder darts at the back.
Length: Below the hip.
Collar: Shirt-style collar with pointed ends, the upper collar interfaced, set into the neckline between the vest and the facings.
Sleeves: Sleeveless.
Closure: Separating zip from neckline to hem, with interfaced front facings and topstitching 0.5 cm along the front edges.
Pockets: Two patch pockets with rounded lower corners on the lower fronts, stitched on 0.2 cm from the edge.
Back: One piece with two shoulder darts.
Finishing: The hem is finished with separate front and back hem facings, topstitched 0.2 cm from the seam. Two eyelets at the lower front corners carry a decorative cord.
Lining: Full lining for the fronts and back, sewn to the facings, hem facings and collar.
Level Of Difficulty
Intermediate. A separating zip set between the vest and the facings, a collar, hem facings, eyelets and bagging out a full lining through the side seam.
Fabric Recommendations
Dense cotton or viscose fabrics.
Additional Supplies
- Lining fabric
- Fusible interfacing (front facings, upper collar)
- Separating zip
- Decorative cord
- 2 eyelets
Cutter's Must
From main fabric:
- 1. Center Back – 1 piece
- 2. Pocket – 2 pieces
- 3. Center Front – 2 pieces
- 4. Collar – 2 pieces
- 5. Center Front Facing – 2 pieces
- 6. Back Hem Facing – 1 piece
- 7. Front Hem Facing – 2 pieces
From lining fabric:
- 1. Center Back – 1 piece
- 2. Center Front – 2 pieces
- From fusible interfacing: Center Front Facing, upper Collar.
Sewing Instructions
- Fuse interfacing to the Center Front Facing and the upper Collar.
- Mark and stitch the darts on the Center Front. Press the darts downwards. Mark and stitch the darts on the Center Back. Press the darts towards the center back.
- Overlock the outer edge of the Pocket and press the allowances to the wrong side following the pattern. Turn the upper edge onto the pocket and topstitch it, mark the pocket position and stitch the pocket on around the edge, 0.2 cm from the edge.
- Stitch the side and shoulder seams of the vest and press them open. Mark and set the eyelets in the lower front corners of the vest.
- Place the Collar pieces right sides together and stitch around the edge. Trim the corners, turn the collar right side out and press.
- Stitch the separating zip to the front edges. Turn under the front edges along the zip and press.
- Stitch the side seams of the Front Hem Facing and Back Hem Facing and press them open. Place the hem facings on the vest, right sides together, and stitch along the hem. Understitch the seam allowance to the hem facings 0.2 cm from the seam, stopping 5 cm from the front edge.
- Place the Center Front Facing on the front, right sides together, and pin. Stitch the lower edge of the Center Front Facing to the upper edge of the Front Hem Facing, stopping 1 cm from the edge of the facing. Stitch the facings to the front edges along the front edge line, with the front uppermost. Trim the seam allowances at the lower corners. Turn the front edges right side out, ease out the seams and press.
- Stitch the Collar into the neckline of the vest and the facings, stopping 3 cm from the end of the facing neckline edge. Topstitch 0.5 cm from the front edges.
- Stitch the lining pieces together, leaving an opening in the right side seam. Press the lining. Thread the decorative cord through the eyelets.
- Stitch the lining to the Center Front Facings, the hem facings and the upper collar, matching the lining seams to the vest seams. Press the collar seam allowances open and tack them together close to the seams. Turn the vest right side out and stitch the opening in the lining side seam.
