First off, I LOVE my blazers from Winter Wear Designs! The Champs Elysee Cross Back Blazer and the newest Phresh Blazer for Women are a staple in my closet. I can dress them up for work or a night on the town with jeans. They are both so versatile.
When I was cruising Pinterest, I came across a few tops and vests and decided I "needed" them! I looked through my patterns and immediately thought of the WWD Blazer patterns. They would work perfectly with a few modifications. I decided to take a vacation day from work and make myself some new clothes! Sewing for myself is very relaxing and rewarding since I can get a custom fit.
I recently tested the Phresh Blazer and loved the fit and angle of the
front and it works great as a vest as well! I took it in at the
shoulder and lowered the armcye a bit. I used some leftover stretch
twill and lining material to make a fully lined vest. I also added a
little lower back band that extends over the two middle back pieces to
give it an accent since I wasn't adding ruffles to my vest.
A few tips
for doing a lined vest for the arm and neck holes: I sewed the 2 back
pieces together, then the back sides to the back, the front side pieces
to the front pieces, then the whole front to the whole back at the
shoulders. Do not sew the side seams (under the armscye) together yet.
You will do this for the lining as well.
Place the outer and lining
together, right sides together, and sew from the lower front piece, up
and around the neck to the other lower front. Also sew the armcye area
on both sides. Flip so that right sides are out.
This is where you
will reach in and match up the side seams. So outer lining up with
outer RST, and lining matches to lining. You will sew the sides seams
on the outer and continue in one straight line onto the lining.
Straighten the vest back out and top stitch along the arm holes and
around the whole edge of the blazer hem line up and round neck to bottom
hem. This will close up your turning hole. Try on the vest and decide
where you would like your buttons. I love odd numbers so I added 3 large
buttons for mine. This is a perfect work appropriate vest and also can be easily styled for the weekend with jeans and heels.
For my second modification I pulled out my Champs Elysee Cross Back Blazer pattern. I wanted a short sleeve cross front top to be layered with a layering tank or tee (The new Layer Me Up Shirt from Patterns for Pirates is perfect!). A few modifications were needed for my vision. I used the back piece and basically folded it in half and extended the lower hemline to make it straight. This became my back of the top (place the middle line on the fold for a full back piece). I then took the back cross piece again and modified where the front neck line would sit. I made a swooping
line from the shoulder to a few inches above the bust line. I also took the original front piece with the arm opening and lined it up on this piece so the front armscye would match up with the sleeve piece.
Take the new modified front piece and cut out 2 pieces, mirrored, for each side of your top. I also make this a reversible top so I cut out all the pieces in a solid navy twill as well. You will end up with 2 sleeves, one back piece on the fold, and 2 front pieces in each fabric. I sewed the fronts to the back at the shoulders, added the sleeves and sewed up the side seams. Then placed the tops right sides together (ignoring the sleeve part at this time) and sewed it up around the outer edges, leaving myself a turning hole. flip it right side out and topstitch. push the sleeves into the other sleeves, turn up the hems and topstitch the sleeve hem. You can add buttons or even a belt to finish up the look.
