It turns out that when I actually stop procrastinating about getting into my sewing room, I can be quite productive. The first thing I made today was this no-sew vest, inspired by one that a co-worker was wearing recently.

All it takes is a metre of 150cm wide fabric (about a yard of 60″ wide fabric). You fold it so that the selvedges match up, and even up the cut edges if you need to. Then measure your back – mine is 14.5″ – halve that, and that’s how far from the fold that you make your cuts for the armholes. Best to have a rotary cutter and mat for that. From the top cut edge, which will become your collar, you measure 6″ or more, and cut down from there to make armholes that you can put your arms through. I ended up with 8″ slits.

I also trimmed off my selvedges as the pattern stopped before the edge and there was undesirable writing printed on it. If this idea works well for me, I’d like to make a few of these to brighten up a basic black top/black jeans “uniform” for work.

I’ll add some photos with captions which will hopefully explain the method better.

On hanger in my sewing room – front

On hanger in my sewing room – back

Spread out on couch for best view of fabric design

Draped on couch

Folded in half as if for cutting armholes – armhole slits are near top right of the fabric in this photo