Steampunk-Flavored Vest

I guess I couldn't count on my streak of practicality lasting; after making something like five normal tops, I couldn't resist jumping back into costumes for a bit. After getting back to TCOCC, I surveyed the state of my sewing room (bad) and decided that I needed to get rid of some of the stash. I still had about a third of a curtain left after making my steampunk skirt, and I had thrifted a 70's vest pattern (McCall's 3072), so obviously the right thing to do was make a vest to go with my whole ensemble.

Vintage Pattern Wiki's copy is a large, mine was a
medium (bust 34-36). I used View D.

This pattern was not the best place to start for making a very fitted vest. It's already meant to be a loose-ish vest, and my copy was too big to boot. I ended up cutting my lining first and using that as a muslin, then transferring all my changes and cutting out the shell and sewing them together. In the end, it was only a matter of taking in the side seams by about an inch and a half (meaning there were six extra inches of ease!) under the arm, tapering to about 3/4" at the waist, bringing in the center back seam by about an inch at the top to get rid of the gaping, and taking in about 3/4" at the back shoulder, tapering in to 1/2" at the neck.  To make things extra fun, I also cut the back on the bias so as to get the chevron effect. I really like how it turned out, though, so it was worth the effort of pinning and fussy cutting. I also decided to go with regular buttonholes instead of the corded loops that the pattern called for, mostly because I couldn't be bothered to make corded loops.

See, it's a real working pocket!

This vest also marks my dubious entrée into the world of tailoring, and gosh what a botched debut it was! Kind of like Kaylee and her layer cake dress, only I didn't even have an extensive knowledge of machines to enchant the old men with. So yeah, I have a lot of practice ahead of me before I can make a beautiful welt pocket like Poppykettle. Maybe it would help if I were an engineer. Or, you know, I could just be more meticulous in my marking and stuff. At any rate, I'm still pleased as punch that I've got a place to put my pocketwatch now! I'm also exceedingly pleased with my (useless) epaulets and the buttons I used; they echo the buttons I used on my steampunked Nerf gun.

Seriously, that welt pocket is so ugly. That's why I made the buttons waaaay larger, so you can be entranced by the prism...

I think it's official...I am in love with chevrons!

Summary:
Fabric: Less than a yard of 60" wide 70/30 viscose-poly blend curtain fabric for the shell, 100% cotton lawn for the lining
Notions: Three large buttons, two smaller buttons for the epaulets, a snap to keep the vest from gaping
Techniques: Double welt pocket
Hours used: Eight, what with the muslin-ing and welt pocket and all
Will you make this again? I don't think so, unless I decide I need another fitted vest in a slightly more wearable fabric?
Total cost: about $2 for the buttons and lining; the curtain fabric was free
Final thoughts: I'm pretty happy with the vest, and willing to overlook the ugly pocket welts and the slightly pointy darts, mostly because it's just a costume piece. I do think it really helps tie the whole costume together, and should I decide to go to a winter event, the vest will help with the warmth thing. As it is, it was pretty ridiculously warm to wear, even just briefly for pictures in our air-conditioned apartment. Oh, and when I asked my husband what he thought, he (wisely) asked first, "What look are you going for?" When I said it was for my steampunk outfit, then he said it was just fine and worked well for that purpose. I mean, did he think I was going to wear a vest with a pocketwatch out in public for real life?! Actually, knowing me, that's not entirely out of the question.

Next costume piece to finish: something hobbit-y for Second Breakfast on September 21st...anyone in the LA area want to join me next Saturday to celebrate Bilbo's and Frodo's birthday?