Denim Vest From Recycled Denim (Version 2)

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  Step 1

  Start by finding a t-shirt you don't want, that is approximately the size of the vest you want. Mine is an old shirt I got from a fundraiser, that I used as a paint shirt. I believe it is an adult large. Cut off the sleeves

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  Step 2

  *not shown* Cut down the sides so you have a separated front and back

  *shown* Cut the front of the shirt vertically in half

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  Step 3

  Cut off a one inch strip from the inside of one half of the shirt. It doesn't matter which half, but you only have to do it to one since we'll be using it as a pattern. I think at this point I also cut off the shirt collar, and the bottom hem with about a half inch added along to it.

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  Step 4

  Cut off the top section of the shirt, horizontally. I cut a little more than halfway below the middle of the arm hole.

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  Step 5

  Cut the remaining large piece into panels. I chose three, because it was the closest to the reference photos I was using.

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  Step 6

  Cut the hem off the bottom of the back of the shirt. Make sure it matches the hem you cut off the front (see step 3)

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  Step 7

  Now we'll begin cutting the back into panels. Using the piece from step 4, measure the same length on the back. Cut horizontally across the entire back.

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  Step 8

  Cut the remaining large panel into smaller panels. I chose three, but you can do any sort of way you'd like.

• Step 9

  *not shown* Using your new pattern pieces, cut out the front and back from your material of choice. Remember to flip the front pieces when you're cutting the other side of the front. For me, I used an old pair of white pants for the six skinny panels of the front. (I also cut those pants into shorts- double re-purposing!) The rest (bottom hem, one inch inside hem, back panels, top front panels) I cut out using black denim.

• Step 10

  You should have: 6 skinny front panels, 2 top front panels, 4 bottom front hem (two for each side), 4 inside front hem (two for each side), 4 back panels, two bottom back hem

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  Step 11

  Sew your three front panels together. Then, sew the top panel. You might have to trim it down a little, as the black piece doesn't have the same seam allowance as the white.

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  Step 12

  Sew together your two inside hem panels on the longest side. Hem the shorter sides. I used a zigzag stitch during this entire project.

• Step 13

  Place the hem right sides together with the three skinny front panel piece and sew. Then, flip the hem to the inside of the vest, and sew.

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  Step 14

  Repeat step 13 for the bottom hem.

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  Step 15

  Repeat step 13 for the bottom hem.

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  Step 16

  Sew the back three panels together, then sew the top panel on. Like the front top piece, it might have to be resized.

• Step 17

  *not shown* Sew on the bottom hem like you did the front bottom hem.

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  Step 18

  Sew the front and back together at the tops of the shoulders, and down the sides. I zigzag stitched about an inch away from the arm seams because I wanted a frayed look. If you don't want to have this frayed look, just hem the arm holes. This would probably be easier to do before you sewed the vest pieces together.

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  Step 19

  I had a collar that I used as a pattern. If you don't, just measure around your neck, and cut out a trapezoid. Your neck measurement should be the shorter top of the trapezoid. The longer the other parallel line, the bigger the collar.

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  Step 20

  Pin and sew the collar,right sides together.

• Step 21

  *not shown* to prevent fraying, I rubbed fabric glue along all the seams. You could solve this problem by using a surging machine, or lining the vest with another fabric, using the same pattern.

  I also cut out pockets, and fabric glued them onto the front.

  All that's left is to add patches and buttons to your heart's content!

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Chudames · Bellingham, Washington, US · 112 projects 10th June 2015

Love it!

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