Replacing the Back of a Vest

 Hello Readers. It's cool enough to start wearing more layers. It makes getting dressed more fun. The possibilities are endless. I found this amazing suede vest at a clothes swap and thought I could refresh it by replacing the old worn back. 

Before and after.

This suede vest was so fun and the suede was in great condition. 

The back was old and felt a little brittle. The back of this vest was not attractive at all. It had to go.

I removed the back by unpicking the seams.

I took the back off at the shoulders too. I picked out all the stitches and seperated the back from the front.

I used the old back as a pattern. I cut around it and left 1/2 inch seam allowance all the way around.

I cut out 2 new back pieces at the same time. I put the 2 back pieces together with the right sides facing each other. I used my serger to connect them along the bottom, the neck and the arm holes. Then I flipped it right sides out and ironed it. (And I threw away the old back.)

 

I explain how I connected the back and the suede pieces here.

 

I tried to center the blue flower on this back piece. This was a scrap of fabric I had available in my stash. I also thought it would help keep the suede vest from looking too western cowboy-ish.

 

The vest turned out great. It had a really fresh new look and feel to it that I really liked. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

*Year End Note From Chickie- I wear this to work and I still love the peacock on the back. If I gain weight it's going to be too tight so I hope I can hold back on the cookies.
 

 

 

The Belt Bag

 Hello Readers. I hope you are doing well. I am aware that a lot of people are not doing well right now. There are unemployment and housing issues in addition to all our Corona, hurricane/wildfire and social/political issues. It is really a lot to try and wrap my head around all at the same time. I wish I had some words of wisdom that would help solve any/all/even one of these issues. I really don't, but I am pretty sure arguing on Facebook isn't going to solve anything.

I'm just going to sew for now. I have had this suede vest for ages. It just makes me feel like a cowboy and like I should have a horse, a lasso and be yelling, "Yee-haw!". (No offense to anyone currently in a vest, on a horse, yelling, "Yee-haw!".) It just doesn't feel like me.

Check out this vest from a clothes swap ages ago. It has a western kind of vibe to it. Amazingly, it matched this suede belt from another clothes swap.

I started cutting the vest into pieces. Suede doesn't fray at all so it is easy to work with. I wanted a small bag shape.

I know what you are thinking. How hard is it to sew through suede? Check it out in this short video clip. (Hint: It was super easy.)

 I used the belt to make this small bag into a belt-bag. Waist-bag. Fanny-pack. Butt-bag. Whatever you want to call it, I made one. I remember when these were popular in the 90's and I swore I would never wear one again. But here I am, years later, eating those words.

The belt fits through slits in the back of the bag. I can slide the bag off the belt to wear the belt alone if I want.

I was surprised I liked this bag as much as I did. It would be great for when I want to be hands free. 

 Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.