Quinn Vest
Around this time last year, I sewed 2 reversible vests that I wear over a top. To this day, I still love these pieces. When I sewed them, the vest trend was still going strong. I am not a big follower of trends, so I have no idea if vests are still on trend, but they never left my mind. The 2 vests I made are casual and not very formfitting. Another type of vest that I love, is the fitted vest, kind of like a waistcoat. They do look very complex and have intimidated me, but I did really want to sew a fitted vest. I found the Quinn Vest by True Bias and that was just what I envisioned. I came across some brocade like fabric (still not 100% sure what it is, I bought it at a market stall) that would work beautifully for a vest, and my first version of the Quinn Vest was born. As much as I love it, the fabric was unpleasant to work with and it shrank slightly when using the steam from my ironing machine. The fit is still okay, but it is tighter and shorter than I’d like, making it harder to pair with other pieces. Nevertheless, I still love the concept of it, so I knew I had to try again in the future.
That moment came sooner than I expected. When I was working on my Falconer Pants by Helen’s Closet (recommendation!!), I had more fabric left than expected. I was thrilled to find out I could squeeze another Quinn Vest out of the scraps. When time came around to start sewing, I enjoyed the sewing process so much more than the previous version, mainly because the fabric was a lot easier to work with. I used a stretch denim that has some structure, but still is very flexible and easy to handle. The pattern itself is a great one. There are 4 options to choose from: a short vest (the one I made), a hip-length vest, and 2 dress options. The difficulty is intermediate which I understand, but the instructions are great and easy to follow. I sewed a size 8 and graded to size 6 in the waist, which I think worked out well. I finished in about 7 hours.
The result is great, just as I had hoped! I already loved the fabric, and as expected, the fit was very good this time. I feel more comfortable in this version and I think it looks stylish. I am very pleased with the topstitching and I think this piece looks very well made. I am proud of it! I do have to say that I feel like such a vest is a harder piece to style. I love how it looks with my Falconer Pants, but it is quite a look together. I’m not sure if I dare to wear the combination, but that has more to do with me than with the vest itself. All in all, I am proud of this Quinn Vest and happy to add it to my wardrobe!
