Boys Waistcoat and Trousers
6:00 AM
Halloween is over, but I've been on a clothing sewing kick and it's recently shifting to the men in my house.
First off, my son, Rhett James (RJ).
When he was 2 I made him this newsboy suit, with the pants and vest.
It was sad when he grew out of it and it's been one of my favorite things I've made for him.
So I thought I'd make another set, this time it has a little more room to grow.
My inspiration for this suit was actually Robert Downey Jr's costumes as Sherlock Holmes.
I loved the thick wale corduroy overcoat with the subtle printed waistcoat.
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I learned that there's no difference between a vest or a waistcoat, Americans tend to use the term "vest" where the United Kingdom calls them "waistcoats".
Thus I chose to keep the British vibe calling these "waistcoat and trousers".
I had considered adding a collar on the waistcoat like the Sherlock version, but in the end kept it a more modern vibe with the traditional "v-neck" vest shape. I tend to be a little picky with boys vests, as I'm not a fan of the "boxy 80s vests" like you find in the basic sewing patterns. Not to say you could alter a slimmer more fitted version than these chest cubes, but I tried to make it a slightly longer fit on the torso and make the v meet higher on the chest rather than around the waist.
Just my personal preference.
I made my own pattern for the waistcoat, and Lynette taught me a great new trick to enclose all the seams with lining when you construct it.
Basically the correct way to sew a vest that I hadn't known before.
The trousers have a faux zip and button front.
They're basically just elastic waisted pants, so they can't open. Just pull on and off, but stay on the waist with elastic around the back from side seam to side seam.
I used another pair of his pants as a pattern for these, and so they have the traditional pleat front, pockets and elastic in the waist so he can just pull them down rather than have to deal with zip/ snap front.
Lynette also taught me how to sew a welt pocket.
I LOVED the result, although it requires really precise sewing which I'm not used to, but I'm thinking I'll be making more welt pockets.
Basically the welt pocket is just a slit in the main body of the garment, and you add what I'd call a facing to help turn it around to make, in this case, the pocket between the lining and outside of the vest.
So to complete the little man Sherlock look, I made the blue corduroy blazer a few weeks ago to pair with the waistcoat and trousers to make a unique 3 piece suit.
Suits can be really uncomfortable my husband tells me, but so far this little man doesn't seem to feel too restricted in his three-piece-suit.
The Fall clothing maddness I've been sewing continues tomorrow with my first MEN'S project!
11 comments
Your little man is the cutest thing ever! Love the suit too!
ReplyDeleteSo adorable!
ReplyDeleteSo cute I Love the vest! It's funny I made one (I shared today) for my little guy as well, I love a little boy in a vest! So I am interested in this "trick" I made Jude's vest reversible so I had to make finished seams inside and out and I just kind of stumbled through it. I mean it worked, but it is impossibly hard to explain and I am almost sure I did it wrong, so a trick?? do share!
ReplyDeleteThis is the cutest thing I have ever seen. He's so dapper! I think we should start dressing boys like little gentlemen, and they can bring back the look as the grow up. Because waistcoats are just grand!
ReplyDeleteRhett looks so awesome. The welt pocket is a perfect touch.
ReplyDeleteSo adorable! And I love all your photo shoot locations.
ReplyDeleteSo so cute! Great job!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh I really don't think your son could be any more adorable!!
ReplyDeleteOK, seroiusly Jessica, you are amazing. I love this! (and I love the term chest cubes... I might keep that one around :)
ReplyDeleteThat is such a cute outfit and it looks so professional. Lovely photos too. We do call them waistcoats in them UK and we use vest to refer to what Americans call tanks.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a gift for photography,Jessica! These photos are outstanding! (And I adore the outfit & the model!)
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, we love to hear from you!