Waistcoat pattern

**Schultz** · 1st May 06, 07:58 AM

Has anyone made their own waistcoat for kilt wearing? I decided to pull out the one for my good handmade 3-piece suit today to wear to work with my Davidson kilt (sorry, no pics, couldn't find the camera this morning!) and I really like the look of it, sans jacket, and it fits in better with the whole office look.

I plan on getting a charcoal gray daywear coat and vest from ScottishKilts.net in the future, but I don't have $300 to drop on such a thing at the moment. I've found Simplicity pattern 4762 which looks like it would work quite well with some wool gabardine suiting or Harris tweed (if I can find it up the street at Jo-Anns). I was wondering if anyone else manufactured their own on here and, if so, what patterns, if any, did they use?

**Nick** · 1st May 06, 08:58 AM

I've got a pattern somewhere for vests that I'm going to make. I think they're McCall's, it's got two double breasted and two single breasted styles. I'll post it if I can find it.

**Nick** · 1st May 06, 02:29 PM

Here it is, McCall's M4890. I'm going to go with the double breasted first.
http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M4890.htm

**Pleater** · 1st May 06, 05:21 PM

You might find that - depending on your previous experience the Simplicity might be the better option to start with, or a McCalls pattern which is not 'costume' but more suited for a modern wedding, possibly.

The Simplicity patterns are just that - simpler, less tailored, and they can look a bit amateurish if sufficient care is not taken, but you can get bogged down in a McCalls pattern which might have too many features - umpteen buttonholes for instance, which make the project too daunting, or too easily done wrong.

Different patterns will produce garments which have very different looks, and you need to consider just what effect you want to achieve. However - the material chosen will have quite a significant effect on the outcome. You do need to match the fabric and the pattern. Usually there will be suggested fabrics listed on the pattern envelope.

**Nick** · 1st May 06, 06:04 PM

I don't know how Schultz plans to go about it, but I never stick to my patterns since yes, they can come out amatureish. I can't remember the last time I followed a pattern verbatim, but I've gotten pretty good at modifying and tailoring to make things work right. The Montrose doublet I'm making from a modified Civil War general's jacket pattern is going to be the ultimate test of my pattern-altering abilities.

**Schultz** · 2nd May 06, 05:48 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I think I will stick with the Simplicity pattern as I know they have it up at the fabric store a stone's throw from my apartment. I am usually one to stick to patterns, but my wife encourages me to step out of the box a bit and I have added my own ideas to things in the past. The fact that my best friend is a professional tailor who is always open to my questions helps, as well.

Thanks again...now I just have to finish the box pleated MacDougall and THEN start and finish the X Marks before I can even think of making anything else. She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed has so ordered.