XMarks vest on the bias

**sydnie7** · 25th January 12, 09:19 AM

Since my last substantive post:

Pinned collars in place along their finished edge, to establish final position.

This left me with misaligned raw edges, so I needed to establish a sewing line along the neck edge. Based on available real estate, I measured 2.5 inches from finished edge of collar and pinned along that line.

I will fiddle with that line later, as you'll see, but it gives me a good starting point.

Then I basted along the line of pins, both to hold the collar in place during sewing and to give myself a visual guide for machine stitching.

**cessna152towser** · 25th January 12, 09:22 AM

An excellent piece of work Sydnie, looking forward to seeing the pics of Bob wearing the finished product.

**sydnie7** · 25th January 12, 09:30 AM

When I did the same thing for opposite collar, I decided that the final curve of neck edge was more important than a potential smidgen of difference in collar width. If you've done a jacket conversion, you know what comes next -- template!

Cut a piece of paper, marked my seam line and some tartan lines for reference.

Flipped it over, traced the lines to the other side of the paper, and used that to mark final sewing line on the other collar edge.

Also marked a nice right angle for the lower edge "point" of hem. What, your tailor doesn't use a ballpoint pen??

Then came the "follow the pattern" process of seaming together lining pieces and joining the back (made from lining) to the front (tartan) at the shoulders. If you've followed me this far down the rabbit hole, you know to always sew the shoulder seam from neck edge to arm edge. It's particularly important here, to keep the finished edge of collar laying flat.

**sydnie7** · 25th January 12, 09:34 AM

After sewing all the way around the front edges, neck edge, armholes, and lower back, the whole shootin' match gets turned right-side out (which is hard to do with all fingers crossed

). A bit of pressing, and here we are!

Some finishing work still to be done but the hard part's over and I'm very pleased. Not perfect, but pretty d@mn good. Best XMarks tartan vest-on-the-bias that I'm ever going to make!

**sydnie7** · 25th January 12, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by cessna152towser

An excellent piece of work Sydnie, looking forward to seeing the pics of Bob wearing the finished product.

Thanks, Alex! If I don't ruin it doing buttonholes

it will debut this Saturday at our sports car club's annual banquet. In-use pictures will be available after that gala!

**bigdad1** · 25th January 12, 05:47 PM

And a damn fine looking vest it is. The WIP photos and text do not reflect the amount of work she has put into it. I will be very proud to wear it on Saturday and to pose for those final pictures she will take. My lady is quite a lady and I am a very lucky man.

**Alan H** · 27th January 12, 10:57 AM

I'm watching THIS thread!

**FatherWilliam57** · 27th January 12, 12:50 PM

This is a great thread! Can't wait for the "money shot," when Bob models it with his kilt. (And he better be giving his lovely wife a big smooch on the cheek when the picture is snapped.) Oh, boy, Oh, boy, Oh, boy....

**idyllicchick** · 28th January 12, 05:57 AM

Sydnie, I think this is my most favorite thread on X-Mark ever! Looking forward to seeing the 'in use' photos!

**sydnie7** · 29th January 12, 12:30 PM

The vest has made its debut! I'm going to fiddle with it a bit -- might try tacking down the collars along their long straight edge, as they want to ride up under the jacket as he moves -- but overall it turned out really well.

Getting dressed:

The complete outfit:

And the happy couple at our event!

Thanks for coming along for the ride!