Question about bias cut tartan waistcoats.

[MacGuffin]

Hello there,

I'm a novice at sewing but have a keen interest in making my own kilt and matching tartan waistcoat
(one of the reasons being that most kilts tend to be too long off the peg).

I was wondering how much yardage is typically needed for a bias cut tartan waistcoat?

How much yardage would be needed for a 44in chest?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time.

[Steve Ashton]

One of the best ways is to go to your local fabric store and find a vest pattern in your size. If you look on the package it will tell you how much fabric you will need. It will usually specify the amount if on the grain and if an the bias.

[MacGuffin]

Dear Steve,

Thank you for the wonderful advice.
I'll be sure to do that next time I hit up the local fabric store.

I'm very optimistic about this future project.
But will be sure to practice before tackling the job.

I greatly appreciate your help.

[Tarheel]

Here's a direction to explore. This pattern selection from Butterick offers lapels and pocket coverings.
Good luck on the project. Here's the link that will give you yardage.
https://butterick.mccall.com/b6339

[Barb T]

You'll also need to decide whether you want a plain satin back or a tartan back. You'll need less tartan if you want a satin back (which is common).

[Steve Ashton]

Just old cranky Steve being pendantic again -

When I was young, I was taught that it was evident that vests with satin backs, and the little adjusment belts, were not intended as outerwear. That if you were wearing a satin backed vest and removed your jacket - you also removed the vest.

I guess old habits die hard. I once gave a talk in a room that was quite warm. The audience was primarily older ladies. After the talk one of them came up to me and commented that it was nice to hear a man ask a ladies permission before removing his jacket and vest in mixed company. I had not noticed that I had done so.

[Todd Bradshaw]

It might also be possible to think outside the box a bit. This is one my wife made me using Harris Tweed on the front and a medium weight cotton/poly suede cloth for the back and lapels. It has more fabric heft and less of that "underwear" look on the back than my satin-backed vests and was carefully fitted and tapered so that there is no need for the little belt on the back. Traditional? Maybe not, but to my eye it looks finished enough on the back to stand alone. This style also takes a minimal amount of wool or tartan.

[Terry Searl]

Very nice it is as well.....you are lucky to be wedded to such a talented lady

[MacGuffin]

Hello there,

I'm grateful for all the recommendations and tips.

Have to admit that I'm aiming towards a waistcoat with tartan front to back. Satin would be the secondary choice, but I got to admit I want to make something a bit different than what is usually available commercially.
Though having a complimenting tweed or wool on the back has crossed my mind.

Also, I was just looking at that same pattern!
Might actually pull the trigger on them.
Really like the cuts seen in the Kenneth MacLeay portraits and these patterns are seem to be modeled closer to slimmer silhouettes that I find very keen.

[Tarheel]

I notice the Butterick patterns offer extra darts in the front of the vest (illustrated in the photo I posted) that will slim the effect from underarm to waist. I expect there is more distance from the neck to the shoulder in the pattern that will further enhance the slimming effect.

I remember my grandmother would take a pattern, measure us children, and expand the pattern onto craft paper to individualize clothes for each child's shape. The clothes survived several years of "hand-me-down" use.