Child Suede-Backed Sherpa Vest Tutorial

Today I have that tutorial I promised for a reversible suede-back sherpa vest for children.  We found our Luxury Faux Fur-Sherpa Suede Gray at JoAnn Fabrics.  It is normally 24.99 per yard, but for a child’s vest you probably only need 1/2 yard.  Plus if you sign up for it, JoAnns will send you great coupons.  This fabric also comes in chocolate brown and light tan.  For a pattern we used the front and back pieces from the Downton Duffle Jacket from Peekaboo Pattern Shop but any shirt front and back pattern pieces will work.  All right, let’s get started on that reversible suede and sherpa vest.

Step 1:  Cut out your back and front pieces from suede-back sherpa fabric.

Step 2: Cut your front and back pieces in 1/2 horizontally about 2” below the bottom of the armholes.

Now you have 6 pieces.

Step 3: Place your back pieces together SHERPA sides together and sew with a 1” seam allowance.

Step 4: Open up the seam allowance on the SUEDE side of the fabric and edge stitch each seam allowance in place.  Repeat steps 3 & 4 for front pieces.

Now you are back to 3 pieces!

Step 5: Fold over the 1/2” of the fabric at the neck on the front pieces to the SUEDE side and edge stitch in place.  Repeat for back piece.

Step 6: Fold over 1” of the SHERPA side to the SUEDE side along the hem of the front pieces and edge stitch in place.  Repeat for the back piece.

Now you have your hems finished.

Step 7: Sew the shoulder seams with the SHERPA sides together with a 1” seam allowance.  Open up the seam allowance on the SUEDE side of the fabric and edge stitch each seam allowance in place.

Step 8:  Fold over 1/2” of the SHERPA fabric at the armholes to the SUEDE side and edge stitch in place.

Step 9:  Sew the side seams by placing the SHERPA sides together with a 1” seam allowance.  Open up the seam allowance on the SUEDE side of the fabric and edge stitch each seam allowance in place.

Step 10:  Fold over 1” of the Sherpa fabric at the fronts to the SUEDE side and edge stitch in place.

Step 11: Apply your snaps according to manufacture’s directions.  It does take a little while to work the prongs through 2 layers of this fabric.  Just take your time, it’s worth it in the end!

If you wish to use this vest as the lining in a jacket like we did, attach snaps to the insides of your jacket lining before constructing the jacket.

Now you’re finished!!!  You’ve made a reversible suede-backed sherpa vest.

Here you can see the little man wearing the vest with the sherpa side out.  The snaps make this vest fully reversible.

You can see a few pieces of sherpa on the sleeves of the little man’s black shirt.  You don’t finish the edges of the exposed seams because this fabric doesn’t fray.  They will shed a few pieces of sherpa for a little while, but if you stick your vest in the dryer (on air fluff) for a few minutes, all those pieces will come off.

The washing instructions for this fabric are: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle.  Non-chlorine bleach.  Line Dry.  Cool iron.

You could use this tutorial to make a boy or girl vest, or a vest for yourself!

Let us know if you use this tutorial to make one, we’d love to see it!

Some affiliate links are used in this post, but don’t worry, they won’t hurt you and they might actually help me make a few dollars to support my blogging, sewing and fabric habits!