Is there anything better than wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket on a chilly day? What if you could wear that feeling all day long? Well, you can! Hello, fellow creators. Today, we’re going to turn that cozy dream into a reality.
We will walk through how to make your very own DIY sherpa lined vest. This project is perfect for using a cool thrifted blanket and some soft sherpa fabric. It’s a wonderful way to create something stylish, warm, and totally unique.
Don’t worry if you’re new to sewing. This is a fantastic beginner sewing project because the fabric is very forgiving and the steps are simple. Let’s get started and sew a vest you’ll never want to take off!
What You’ll Need for Your Cozy Vest
The best part about this project is that you don’t need a lot of fancy supplies. The main ingredients are a blanket you love and some soft sherpa lining. A trip to the thrift store is a great place to find a blanket with a fun pattern that speaks to you.
For the lining, sherpa fabric gives it that extra-warm and fluffy feel. You can buy this at a fabric store, or you can even upcycle it. The original inspiration for this project used sherpa from an old dog bed—how clever is that? It’s a great way to be sustainable and give old materials a new life.
Here’s a simple table of what you’ll need to gather.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| A Blanket | Look for a soft fleece or wool blanket. A fun pattern makes your vest unique! |
| Sherpa Fabric | You’ll need enough to line the vest. |
| A Vest Pattern | You can find great free patterns online. The “Purl Soho Quilted Vest” is a good one. |
| Basic Sewing Tools | Sewing machine, thread, fabric scissors, pins, and a hand-sewing needle. |
Prepping Your Pattern and Fabric
Once you have your materials, it’s time to get everything ready. If you’re using a pattern, you might want to make a few small changes to make it your own. For example, you can round the front corners for a softer look or flatten the collar design. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little!
Before you cut, lay your blanket out flat. Think about where you want the pattern to be on your vest. If your blanket has a cool design along the bottom, like polar bears or stripes, you’ll want to place your front pattern pieces right there to show it off.
Step-by-Step: Cutting Your Pieces
Careful cutting is the key to a great-looking vest. We will cut pieces from the blanket for the outside and from the sherpa for the inside lining.
Cutting the Outer Blanket Layer
First, let’s cut the main vest pieces from your blanket. You will cut two front pieces and one back piece.
Place your front pattern piece on the blanket. Cut one out. Then, flip the pattern piece over like a pancake and cut the second one. This makes sure you have a left and a right side.
For the back piece, fold your blanket in half. Place the back pattern piece along the folded edge. When you cut it out and open it up, you’ll have one large, perfectly symmetrical back piece.
Cutting the Sherpa Lining
Now, you’ll do the exact same thing with your sherpa fabric. Cut two front pieces (a left and a right) and one back piece on the fold.
But what if you don’t have enough sherpa for the whole back? No problem! Here is a clever trick. You only really see the sherpa at the top by the shoulders and peeking out from the bottom. You can cut a back piece from a different fabric (like cotton) and then sew sherpa panels onto just the top and bottom. No one will ever know, and it saves fabric!
If you want to add pockets or ties, now is a good time to cut those pieces out, too.
How to Sew a Vest: Putting It All Together
This is where the magic happens! We’re going to assemble our DIY sherpa lined vest. This method is surprisingly easy and leaves you with beautiful, clean seams.
1. Sew the Shoulder Seams
Start by taking your two outer blanket front pieces and the one outer back piece. With the pretty sides of the fabric facing each other, pin the front pieces to the back piece at the shoulders. Sew those shoulder seams. Now you have the outside of your vest.
Next, do the exact same thing with your three sherpa lining pieces. Pin the fronts to the back at the shoulders (right sides together) and sew. Now you have the inside of your vest.
2. Join the Layers Together
Lay your outer vest on your table with the pretty side facing up. Then, lay your sherpa lining directly on top of it, with its pretty side facing down. The right sides of the fabric should be touching each other.
Line up all the edges carefully: the front opening, the collar, the bottom, and the armholes. Pin everything in place. You are going to sew all the way around these edges, but do not sew the side seams shut. Leave the sides completely open for now. This is very important!
3. The Magic Flip!
Now for the fun part. Reach into one of the open side seams and grab the fabric on the other side. Gently start pulling the whole vest through the opening. It might feel like a tight squeeze, but it will work!
Keep pulling until the entire vest is turned right side out. Just like that, you have something that looks like a real vest! The seams are all neatly tucked inside, and you can see your blanket on the outside and the cozy sherpa on the inside.
Adding Pockets (An Easy Upgrade)
A vest is always better with pockets. Adding them at this stage is easier than it sounds.
First, take one pocket piece and pin it to the front outer layer of your vest, right where you want the pocket to be. Make sure the right sides are together. Sew it on. Then, flip the pocket so it lies flat inside the vest and topstitch it to keep it in place.
Repeat this with the other pocket piece, but this time, sew it to the back outer layer. Now, when you lay the pocket pieces on top of each other, they will form a pocket bag inside your vest. Sew around the curved edge of the pocket bag.
Finally, sew the open side seams of the vest together, starting from the armhole and going down past the pocket as far as you can.
Finishing Touches
You will have a small hole left in the side seams where you couldn’t sew with the machine. Don’t worry! This is easy to fix.
Thread a hand-sewing needle and use a simple ladder stitch to close the hole. This stitch is invisible from the outside and gives your upcycled blanket vest a professional, clean finish.
And that’s it! Your cozy, one-of-a-kind vest is complete.
FAQs
Is sherpa easy to sew?
Yes, sherpa is great for beginners. It is a very forgiving fabric. It hides small mistakes well. Sherpa can be a little bulky. It also sheds fuzz when you cut it. Just be ready to clean up a little bit.
Are vests easy to sew?
Vests are very easy to sew. They are a perfect beginner project. Vests are simpler than jackets. You do not have to add sleeves. Setting in sleeves can be tricky. This makes a vest a fast and fun project.
How to finish sherpa edges for beginners?
The best way is to line the sherpa. Our vest tutorial shows this method. All the raw edges get hidden inside. You can also use a wide zig-zag stitch. Another option is binding the edges with bias tape. Sherpa does not fray much, which helps a lot.
How to make a split seam on a vest?
A split seam adds a nice detail. You just stop sewing the side seam early. Decide how high you want the split. Mark that spot on your fabric. Sew the seam down to your mark. Then, press the seam open below that point. You can topstitch it to keep it neat.
What are the disadvantages of Sherpa fabric?
Sherpa can be thick to sew. This can make seams feel bulky. It sheds a lot of fluff when cut. Be careful with heat. A hot iron can melt the fibers. Over time, it can also get a little matted with lots of washing.
A Perfect Project for Any Sewer
This cozy vest DIY is truly one of my favorites. Because the blanket and sherpa fabric are thick and textured, they don’t show wobbly stitches, which is great for beginners. It’s simpler than making a jacket because there are no tricky sleeves to set in.
More than anything, this project is a wonderful example of thrift flip sewing. You can take an old, forgotten blanket and turn it into a fashionable piece you’ll be proud to wear.
You’ve learned how to sew a vest that is not only warm but also full of personality. Now you can enjoy that cozy blanket feeling wherever you go.
What kind of blanket would you use to make your own vest? Share your ideas in the comments below! I’d love to hear what you’re inspired to create.