Introducing: The Devon Waistcoat

It’s been a while since we launched a new pattern so it’s with great excitement to release the Devon Waistcoat PDF Pattern! This pattern has actively been in the works for a year but it’s been on my radar for much longer than that.

A few years ago I bought a vintage Wrangler waistcoat made from denim with a shearling lining. It felt like a really cool, bold piece of clothing but it also had it’s practical merits, keeping my torso warm in the colder months. Being a maker, I like to have my arms free from bulk when I’m working so a waistcoat is a great way to keep warm.

While my Wrangler waistcoat is still a brilliant piece of clothing I knew I wanted to design a new waistcoat to put my own stamp on it. I found this design process really hard, hence the delay for many months. I wanted this pattern to feel modern without loosing the traditional feel of a waistcoat. It was really hard to find the balance between old and new, between Victorian menswear and a watered down piece worthy of fast fashion.

When it came down to it, this pattern was about the balance of features. The front dropped points at the hem are visible but not overly accentuated which works with the angle and length of the neckline. The front neck drop remains quite high because the lower it goes the more we go into Victorian menswear territory.

These angles are softened with the curved hem and curved seams on the front and back. We omitted a side seam to create a side panel with shaping on the bust and back. The tab fastenings create a crucial way to modernise the look with the smaller tab used for snap fastenings and the larger tab used for buttons. And the curved pocket adds that final touch of modernity and functionality.

I made two samples last autumn that I’ve absolutely loving wearing, one in a purple wool and the other in a brown checked wool. I sewed the denim sample in the last few weeks and I was delighted to find it works well as a reversible piece with the lining in wool sherpa.

This piece doesn’t need to be a heavy wool garment, our testers made some beautiful pieces in cotton and linen and my next version will be in a lightweight quilting. We’ve also included a tie option with the pattern piece for anyone who’d prefer a couple of ties instead of buttons to fasten with.

I’m really so pleased to finally get this pattern out into the world. I’ve had lots of messages over the past few months asking about the launch so I know lots of you are excited too.

I can’t wait to see what you all do with the Devon Waistcoat pattern!

Hetty
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