Thread Theory Belvedere Waistcoat

Sew a timeless waistcoat with the Belvedere Waistcoat pattern! It is the perfect minimalist piece to wear to formal events. This design features a curved back seam and long darts to fit the garment close to the body. It includes a back neckline facing for a high-end professional finish.

The instructions and pattern pieces provide for two approaches:
1. Create a tailored waistcoat complete with welt pockets, a fully canvased front and side seam vents.
2. Sew a quick and easy waistcoat with no pockets and simplified construction techniques.
Both waistcoat projects are great scrap busters since it is easy to mix and match fabrics.

Recommended Fabrics:
1. The Front: With very few rules to follow, you can select from a huge variety of fabric types depending on the style you are hoping to achieve! Light to medium weight suiting fabrics are ideal; try a wool suiting for a classic waistcoat to pair with trousers for formal event, a wool tweed for a winter waistcoat that pairs nicely with trousers or jeans, or a canvas fabric for a summery waistcoat perfect for weddings. More unconventional choices could include linen, silk, denim, corduroy, textured upholstery fabric, or even a thick and fairly stable knit!
2. The Back: For the waistcoat back fabric, you can choose a statement fabric, a neutral fabric or the same fabric as your waistcoat front. If you have used a statement fabric for your waistcoat front, try a neutral lining material for your vest back that will coordinate nicely with the wearer's trousers, while if you have opted for a neutral waistcoat front, an unexpected 'surprise' back is a fun option! For casual waistcoats to be worn without a suit jacket, it is common to use the same material as the front, or you can opt for a contrast fabric that is not slippery since it doesn't need to sit nicely under a jacket.
3. The Lining: Select a good quality slippery lining material that will not catch on the wearer's shirt. If the waistcoat will be worn under a jacket, lining materials are ideal for the back as well! Bemberg (a type of rayon lining) is a perfect choice, but acetate or silk lining will also do nicely. If you are not using the same fabric for both the lining and the back, swap .7 yards of the lining fabric for .7 yards of your choice of main or contrast fabric.

Materials & Supplies: You will need a main fabric, a lining fabric, a fabric for the back, medium weight fusible or sewn-in interfacing (see chart), and ½”-⅝” buttons (six for Variation 1, five for Variation 2). Variation 1 uses the lining fabric for the pockets by default, but you can choose ⅛ yard of tightly woven cotton (sometimes called pocketing) instead for a sturdier option.

Difficulty: Beginner