Altering a reversible vest.

[Gypsy_Pyxie]

I bought a vest this past season. Its lovely and I really want to wear it this season but I seem to have lost some weight.  It still fits across my rather broad shoulders but pooches out in the back. Any suggestions? I have no idea how to go about altering a reversible vest.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

If there is a  Garber near you that can look at the bodice to see how it is constructed  with you wearing it may be a first step. Or someone experienced in doing Alterations as well. Check your Yellow Pages in your local phone book for someone with at least 25 years of Sewing/Alterations experience.

Good Luck!!

[Kate XXXXXX]

And garb experience...

[gem]

I would take it apart* and use it to make a pattern for a fitting mockup and tweak that until it fit me.  Use the fitting mockup to make a new paper pattern, then compare the new paper pattern to the pieces of the old vest to see what needs to be taken in, trimmed out, etc.

It's *fiddly* work, with lots of going back and forth to the drawing board, taking the thing on and off and pinning and marking... but it's not *that* difficult.  It can help if you have a friend handy to assist you, but, again, you can do it by yourself.

I lost 50 lbs between fair seasons a couple of years ago, and I had to go through this exact process THREE TIMES before I ended up with a bodice that fit (well, technically I ended up with three bodices that fit at varying times during the weight loss--but only one that fit by the time Fair season rolled around. LOL)

Good luck!

*Taking the old garment apart isn't a necessary step for *copying* it, but it might be necessary when you go to do the alterations... so take that all into consideration.