Things You'll Need
Measuring tape
Paper
Marker
Scissors
Felt
Straight pins
Fabric glue
Adhesive-backed hook and loop closure (optional)
Felt isn't a woven fiber, so you do not have to worry about raw edges fraying as you do with woven cotton fabric. A no-sew felt vest is an ideal craft project if you want to attempt making your own clothing or create a costume for a pirate or Peter Pan. Use a high-quality wool felt for best results. Acrylic felt may be too thin and may wear out quickly. Give the vest extra character by cutting a saw-toothed edge on the bottom and on the arm-holes.
Step 1
Wrap the measuring tape around the widest part of your chest and record the measurement. Measure from the top of your shoulder to a few inches below your armpit for the armhole and from the top of your shoulder to your hips for the length of the vest.
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Step 2
Draw a rectangle on the paper that is half of your chest measurement plus an inch wide. The length should be the measurement from your shoulder to hip. Measure the length of the armhole from the top on each side and make a small mark. Cut out the rectangle.
Step 3
Draw another rectangle on the paper that is one quarter of your chest measurement plus an inch wide. The length should be the distance from your shoulder to hip.
Step 4
Find the center of the top edge of the smaller rectangle. Draw a slanted, 45-degree line from that center point to the center point of the left side of the rectangle. You'll have a five-sided shape on the paper. Cut the shape out.
Step 5
Fold the felt in half and pin the smaller, five-sided shape to it. Cut out the felt around the shape. You'll have two pieces of felt.
Step 6
Pin the larger rectangle to the remaining piece of felt and cut out, tracing around the shape.
Step 7
Apply a line of fabric glue to the rectangle of felt along top edge, or the shoulder edge. Apply another line of glue on the two sides, starting from the mark you made for the armhole and continuing to the bottom of the vest.
Step 8
Place the two smaller pieces of felt on top of the larger rectangle, lining up the edges. The angled sides of the smaller pieces should be on the upper side and should face in. The felt should look like a vest at this point. Press firmly on the edges to glue them together. Let the glue dry for several hours.
Step 9
Cut a piece of adhesive-backed hook and loop closure so that it is as long as the front of the vest. Remove the backing from each piece of the closure and press against the two sides of the front of the vest, so that you can close the vest.
Tip
Cut the bottom edge of the vest in a zig-zag sawtooth pattern if you want a ragged, pirate-style vest. Add embellishments such as iron-on patches or stick-on sequins to the vest for decoration.
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