- 1). Select a vest pattern and modify it if necessary. A Jacobite vest should not hang any lower than the waist so it can be worn with a kilt or belted plaid. If your pattern is for a longer vest, modify it so it stops at the waist. Your pattern may close up to the neck or may have a slight v-neck. You can also use a pattern for a fitted jacket and leave the sleeves off. The vest should close with buttons, so select a pattern that allows enough width in front for buttons.
- 2). Cut the leather according to the pattern. The simplest vest patterns will have only three pieces: the back and two mirror-image front pieces.
- 3). Sew the pieces together. If needed, finish or hem the edges. Some leather can also be left unfinished.
- 4). Measure and cut buttonholes in the front of the vest. They should be about 1/8 inch longer than the width of the buttons and you can have as many or as few as you want. Ideally, your buttons should be wooden or metal shanks covered in cloth or thread. For a more historically accurate look, avoid chrome, aluminum or plastic buttons.
- 5). Finish the buttonholes by sewing around their edges. You can do this by hand or with the machine. If you do it by hand, you will probably need a thimble to push the needle through the leather.
- 6). Sew the buttons opposite the buttonholes.
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