How to make a denim vest with your own hands? Stylish do-it-yourself denim vest (50 photos) - Patterns, master class How to remake a denim vest

Do-it-yourself denim vest (patterns, detailed instructions, decorating tips - that's what we'll talk about today) is an exciting activity for your own benefit. Fashionistas always strive to stand out in a crowd of people, but with the rapid development of democratic companies and mass markets, this has become an almost impossible task. And is there a way out of this situation? Of course have. You just need to go through your wardrobe and get old things out of the closet that you will no longer wear. Today, the focus is on old denim shirts, denim trousers, stretchy printed T-shirts and out-of-fashion evening dresses.


A little about the material

Today we will talk about not the most delicate and light fabric. It appeared at the beginning of the last century, when at the height of the development of industry, ordinary workers began to experience an acute shortage of clothing that could protect against the negative effects of chemical compounds. In the mid-60s, designers turned their attention to this rough material and showed several collections of trousers. Gradually, the range of outfits and styles has greatly expanded, and now women of fashion flaunt in denim skirts, vests, shirts, shorts, sundresses and overalls.

But few people know that far from eminent couturiers influenced such changes, although their merits in this should not be underestimated. Representatives of the world-famous "hippie" subculture played a key role. They did not want to part with their favorite pants, so they were periodically shortened, transforming either into shorts or skirts. It was they who taught us how to shred used things so that they make really durable and stylish outfits that can last a few more years.


Variety of options

Today, there are plenty of ways to breathe life into well-worn denim jackets and ripped-out trousers from the outdoors. We will start the description of the master classes with the simplest option.



Cut off the sleeves

It is very easy to transform a shirt into an original vest. Simply pick up the scissors and separate the sleeves from the product. If you want, you can adjust the length and get rid of the collar. Stylists do not recommend processing the edges, it is better if they remain shaggy.



Let's say you have already completed all the above steps. So, all you have to do is decorate your hand-made outfit with an extravagant outfit. Here are some transformation ideas:

  • Take a worn T-shirt and cut off an ornament from it. It can be an image of a sad cat, the Eiffel Tower, an interesting inscription or a smiley. In general, the choice of pattern depends only on you and on your desire to say goodbye to your favorite top forever. Now attach the workpiece to the back of the vest and sew on a sewing machine along the contour. To prevent others from seeing the seam, make a border of beads or stones. Don't want to take out the machine? Apply special glue to the wrong side and press it firmly to your outfit.

  • Applications. This simple way of decorating has been familiar to fashionistas since Soviet times.

Advice! Floral arrangements are in vogue this year. Do not miss the opportunity to make your image feminine and unique!

  • Lace inserts. Buy the right amount of material from a specialty store, cut thin strips and decorate the back or front with them, or better both. This will add coquetry and mischief to the bow.

  • spikes. A little shocking way, but it is very good in cases where the vest is made for young girls. Highlight the shoulders, collar or pockets with them.

  • Basque. If you have an unnecessary evening or summer dress, feel free to cut off a piece of fabric from it, give it the shape of a frill and sew it to your belt. This contrasting decor will accentuate the waist and make your silhouette more slender.

Patterns from jeans

Inspiration can be drawn from fashion magazines and online resources. Now we will describe in detail one of the options that is suitable for everyday use.

  • Before you get to work, wash the workpiece well, iron and straighten it.

  • Pick up a small piece of crayon or bar of soap with sharp tips. Position the backrest so that the seams of the legs fall on its center.
  • Place the front shelves mirrored.
  • Circle all the details and start cutting out the future product.
  • Now get down to processing the edges. You can use an overlock, and sew the wrong side with a regular stitch. So the outfit will acquire an aesthetic appearance.
  • Sew strips of fringe on the armholes.
  • Zippers, buttons and hooks can serve as fasteners.
  • Sew side and shoulder seams.

Fashion handmade with pockets

You probably already guessed that the main element will be the details cut out from the back of the trousers. Take out paper or old newspapers from the cabinet, we begin the preparatory work:

  • Draw an equilateral heptagon for the buttocks. There should be pockets in the middle.
  • Long strips are sewn to the workpiece. They will serve as shelves, so it is recommended to make the upper part narrower.
  • At the back, attach a narrow rectangle to the model. This will be the back. Use an elegant bow as a decorative element. You can also attach a strap or buckle.

Advice! Since the back will remain almost completely open, wear T-shirts and long sleeves under the bottom. Alcoholic T-shirts and tops will not work, as they also expose the shoulders.

Important preparations

Before you start experimenting with boring outfits, you need to carefully prepare. You have no idea how exciting and exciting this process is. Picking up the right decor in stores, looking at showcases with models, looking for inspiration in magazines and the Internet is a real pleasure for those who are tired of the daily routine and dream of immersing themselves in a creative hobby with their heads. First, prepare all the necessary paraphernalia:

  • Used items. As mentioned earlier, absolutely everything can be used - from evening dresses to home t-shirts and tops. Naturally, you can not do without a denim jacket or trousers. You can buy lace, guipure, chiffon and other types of fabric in the store.

  • Threads. They should match in color with the main materials. But sometimes you can move away from the usual patterns and use threads of contrasting colors.

  • Needles and safety pins (3-4 pieces).

  • Scissors, rulers, soft meter tapes.

  • Sheet of AZ paper.
  • Pencil, felt-tip pen or marker.
  • Bar of soap or crayon.

Advice!Today, unexpected combinations are in fashion. Corduroy and velvet are in trend this year. They give the product an incredible chic and luxury.


  • The selected threads must be strong. This will help to keep the excellent aesthetic qualities of the vest longer.
  • To carefully cut the material, use nail scissors or a blade.
  • If you sew an elastic band to the wrong side of the back, it will emphasize the beauty of your waist.
  • When large trousers are used as consumable clothing, it is enough to simply cut off the places of the connecting seams.
  • First, process the parts manually. Only after trying on will it be possible to connect the elements using a sewing machine.
  • Be careful with decor. In some cases, glue is used, and it is important that its traces are not visible on the fabric.

What to wear?

Let's say that you have already created your creation. Now it lies on the desktop and pleases you with its beauty. Most likely, the question has already arisen in your head: “What to wear with a masterpiece created by your own hands?”. And before we say goodbye to you, our dear readers, we will consider this topic in detail.

  • Here's a great combination for every day: a new vest (by the way, no one has a second one), a stylish T-shirt and trendy glasses.

  • A glamorous urban chic look with an oversized animal print t-shirt, short denim skirt and vest.
  • Strict black jacket and skinny pants. Cropped versions can be combined with massive flat boots with lacing and studs.

  • V-neck long sleeve, beautiful flats, moccasins, loafers and squadrons. You can also choose semi-boots with a thick platform or cowboy-style boots (an absolute trend of the coming year).
  • Long maxi dress, sandals and floral print accessories.

  • A horizontal striped sundress and your hand-made is a great ensemble for city walks and outings.

  • Bright overalls and shoes on a large wedge.

Buttons and rhinestones

Naturally, you will need decorative elements to decorate the outfit. They can be “peeled off” from an old dress or bought at a nearby store. The choice of brilliant stones must be approached with all seriousness.

For example, here it is appropriate to talk about pretentiousness. Too large products will look very defiant, and wearing them on yourself is not a great pleasure. And if you really liked this decoration, do not sculpt it wherever there are free places. It will look vulgar. It is enough to select one or more elements.

Now about colors. Today, the attention of customers is presented with a huge number of options. To get started, open up your closet and determine the number of combinations that will form the images with the vest. Highlight the dominant shade and boldly go to the store. Now you know exactly what you need.


There are also metal rivets and buttons. Like nothing else, they harmoniously fit into the overall picture with denim. The latter, by the way, are very difficult to fasten, so it is better to give preference to elegant buttons. Here you can reveal all your abilities as a decorator. Let a large skull flaunt on the back, and a stand-up collar is indicated in front.

A handmade vest is a stylish addition to any women's wardrobe. This versatile thing can be used almost everywhere - during a morning trip to work, to nature, to meet friends, to the beach and on a romantic date. Believe me, with her you will always look great!

Denim outfits do not leave the top of popularity in the year of the Horse. Stylish vests are in special demand this season. This outfit is appropriate to wear not only with trousers, but even with extravagant evening dresses or skirts. Of course, you can buy similar clothes in some store, but it is much more economical and easier, as well as more fun to create them at home, with your own hands - for this you will need an unnecessary denim jacket. And now I will tell you how to convert a denim jacket into a vest with your own hands.

How to make a vest out of a denim jacket?

1. Surely, any girl who follows fashion will have a denim jacket that is no longer in demand, has lost its relevance due to an unfashionable cut. Do not throw away such clothes - you can turn them into a real work of art. Even without knowing how to sew, you can turn a jacket into a vest, because this outfit almost exactly duplicates the style of the jacket. It is enough to remove the sleeves on the jacket, and you will be pleasantly surprised by what you will see - use the help of a sharp blade - do not cut the jacket with scissors, otherwise you risk tearing the edges of the fabric. In order to shorten a too long jacket, cut off the belt, again with a blade, adjust the required length. Then you can sew, if necessary, a belt in the same place or leave the vest without it.

2. Let's move on to the collar - it all depends on what kind of vest model you want to get. In some styles, there is no collar at all - instead, in light summer options, there may be a stitched or framed neckline.

3. Seam processing

Once you've cut off the sleeves, collar, and waistband, be sure to finish the edges of the vest - there are several ways to do this.

Sew the edges on a typewriter - the seam should go in a straight line. It is appropriate to manually sew the edges in advance.

Decorate the edges of the vest with cotton fabric or braid - this way you will save time and give your new outfit a stylish, original look. The same fabric can be used to create a decor or appliqué.

Make a fringe. If you feel insecure at the sewing machine, then this method is just perfect for you. But in this case, when cutting the edges, you should leave some free fabric. By the way, if you lighten the fringe a little, the vest will become even more fashionable and more stylish.

How to decorate a vest?

1. A variety of metal rivets will come to the rescue here - spikes or rhinestones, or maybe applications made of fabric and lace. The main thing is not to overdo it, not to overdo it.

2. Decorations such as rivets and spikes should highlight only one part - the top or bottom. If we talk about rhinestones, then they can decorate the edges of pockets, as well as seams and a collar. Very relevant this season is the combination of jeans with lace and suede, as well as leather - sheathe the collar with fabric, and your vest will become even more stylish and neat.

3. For the most extravagant representatives of the weaker sex, we can advise you to experiment with the color of a denim vest - bleached cotton is the trend of this season. To achieve this effect, you need a special clarifier for the fabric - use it to highlight the top or bottom of the vest.

4. If the model is designed without a collar, then it would be appropriate to decorate the neckline using a fashionable chain or braid.

Turning a jacket into a vest is a real creative process. Here you need a great imagination and great taste. Get the necessary accessories, and you will have an original, unique and very stylish outfit.

Tatyana, www.site

Video "How to make a vest out of a denim jacket?"

The easiest and fastest way to change your jeans beyond recognition. Forget everything we said about the sense of proportion, sculpt everything you could find in stores: labels, names of your favorite bands, cartoon characters, lips, lightning bolts, arrows and other emoji.

Lourdes Leon and Amanda Seyfried love everything at once

Click on photo to enlarge:

2. Lace

You can sew lace on pockets or sleeves, decorate a collar or back. The more chaotic your decor, the more interesting! The task is more difficult - to remove the old back and replace it with lace. But keep in mind, this option is good on its own, so do not add stripes, rhinestones and beads here.

3. Embroidery

If you yourself are too lazy to while away the evenings behind the hoop, you can turn to your beloved grandmother for help or go to the nearest second-hand store in the hope of finding a little thing with decent embroidery there. Found? Great, sew on the back - it will look very stylish there.

TV presenter Fern Cotton is not against embroideries

4. Scuffs and holes

It is necessary to make holes in a jacket or jeans with sharp scissors, just do not forget to place a metal or wooden plank under the fabric so as not to hurt the other side of the jacket.

Rihanna loves ripped denim

5. Beads, rivets, sequins and rhinestones

This item is for those who love bright decor. All these charms are sold in any needlework store. You can embroider the entire jeans with mother-of-pearl beads, decorate the collar and places above the pockets with studs, glue rhinestones, stones or spikes on the shoulders, and place an applique of beads and sequins on the back. Of course, not all at once, but one thing.

Miranda Kerr wears denim with studs

6. Color and ombre

Change the color of jeans with the good old white. If you can’t achieve a smooth transition, it doesn’t matter, chaotic stains also look great. By the way, with the help of bleach and a pin, you can apply even stripes on the fabric or make a pattern.

7. Patches

If you decide to decorate your jacket with patches, it is not necessary to cut it at all - you can sew pieces of fabric on top. There are also plenty of decor options here: neon, embroidery, a collage of old jeans and much more. One taboo: leopard.

8. Drawings

Don't limit yourself to the examples below. With the help of felt-tip pens for fabric, special paints and your wild imagination, you can create a real work of art from a denim jacket!

A denim vest is a wardrobe detail that makes it easy to create an unusual and stylish look. It is great for walking in combination with a T-shirt or with a dress. For the office, you can combine a vest with a snow-white blouse. In addition, “double denim” is very relevant this season - when the bottom and top of the ensemble are made of denim. Therefore, a vest can pair with jeans.

A denim vest pattern can be easily built from a dress pattern.

  1. From the 7th cervical vertebra, lay down the required length. Draw the relief of the back.
  2. Increase the neckline by 2 cm along the line of the shoulders, the cut of the shelf and back, and by half a cm along the line of the middle of the back. Draw a line for the neckline.
  3. Deepen the armhole of the back and shelves by 1.5 centimeters. From the top of the neck, you need to postpone the length of the shoulder cut - 7 cm.
  4. Parallel to the middle of the shelf at a distance of 2 cm, draw a line on the edge of the side. Draw the bevel of the side and the line of the bottom of the shelf.
  5. Set aside 5 cm from the top of the neck and draw a cut line. This must be done in order to transfer the tuck to the bulge of the chest.

The pattern is ready. Now you have to sew an elegant feminine vest.

You can make a vest out of old jeans.. As a rule, knees and stepping places wear out a lot in this thing, but we don’t need them at all.

You will need the top of the jeans - the one just below the crotch and the entire top with a belt.

  • Measure yourself from the base of your neck to your waist, or even lower if you want a longer vest. This measurement is the length of the future product. Measure this length on your jeans, starting from the top of the waistband and down (you will find yourself just below the crotch). Remember to add another 2 cm down for future shoulder seams.
  • Carefully unzip and remove the zipper and the slope under it, but at the same time do not damage the fastener fabric itself - the front of the future vest. On the belt, cut off the extra protrusions under the clasp. Open the crotch and back seams. Leave the belt behind, release only the bottom of the strap, which is above the back seam.
  • You will get 2 ripped blanks - the right and left parts of the legs with a whole side seam and a common belt so far. Cut off the frayed areas (crotch).

  • Take the back parts from which the excess was cut off (with a new seam line) and stitch - this is the middle seam of the back of the vest (we will make a seam as it goes on jeans, using part of the saved top allowances). Don't forget to sew back the bottom of the strap and the waistband.
  • Fold the construction so that the back is facing you and the waistband is down (i.e. turn the pants upside down). Draw lines for the neck and shoulders, as in fig. Cut out with allowances. Cut out the shoulders immediately from the front and back (cut both layers of the legs at the same time).
  • Now make the front cut. Draw a straight line from the top of the shoulder to the clasp as shown in fig.
  • On the sides, embroider seams for armholes - 30.5 cm (in the figure - 12 inches). The parts near the belt will remain unaffected - the side seams of the vest.
  • Slightly round the cuts of the neck, neckline and armholes - you should get smooth transition lines, as in the very first fig. finished vest.
  • Tuck all open sections (armhole, neckline, front cutout) and do the processing in the same way as on jeans - with double stitching. Sew the shoulders. All is ready!




Important preparations

First you need to prepare the "ground" for the upcoming creation of a masterpiece of street fashion. On the table in front of you should be the following materials and items:

  • old jeans or store-bought fabric
  • threads (it is desirable to choose a tone in the color of the material);
  • needles;
  • safety pins - 3-4 pieces;
  • scissors;
  • ruler and soft centimeter tape;
  • chalk or bar of soap;
  • paper;
  • pencil.



All is ready? Then we pick up a simple pencil and begin the first stage of the fashion operation - design development. Take the creation of the project seriously, because you will use this blank to create patterns. Think over the style of the product and its cut, and based on your own preferences, splash out the idea on paper.

simple denim pattern

To create a unique vest, you can buy fabric at the nearest store or get old clothes from the closet. Why is the item unique? Clothing made by one's own hands is always originality and originality, and you are guaranteed not to see the same vest on someone you know.




When buying denim in a store, the main thing is not to overdo it. With a standard width of 1.5 meters, a meter of jeans is enough for you. But before going for the material, we recommend that you look around: if you didn’t have time to throw out your old, worn trousers or shirt, it’s time to use them! Urgently get them out of the box with unnecessary things, and we will reveal to you the secrets of creating patterns for a denim vest with your own hands. So let's go!

To create an exclusive hand-made, you will need the following measurements:

  • estimated length of the product;
  • chest girth;
  • Waist;
  • shoulder length.

If you do not have the skills to take measurements, your favorite T-shirt can come to the rescue. Just attach it to the paper and outline the contours with the addition of a few centimeters on the sides. So the vest will lie freely and not create inconvenience when moving. If you want to make patterns for a denim vest for a girl with your own hands in a non-standard shape, change the boundaries of the future project in accordance with your own imagination and preferences of a teenager.




Create a vest from store-bought fabric

  1. From the 7th cervical vertebra, set the measured length down.
  2. Draw the neckline, taking into account the indentation of 2 cm along the line of the shoulders.
  3. Make a 1.5 cm recess for the back and front armholes.
  4. For the shoulder cut, step back from the top of the neckline 7 cm.
  5. Draw a line on the edge of the side (parallel to the center of the shelf at a distance of 2 cm).
  6. From the top of the neck, lower 5 cm and draw a cut line.
  7. Decorate the bevel of the side and the bottom line of the shelf. The pattern is ready.

Cut out the created design and transfer it to the fabric. Outline the edges with a bar of soap or white chalk. Connect all patterns with safety pins. To begin with, you can walk along the connecting lines with a needle, and then fix the result with a sewing machine. If desired, you can leave the edges without edging - fringe is still in fashion.


This style is perfect for creating an ensemble with a denim skirt, flared denim trousers, bananas. You can also wear a vest with a T-shirt with an interesting ornament and short shorts.

We sew a vest from old jeans

If you are thinking of throwing old denim trousers into the trash, which have been collecting dust on the top shelf for several seasons and “irritating” your eyes, do not rush to implement hasty decisions. Take them out of their hiding place, wash and dry them. The blank for the vest is ready!




  1. Pick up a ruler and start drawing the pattern. As a basis, take the back of the trousers with pockets.
  2. On paper, draw a figure with seven corners, cut it out. Transfer the workpiece to the denim. Do not forget about the allowance of 1.5 cm, it is necessary for the connecting seams.
  3. Baste the allowance with threads, bending it inward.
  4. Sew the stitching, releasing 5-7 mm along the edges.
  5. Make the second pattern in the same way. As a result, you should get two side blanks for a vest with pockets.
  6. Start processing the trousers. It is necessary to cut two harnesses for the vest. First, measure the required distance from the point on the chest to the neck. Transfer the indicated length to the jeans, adding a few centimeters for the seams. Make patterns so that the width of the workpiece gradually decreases towards the neck.
  7. Next, attach the wide edges of the material to the base of the vest, pin them with pins or sew with threads. Sew the edges on the sewing machine.
  8. Try on the product. Adjust the length of the neck if necessary.
  9. Now sew two straps together.
  10. Tuck the edges, and retreating 5-7 mm and stitch the seams on a typewriter.
  11. We do the back. This will be a narrow strip connecting the sides of the vest. Measure the width of the back, and cut the necessary part of the fabric, taking into account the additions for the seams. Be careful. The width of this part should match the length of one of the sides of the heptagon with which we made the base of the product.
  12. We process the edges of the back. The vest is ready, it remains only to make the decor.



After completing all the above steps, you are guaranteed to receive an exclusive item that you can decorate as you wish. We'll talk about ways to decorate handmade clothes later, but for now let's move on to learning the step-by-step instructions for turning an old denim jacket into a new trendy vest.

Cutting out an old denim shirt

If you have an out-of-fashion denim shirt lying around in your closet, you can give it a second life by making a spectacular vest. In most cases, this does not even require needles and threads. Just cut or cut the sleeves - a new thing at your disposal. Here you don’t even need to process the edges, the fashion for fringe never weakens.



If the length of the product does not suit you, it can be cut to the desired size. Put on the workpiece and mark the required distance. Cut off the excess - the vest is ready.





Decorating a new vest

If you have already managed to use the above recommendations, now you should have a finished denim product in front of you. To make it unique, you need to decorate the vest in any way you like:

  • Stones and rhinestones. This decoration can be purchased at any needlework store. Just mark the places for decor with a pencil, drip textile glue on the fabric and lay the stones. Press the decor a little with your fingers and leave the product alone until the adhesive has completely dried.
  • Lace. This decor will always be in trend, rest assured. Lace can be sewn over jeans or made into a connective tissue between garments. There is now such a wide selection of this flirty material in stores that you can choose the right option for any ensemble in which the vest will be used.



  • Bows and ribbons. Such a delicate decor is used for sewing things for teenage girls. A more "adult" option can be bows made from the same fabric as the vest.
  • Damage and holes. To create "designer" holes, you can take the blade. Gently run it over the surface of the fabric, and gradually the threads will begin to break and expose the weave.
  • Applications. Now the seamstress has a wide selection of applications and patches that can be glued to the future vest. Those who have embroidery skills can independently make a flower or an interesting ornament with the help of floss.



  • Rivets and spikes. These accessories will help you create a punk rock outfit. Spikes can decorate any item of clothing from the shoulder pads to the collar.
  • American flag. Sew a fragment of such a fabric with stars and stripes to the back or one of the side parts - the effect will be stunning!

The case, as you know, is afraid of the master. And if this master has some secrets, the work will be done faster, and the result will exceed all expectations. Interested in learning how to sew a denim vest? Well, we persuaded, we tell:

  • In order not to suffer for hours over the "dismantling" of old denim trousers or shirts, use a blade and nail scissors.
In order not to suffer for hours over the "dismantling" of old denim trousers or shirts, use a blade and nail scissors
  • When oversized jeans are used as the starting material, all seams can be simply cut off for ease and convenience. The small model will have to be cut.
  • Before sewing all the details, try on the product in front of the mirror. Only after you are sure that the vest fits properly, connect all the parts with strong seams using a sewing machine.

What to wear with a new vest?

Here, after several hours of efforts and creations, you see a new trendy vest in front of you. Now it remains to decide what things can be combined with the product. At the end of this article, you will find out what to wear with, how to combine and how to complement a new look.


A vest can be supplemented with a sheath dress
  • A new vest can decorate a bow with a plain tank top, leggings and white sneakers. You can add a stylish baseball cap and a shoulder bag or backpack to this look.
  • A denim skirt, a loose T-shirt with a bright ornament and a vest - a casual urban look is ready!
  • Strict black turtleneck and tapered black trousers. Why not an option, huh?
  • Long sleeve V-neck and low-waist jeans are perfectly complemented by a stylish hand-made vest. Beautiful ballet flats, moccasins, and even brutal cowboy-style semi-boots without a heel can act as shoes.
  • A delicate summer dress with a bright floral print, sandals and a denim vest - it's not a shame to appear in a city park or a cinema in this outfit.
  • A spacious shapeless dress can also be worn with a denim vest, but only if the top does not create folds on the bottom of the ensemble.

An indispensable item for everyday looks



There are a lot of options for combining a denim vest, so there is no doubt that you will not be able to use your masterpiece for its intended purpose. Fantasize, do not be afraid of bright and unusual ideas, strive to get away from patterns and standards - only a creative approach and the desire to be fashionable will help you create a really worthwhile thing!