The Best Vest

As the kid has got older the amount of stuff I sew for her has ebbed and flowed and changed. She no longer desires twirly dresses and blouses.

One item I have been making for her religiously since she was little is outwear. Warm outdoor wear that lasts through the seasons and allows her to play freely while keeping her core warm as toast.

I bought the original Big Little Pixie Vest years ago now and have made a number of them as she has grown. It’s a go to pattern for me, always an easy to follow, straightforward pattern that fitted nicely.

There is a new pattern from Big Little – The Pathfinder Vest is something just fabulous. I wasn’t a tester on this. Just a happy seamstress!
The pathfinder vest has many brilliant options, the pieces have been re-drafted and the fit is fabulous. I really do love the longer length option and also the dropped back you can add on.

For this one I did a pixie hood as the kid is fond of them. But there are options for a rounded hood, collar or v-necked waistcoat look. I also added the optional button panel that comes with the pattern on the front so it does up with a full overlap to prevent draughts round her tummy.

It sews up in the same way as the Pixie vest and only took me an easy morning sewing between homeschool and cups of tea and bites of cake. This one is upcycled blanket and some ikea cotton for the lining. It fits beautifully – it’s not baggy and doesn’t gape at all – but you can get a jumper under it no trouble at all to keep the kid super snuggly.

Even more exciting is that when re-drafting the vest has been made to fit the Wild Thing coat hood. So if you have that pattern you can create all 14 animals in vest form!!
Check out the pattern at Big Little. It’s on sale at the moment.
And as a bonus extra for subscribing to the Big Little newsletter there is an additional crossover front option – the Crossroad Vest. I signed up for the newsletter and got that extra for free! Whoop.