I have one of those fancy travel vests, the kind with lots of hidden pockets to stow gear. My daughter coveted it and pestered me to buy one for her. Unfortunately, I could not find one that would fit her small frame AND contained all the features she wanted. Besides, they were all so…TAN (or black)…definitely not fun! Thus, my daughter inspired me to create a vest just for her. She drew up the specifications: pockets – type, location, size; fabric – sturdy and FUN; comfort – a soft collar and not too bulky; style – not too girly, not too masculine. I contributed my expertise in garment construction and “Mom-smarts” (as in “you will want those pockets to be large and zippered to securely transport your fossil finds.”). The resulting vest does not have quite as many pockets as my fancy one, but it does sport 13 of them, and she uses every single one (I can’t say the same for my vest). We had a lot of fun working together on this project, and my daughter is much happier with her custom vest than she would have been with any of those retail models. She loves to wear it, not just for expeditions, but also as a fashion accessory.

The vest has a print cotton twill outer shell; the lining is cotton with a faux fur neck lining. I used Simplicity 2743 to help me establish the initial shape & sizing. This pattern, designed for fleece fabrics, features princess seams, which help to control bulk, and on-seam pockets. It provided an excellent silhouette for the vest we wanted to create, but I embellished on the design by adding a lining, a cinchable waistband (inside, at my daughter’s request), a zipper guard, and of course, all those pockets.

Outside – 4 pockets:

• 2 zippered pockets on the chest for securing sunglasses, tissues, lip balm, etc. I learned how to insert zippers using the bound buttonhole technique (this has become a favorite method). It gives the vest a polished look.
• 2 on-seam hip pockets each feature a “gear-strap” to snap on and secure a camera, key ring, etc.

Inside – 9 pockets:

• 2 secure smart phone pockets, because you never know on which side you want to carry your phone. I designed a way to create a pocket where not only is the screen visible when the phone is in the pocket, but you can also use the touch screen without removing the phone from the pocket – great when you are on the go!
• 1 secure ID pocket which allows the ID to be visible without requiring removal from the pocket. This uses the same pocket technique I used for the smart phone pockets.
• 2 large zippered pockets that are roomy enough for guide books, gaming devices, or amazing finds.
• 2 pencil/pen pockets so you never have to borrow one.
• 2 ear-bud pockets that secures them from flapping around when they aren’t in your ears.

Additional features:

• Cord control flap that neatly and comfortably manages the earbud cord behind your neck. This feature allows you pull your vest on and off easily without tangling up in the cord — great in airport security lines! The earbuds slip through an opening in the neckband so that you can easily slip them in your ears without having to fish around.
• Zipper guard that prevents the clothing underneath from getting caught in the zipper.
• Coat hook loop to hang the vest up and keep your mom happy.
• Faux fur neckband lining is soft on the neck & helps cushion camera straps.
• Adjustable elastic cinch allows for a custom and more feminine fit.

The vest sports one final feature:  a personal inscription from Mom that sets the girl free to explore…and to come home again.  What fancy retail vest can do that?!

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