Rocker Vest

My 7-year-old
channeling her inner rocker

I was so happy with the Rocker Pants I made, I decided to make a vest as well.  NOT to match the pants!  Please do not think that these two items were every intended to be worn together, okay?  Okay.  Moving on.  For the vest, I wanted to stay true to the "feel" of the rocker pants, so I stuck with denim and leather for the fabrics.  I created the pattern for the vest and got to work adding pockets, patches, spray paint, snaps, and hand-sewn stitching details.  I really love how the vest turned out.  I wanted it to be edgy, but also look finished and clean.  It's for the more established rocker whose stage apparel has moved past the $2 vest he found at Goodwill when he was in college...Not that there's anything wrong with that!  I love me some Goodwill. But there is a time for the $2 Goodwill vest, and there is a time for a one-of-a-kind, custom, rocked-out vest that was made just for you.  Well, not you.  It was made just for John Corabi, but you get the point.  ;-)

front

back

front close-up

That's right...SKULL BUTTONS!

John Corabi logo patch

back close-up

Rocker Reconstruction!

My latest project was suuuuuper fun!!!  In fact, I may have found my calling.  I repurposed a pair of regular cargo pants:

.......into rocker pants!

John Corabi sporting his new rockin' pants

I ain't gonna lie--A lot of work went into these!

{The next part is the technical "mumbo jumbo" just for you detail-oriented peeps.  Instant gratification chicas can scroll down a bit to see the close-up after pics.} ;-)

{The nitty gritty}  Instead of using new fabric, I used two "used" pairs of pants I found at a thrift store for all the fabric elements I added to the existing pants.  Here's what was left of them after I was finished:

thrift store pant remains

The first thing I did was fit them to make them a tighter fitting pant instead of baggy cargos.  I took them in at the back seam and the inseam.  Then, I removed the waistband to give them more of a low-rise fit.

the waistband I removed

The next steps all consist of making different elements to add to the pants:  pockets, flaps, d-rings, snaps, patches, belt loops, and belt, not necessarily in that order.  

{Patches}  I printed John's logo onto fabric using my computer and made it into a patch with leather edges.  I also made patches using cross stencils I created and silver fabric spray-paint.  

{Pockets}  I created pockets using denim and leather {my fave materials!} and snaps.  There are a lot of pockets on these pants!

{D-rings}  I added D-rings and strips of denim.  I also cut and roughed up the denim to give it an edgier look.

{Belt loops and Belt}  I created new belt loops and sanded the fabric to give them some wear, then I made a belt and, again,  roughed up the fabric.

{Finishing Touches}

leather around the front zipper.

Hand-sewn stitches

{the final step}

Vahle Creative {hand-stamped by "Hardwear Merry"}

Lookin' good!