Helena’s Puffer Vest Outfit – Tallinn Fabrics Blog Tour

For those who don’t know Jessica Swift yet, she’s basically amazing. When I first found out that she was a new AGF Angles Designer last year I basically did mental cartwheels for about a month. Like her aesthetic is fresh and whimsical and she’s not afraid to use color. And in addition to being a bombtastic designer, she’s in the Portland area, which means I get to play with her IRL. Yaaaaay!

So when she asked me to join her Tallinn Fabrics Blog Tour, I was like heck ya!!! I’d already made a pillow and basket using her collection and totally needed more of it in my life. I mean look at this collection! It’s bananas!

For this tour, I knew exactly what I wanted to make. A tunic & leggings ensemble with a show-stopping puffer vest. Now I’d never made a puffer vest, mind you, and didn’t use a pattern, but this thang that was in my head just had to get out so I went for it.

First step: quilting the shell. I used three layers of batting (two wool & one cotton) so that it was extra puffy and used Aurifil 50 wt Ermine which was absolute perfection for this print. Then I took Helena’s measurements and cut the back and two front panels and boom an outer shell was born. Along the ride, I also discovered the extra amazingness that is The Classic Curves Ruler by Color Girl Quilts because it was perfect for cutting the various sized armhole and neck curves.

The toughest decision in this whole outfit was the pocket. Since I wasn’t using a pattern and I had basically every type of pocket to choose from, I had to make sure it was the perfect pocket since this was a critical element for Helena. In the end, I went with a 60 degree external welt pocket which I feel achieved the perfect pocketness that I was looking for.

And once I was done, I got to use my new dress form and took this outfit on the town for a photoshoot. Scroll through the pictures to see it werk.

I made an easy peasy YouTube tutorial on how to sew tights on your domestic sewing machine without a pattern, so make sure to head over there to see!

I super duper hope you enjoyed my project in the Tallinn Fabrics Blog Tour. Make sure to check out the other makers through the next few weeks.

• Thursday April 19 – Mathew Boudreaux | Mister Domestic
• Friday April 20 – Katie Skoog | The Simple Life Company
• Monday April 23 – Sharon Holland
• Tuesday April 24 – Eleri Kerian | Sew and Tell Project
• Wednesday April 25 – Paola Baker | Love of Fabrics
• Thursday April 26 – Maureen Cracknell
• Friday April 27 – Alexis Wright | My Sweet Sunshine Studio
• Monday April 30 – Isabelle Selak | South Bay Bella Studio
• Tuesday May 1 – Cassie Massolia | Lily Shine Creates
• Wednesday May 2 – Becca Plymale | Sunflower Seams
• Thursday May 3 – Alisa Kutsel | A Stitch In Between
• Friday May 4 – Sharon McConnell | Color Girl Quilts
• Monday May 7 – Karen O’Connor | Lady K Quilt Designs
• Tuesday May 8 – Sarai Schuk | Sarai’s Hobbies
• Wednesday May 9 – Elise Baek | Elise & Emelie
• Thursday May 10 – Jessica Swift
• Friday May 11 – Gwyn LaSpina
• Monday May 14 – Loni Jakubowski | Havin Sew Much Fun

Here are some supplies that I used:

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While I don’t promote anything unless I legit love it, this post contains affiliate links.