A Klingon Captain's Vest
Read all the instructions before laying out your pattern!
One of the first considerations when selecting fabric for the captains vest is the width of the fabric. That will determine whether you need 5 yards(60 inch width) or more. The hood (42 inches at 60 inch width) + 1/4 yard for the pocket. )1.6 yards total)and back pocket is not included in this estimate.
You can find very wide fabrics in the upholstery and curtain materials, usually up to nine feet wide(you can occasionally find fabric 15 feet wide). The fabric should be reasonably sturdy, considering all the things that will be put in the pockets, and the wear and tear of wearing it to several events. On the other hand if you are making one of the variations such as the Kal'Hyah vest, there are no pockets, and metallic fabric is used for the front panel and upper back shoulder section. Metallic fabric usually isn't very wide, and you will find yourself purchasing 2 yards metallic(60 inch width) and 4.2 yards(60 inch width) of a contrasting fabric again depending on the width.
You will also need iron on interfacing for the pockets, and batting(2 yards) for the front panel, upper shoulder piece, and around the armhole. Snaps for all the pockets, and hood.
If your fabric measures more than 74 inches, you then take the side panel, cut through the three tape points, and slit them apart. You then tape the back arm hole panel to the center back, making the center back one large pattern piece.
If you are an inexperienced sewer cut the top padded shoulder section off of the top of the center back. Work with it as a separate pattern piece. Zig zag all raw edges on all pattern pieces.
The new fold line is at the bottom of the upper shoulder section.
If your fabric is less than 74 inches wide, you work with the pieces as they are at this time, using the layout guide below as a possible configuration for your pattern pieces on fabric.
See below for layout of the batting
This layout assumes that there is no nap or direction of the fabric. Note: the 2nd panel of the front center panel is upside down. If you decide to do this panel in a napped fabric like velvet, then you will have to change the center front panel right side up, and therefore use more yardage to complete the project.
The same is true of the hood, but it will not change the yardage.
Layout for Kal'Hyah, Head of the House, and R'ustai cloak.
The side arm facing is not used in the metallic fabric layout. You still have to cut out the batting for these vest/cloaks as well.
The remaining fabric should be a tone darker than the metallic fabric. The center front pieces are used as facings for the metallic front panels. The vests have no pockets or hoods. You may want to sew on a pocket to the back of the front panel to hold you wallet and keys.
Construction of the front panel and pockets.
Vest construction Index