Buy the Harold Vest sewing pattern from Ready to Sew. When creating this vest, the designer had Annie Hall in mind – her unmistakable style, that effortless blend of ease and elegance that transcends time. The idea was to reinterpret the classic tailored vest, giving it a freer, more relaxed spirit while playing with fabrics and textures.

The front stays true to tradition with clean lines and faux welt pockets. But the back is where everything shifts: a knitted back panel, made from ribbing or even an old sweater you love too much to part with. The result? A piece that combines structure and comfort, perfect layered over a loose tee or a boxy shirt for a laid-back yet intentional look. It’s the kind of garment you throw on without a second thought, but that instantly elevates any outfit.

Sewing level: Confident beginner / Intermediate

This sewing pattern is available to buy in the following formats:

– PDF (available to download immediately after purchase). What is a PDF?

– PDF pattern + Printed A0 copy shop (We print out the A0 pattern sheets, but you’ll need to download the digital instructions, as we don’t print these. The PDF files will be emailed immediately after purchase, and the A0 pattern sheets will be dispatched next working day). What is Copy Shop?

Suggested fabrics: 

The front of this vest works beautifully with a variety of fabrics: tencel twill for a fluid, modern look, wool or tartan for timeless elegance, lightweight denim for a laid-back vibe, or linen for an effortless summer version. 

For the back, you’ll need an old sweater with a ribbed hem. No pre-loved sweater to upcycle? Try hunting for good quality second-hand cashmere sweaters – those with small holes or stains on the front or back are often very affordable. As long as one side is in good condition, you have everything you need to create a one-of-a-kind vest.

If you’re opting for a store-bought knit fabric, consider tubular ribbing, milano jersey, jacquard knit, or textured waffle knit for added depth and character.

Fabric requirements:

Range 1: 145 cm wide fabric: Front, 110 cm // Back, 70 cm.

Range 2: 145 cm wide fabric: Front, 140 cm // Back, 90 cm.

Sizing: EU 32 – 48 and EU 48 – 64 (approx. UK 8 – 18 and UK 18 – 34, based on our standardised size chart). Please also check the designer’s size charts.

Note: The size ranges have been drafted from different blocks. Range 1 (32-48) has A/B and C/D cup options. Range 2 (48-64) has C/D and E/F cup options.

Notions: A small piece of fusible interfacing (for buttonholes, buttons, flaps); 1-1.5 m of cotton bias tape matching the colour of the knit back; four 15-18 mm buttons.

PDF pattern includes: Instructions; A4/US letter print-at-home pattern (29 pages for sizes 32-48, 38 pages for sizes 48-64); A0 copy shop pattern (2 sheets for sizes 32-48, 2 sheets for sizes 48-64) // Layers: Yes // Projector file: Yes.

Languages: French and English.

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