Making own fleece vest

This one sure looks like a jacket with the sleeves missing. In fact I have seen jackets with sleeves that zip off to form a vest.
http://thru-hiker.com/materialsstoremain.html

hej Arjen,

I made my vests by just leaving sleeves away.
But for your special needs I´d suggest an insulated vest (Polarguard, Primaloft)instead of using fleece.

You can see some selfmade vests here: http://forum.outdoorseiten.net/showthread.php?t=14365.

Do you know http://www.extremtextil.de? It´s probably the best source for MYOG-Materials in Germany. And they offer Primaloft and light but waterproof (pertex endurance) Shell-Materials.

David – also from Germany!

These suggestions are all very nice, but I'm leaving wednesday and have to work on monday and teusday, so there's no time to make on-
I just want to buy a cheap fleece jumper and cut the sleeves off, but would like tips/pointers before I do so.

There's no place under my windproof for a primaloft layer… and synthetic insulation is also not very breathable, I'd rather have fleece. When climbing I won't be that cold (probably scared to death), and when belaying I'll throw a very thick down/synth. jacket on.

If your travel schedule gives you time in a large city you could consider buying a fleece vest in the US.

If not, all you have to lose is the cost of the cheap fleece jumper so give it a try.

The ragged edge fleece blankets my daughter makes don't seem to unravel on the edges but just in case, I'd probably cut the sleeves off a fraction of an inch (OK, centimeter) from the seam joining the arm to the body … leaving the seam in place on the altered garmet.

Also, I THINK that vest arm holes tend fit tighter to the torso in the underarm area than jackets do. If it feels too open there you could easily hand stitch it tighter.

Fleece vests are a dime a dozen in the northern US. What size?

My size is normally medium- I just don't know if I have a chance to do some shopping there, I'm not in control over the planning.
And it's cool if home-made stuff works, innit?

Nothing wrong with making your own, its just the time/cost/hassle factors. I can buy used name brand fleece vests for $5 all day long, that's all.

If you get into any large city, there will be vendors selling fleece vests everywhere.

Where are you climbing?

Uh, ever considered getting a jacket that has thumb loops? It prevents the jacket from slidding down while reaching up. Works like a charm when I'm out climbing.

I'll be climbing around Quebec and in Vermont- that's all I know.

Re-thumb loops, this stops the sleeve coming down, but not the hem riding up… and exposing your waist. This is mainly a problem of cheap fleeces, but as being said- the better designs are expensive.