Any experienced sewing people looking in?

Does she need it to be washable?

Is the knitted back heavy or light weight.

Does she prefer cotton or would a mix be ok?

I wouldn't go with a stretch one for a waistcoat, cotton velvet would probably be best, perhaps something like this?

www.myfabrics.co.uk/cotton-velvet.html

I once made a waistcoat for my (ex) husband out of gold-coloured cotton velour. I think it was like velvet but with a shorter pile.
I made the back out of good quality satin lining.
i must have been mad!

As sewing Velvet is such a pain, a narrow corduroy fabric might be better?

A knitted back doesn’t sound very suitable for a velvet waistcoat, tbh. It will go out of shape quite quickly.

That’s furnishing velvet MrsThreadgoode. Way too heavy for clothing.

Oops sorry! I meant B9exchange’s link!

Agree with MrsThreadgoode. I made a dark blue waistcoat for friend's son (4yr old) in a fine needlecord velvet (cordoroy?) and lined it with a silky material for a wedding and it worked very well.

Thank you for all your input. My aunt is 83 and I'd asked her what she wants for Christmas and she said some beige velvet and two buttons - feels like a horrible test of my initiative!

I'm going to ask her some more questions tomorrow, she only said the wool is 'like a teddy bear' which doesn't give me many clues!

Thank you.

A knitted furry back is unusual. That is usually at the front with a plain back. I agree with the needlecord / babycord if you can get the right colour.

I wonder if she’s thinking of the buff moleskin waistcoats so beloved of country lifestyle magazines and county show officials? Moleskin is a soft brushed cotton.

I've just phoned her and she bought this wool on a coach trip to Dublin years ago, has only just found it! She said she likes the feeling of it on her back and just wants to make a simple front for it so it will stay on, she was just going to 'make it up' and is hand sewing it, so I'm now on a 'pattern' and 'fabric' hunt.

She was also happy to consider corduroy, which won't fray as much, thank you very much for the suggestion. I wish she'd chosen something from Argos as I suggested!

I've now discovered waistcoats on vintage patterns are called 'vests' - and I've missed the McCall's one I think she would have liked. Hopefully someone will be having a clear out and selling it soon!

I'm pleased to say my aunt has agreed to use needlecord, which I've ordered on line. I couldn't find a pattern in the style she wants in the UK - it's more of a jerkin - so have ordered one from the US. Fingers crossed it arrives in time!