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DIY Nerf Vest from Upcycled Camo

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How to make a DIY Nerf gun vest from upcycled camo (Army fatigues). This easy project is the perfect gift to go with some Nerf guns and targets!

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My husband was looking through Amazon when he came across this neat Elite Tactical Nerf Gun Vest. Of course, he shows it to my almost 6 year old and says, “Maybe mommy can make you one!” This was all a week after my c-section. So my son asks me to make him one… immediately… then gets sad when I let him know that it’s not in the cards. Sorry kiddo, I can barely get out of bed. He did, however, have a birthday party coming up so I decided that I would make him and his brother vests as a gift. I’m hoping to get my husband to make some targets too because I am so tired of yelling at them to stop shooting at each other.

So I set out to plan and make this vest. He wanted camouflage fabric which I didn’t have, but my husband had some old Army fatigues that he’d found at the thrift store a long time ago and used for paintball. I decided to upcycle one of the jackets into two Nerf vests and it worked out really well!

DIY Nerf Vest in Camo

Supplies for a Nerf Vest

Supplies listed below may include affiliate links to the products.

  • Jacket Zipper (open zipper, not closed)
  • Old Camo/Fatigues- I used a jacket, but pants would work too
  • Seam ripper, scissors, sewing machine, iron, etc.
  • Elastic (I used a black, thin FOE)
  • A vest pattern. I used this vest pattern but adjusted the instructions so there was no liner.
No time to make it now? Pin it for later: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/48554502216920149/

Tutorial for Making Your Own Upcycled Nerf Vest

Step 1: Take your camo/fatigues jacket and open it up. You can cut it apart at the seams if you want- I did this for the sleeves so I could use the sleeves for the smaller vest.
 

Identify where and how you want to place your pattern.

DIY Nerf Vest from Upcycled Fatigues

 

I wanted to get two Nerf vests out of this one jacket so I had to strategize how to get the most bang for my buck. For the size 8 jacket, I placed the pattern over the front pockets so I could use them for the vest – note that these pockets were sewn down on my jacket, but were legitimate pockets underneath. So I needed to just seam rip the pocket opening so it would be a functioning pocket.
 
Once you’ve decided on your pattern placement, cut your pattern pieces. I used this vest pattern, but did not use a liner fabric for the pattern. You could, but I think the weight of this fabric works well so it wouldn’t need a liner. You could use any vest pattern for this project really… I’m just using it so the measurements are right.
 

I cut the 2 front pieces, one back piece (on a fold), and the collar piece. I actually used the original jacket collar for the size 8 and just trimmed it down to the right size.For one Nerf vest, I needed to piece together the camo because I didn’t have a big enough cut for the front.

There were a few areas where there was a double layer of fabric and it was in a bad spot for sewing (the double layers are hard to sew through). As such I seam ripped the extra fabric and removed it to make everything easier to sew- this was mostly important when I sewed the zipper on.
 
Step 2: You want to add all of your “accessory” type pieces to the front and back pieces of the Nerf vest before sewing it together. I started by making pockets for the smaller jacket. For the big jacket, I used the pockets on the original jacket.
Creating a pocket from old fabric.

 

Sew pocket onto the front of the Nerf vest.

Once the pockets were sewn on, I took two cuts of my elastic (FOE) for each side of the vest and sewed them on.

I put darts inside them to make sure they were spaced far enough apart.

Once both ends of each elastic were sewn down, I marked 1″ increments on the FOE and sewed a straight line every 1″.

These elastics will hold single Nerf gun darts.

Using FOE to create holders for Nerf gun darts.

I considered making holsters for the guns on the back of the vest, but I didn’t think they’d work very well so I decided not to add them.

 

Step 3: Face the back fabric and the front fabrics right sides together, pin where shoulders meet. Sew shoulders together. I serged but this fabric doesn’t seem super prone to fraying so I think a straight stitch would work fine.

Sew shoulders right sides together.

Step 4: Sew on your collar, right sides together. I top stitched.  You also want to trim off any excess collar (with my pattern, there was excess collar, but that may not be the case with other patterns).

Sew on your collar for the Nerf vest. This one used upcycled camo.

 

Step 5: Sew your zipper on.
 
Step 6: Face your vest right sides together and pin at side seams. Sew.

Step 7: Finish bottom hem and the arm… hole… ? I used some bias tape to finish mine.

 
Are you loving the Nerf vest? My kids certainly love theirs!
 

Where to Buy a Nerf Vest

No time to make one? Buy one on Amazon by clicking on the vest you like below…

 
 
Please pin this post! It is SUPER helpful!
 
How to Sew Nerf Vests from Upcycled Fatigues DIY Nerf Vests made with camoflauge fabric.
 
Matching DIY Nerf Vests for 4 and 6 year old brothers

 

How to sew Nerf vests for kids from old camo.

 

DIY Nerf Camo Vests
 
 
 
Thanks for taking the time to read this post! I really appreciate the time you’ve taken. Please share, like, and pin my post if you enjoyed it. Follow me on social media and subscribe to my email list to keep up to date on all of my latest projects!
 
Thanks for Reading! -DIYDanielle
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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