Suggestions for my Weighted Vest Project

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Hi all. I've had an idea to create the "World's Most Versatile Weighted Vest" (I call it WMVV for short). It's essentially a DIY sewing project, and I already have several things I want to try, including: inner pockets around the waist and shoulders for weighted beanbags; soft fuzzy shoulder pads for stimming on; velcro down the inside of the zipper and along the outside to create a wraparound sqeeze effect; an inner pocket for tucking things like phones and i-pods so music can be listened to conveniently and discreetly; a small outer pocket designated specifically for earplugs or maybe a specific stim toy; and hollow chewy tubes tied to the drawstrings of the vest (it'll be made out of an old zip sweater with a hood attached). I'm interested in hearing your thoughts about what else I could add to increase its versatility, as well as any recommendations for making sewing, etc. easier, as I'm a relatively mediocre crafter. I'll be making a step by step tutorial for how to make the vest and posting it on my blog if anyone's interested in seeing the finished product, and I'll credit anyone whose ideas I use Thanks for your help friends!

I'm interested in this idea.

Are you going to make this disguised as a regular clothing type vest so that you can wear it out in public or are you just going to wear it at home?

If you make it to wear it out...you could hide some of these stimming things you're talking about if you made it in a tactical style like this but without sleeves since you said you wanted a vest. This could work for women or men.

If this works out you could make more and sell them on Etsy. Or at least the instructions. People would buy them!

The Etsy thing is a good idea, and something worth looking into The design isn't exactly subtle (it's finished and I'll hopefully upload the pictures to my blog tomorrow), but for me personally, part of its function beyond sensory integration is spreading awareness. I have plans to sew a swatch of white fabric on the back and use fabric marker to write either, "Please be patient with me: I have autism", or "It's an autism thing; you wouldn't understand". I haven't decided yet which I prefer.

OMG I would love a weighted vest thing myself.
I have been meaning to look into buying one and wearing it under my clothes (so that it isn't noticeable). The extra weight from stuff just makes me so much more relaxed/comfortable...

I personally wouldn't really want it to be noticeable, but kudos to the people brave enough to do that! I've had way more than my far share of ridicule haha, don't care for more attention at the moment.
I would love to see the design or any others if you know of them?

Well, my blog post is complete:
http://www.tagteamtales.com/aspie-diy-p ... hted-vest/

I know quite a few other sites sell them, both for children and adults. Below are a few links I found useful when looking for my first weighted vest.
http://www.especialneeds.com/sensory-mo ... vests.html
http://www.pressure-vest.com/
https://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/5-weighted

That looks amazing. I really like the idea of the drawstring chewies. When you're out in public, sometimes sucking/chewing on something that's a hand is considered an endearing quirk, and having something clearly intended for that purpose is considered weird. This conveniently blurs that line.

Thank you I was quite pleased with the drawstring chewies idea

That is very impressive. Excellent work.

That is awesome! I can't believe you put all that in there! And I know you said you weren't trying to make it pass as regular clothes, but it looked to me like a regular sleeveless hoodie you'd buy with like, fashion accents. Genius!

BTW I've always really liked your avatar. I'm a big Seven of Nine fan. She's sensible.

Thanks guys I'm going to use my fabric markers to do some decorating today, and I'll upload those photos when I'm done too

SocOfAutism: yay, another Seven fan! I like her sensible and direct nature as well, it makes way more sense than the beating about the bush that the rest of the crew (minus Tuvok and Icheb) engage in.

Just updated it to include the final decoration. I added it before the weighted pockets section, because I found out the hard way that it's really better to do the decorating before you sew on all your inner pockets!

http://www.tagteamtales.com/aspie-diy-p ... hted-vest/

I love your idea for a weighted vest, StarTrekker! I think having a pouch for bean bags to go into (so they can be removed for washing, adjustments, etc) is a nice touch - that, plus the compartments for stim toys.