http://www.moymoy.com.ve/chaleco.pdf SPAN -> ENG TRANSLATION

[This is a rough translation of the vest pattern found at http://www.moymoy.com.ve/chaleco.pdf from Spanish to English. Translation notes will be placed within square brackets. The question marks between parenthesis are where I am not quite sure of my translation.]

Message from 2014:

Clarification: We do not agree with the closing of the streets or the "guarimbas" [a group of protesters in Venezuela] . We support attempts at peaceful protest. Our intention is to defend and protect individuals.

In the tense moments when you live in the country, a peaceful protest can lead to being assaulted by the forces of the National Guard or armed collectives that support Nicolás Maduro's government. This is suitable for minimizing the physical damage produced by the attacks.

For economic and logistical reasons, it is impossible for us to develop a vest that is 100% bulletproof. Nevertheless, we want to focus on reducing damage due to close ranged shots,  the ricochet (rebound  of low caliber weapons) of bullets on other surfaces, shrapnel from other damages, teargas(?) bombs, and bullets that have lost velocity before another object. (?)


Recommended Materials:
2 meters of Bull Denim, Denim, or drill resistant(?)
Polyester thread
Hard rubber [It references two materials that are translated as 'rubber'( 'goma' and 'caucho'), but I don't know the differences between the two unfortunately.]
Sheets of metal (preferably steel, but if you can't get it, then iron, preferably 4 mm or 9 caliber)

2016 Update:

Between the fabric, place iron plates that are 10 cm by 5 cm with a thickness of 4 mm. There should be approximately 9 to 12 plates, depending on how they are distributed in the front and back part. These are affixed in the vest when sewing the covers around them and then are affixed to the body of the vest.

The strips that are mentioned here are capable of being substituted with backpack straps and koala brooches (?) [a direct translation] in order to make it adjustable.

You can put them [the strips?] between other hard fabrics for better resistance.

Instructions to create the vest:

1) Copy (on cardboard paper) the following patterns with the sizes referenced. [I believe that the measurements are in cm]

A: Front and back part of the vest. Measurements: Length 68, Width 52, Shoulder 15, armhole height(?) 24
B: Front and back pocket of the vest. Measurements: upper part 42, length 54, width 52
C: Top of front and back pocket of the vest. Measurements: Shoulder 15, Length 21, Width 42
D: Sides of the vest. Measurements: 38 high and 22 wide
E: Side pocket of the vest. Measurements: 35 high and 22 wide
F: Top of side pocket of the vest. Measurements: 8 high and 22 wide
G: Strips to adjust and tie the vest around the torso

2) Fold the fabric in half so that you get two pieces of each pattern. Pin the patterns to the fabric. For piece G, cut out the pattern 4 times so you have 8 strips.
3) Cut flush against the patterns on the fabric. The patterns already have a seam allowance of 1 cm [so that you don't have to add one of your own].
4) Iron and hem (?) the pieces of the pockets (Pieces B, C, E, and F)
	[Image translation: (Detalle Piezas B y C = details of pieces B and C)]
5) Sew F and E to D as shown with an allowance of 1 cm. Only sew where indicated by the green border. Cut the corner stitches for a better finish  when you flip the piece. [See the second picture after Step 7 for reference if you want to see what they mean by cutting the corner stitches. This might be obvious, but I didn't understand it at first, so I am putting this note in just in case.]
	[Image translation: (Bajo F y E = Under F and E)]
6) Flip the piece to the side without stitches. Iron and reinforce with a backstitch on the green borders. This piece is the side [piece].
	[Image translation:  (Costado = Side) ]
7) Fold piece G and sew the green borders indicated with a 1 cm allowance. In the image, repeat the process for the 8 strips. Remember that you sew on the side opposite to the fold. Cut the corners for a better finish when you flip the piece. Iron and stitch as was done with the side pieces.
	[Image translation: (Tiras = Strips)]
8) Sew the strips to piece B where indicated on the image. The first strip is placed 6 cm below the armholes (armpit). The second strip is placed 16 cm below where the first strip ends. Repeat this process for both B pieces and both sets of strips.
	[Image translation: (Tiras = Strips)]
9) Sew the sides for the open part to one of the B parts (this will remain as a back pocket) (?). Sew 1 cm from the armhole (armpit) and with a 1 cm allowance.
	[Image translation: (Costado = Side) (Tiras = Strips)]
10) Place the sides facing inwards, like the strips on the previous image. Sew part B to part A (they will remain strips and sides within the pocket) (?) Sew part C to part A where indicated in the image.  You are going to sew around the entire border of the piece where indicated in green. The orange side is the opening of the pocket. Over there you are going to flip the piece and remove the strips and sides(???). This will be our back side. Repeat with the front side, where there is another piece B, piece C, or set of strips (not sides) (?)
 	[Image translation: (debajo contra la mesa = under, against the table) (Ente la A y la B se encuentra tiras y costados = Between [assuming that 'ente' is a typo of 'entre'] A and B are the strips and the sides) ]
11) Stitch along the contour of the rear and front pieces, where indicated with the green line. For the final step, sew the ends (shown in orange) of the back piece to the ends of the front piece
	[Image translation: (Pieza trasera = back piece)]
12) Insert the rubber plates (that help dissipate the force of shots) between one or two plates of metal (that will stop the projectile from penetrating) in the pockets. There is one pocket in the front, one in the back, and 2 on the sides. Optionally, you can sew a invisible zipper closure for the pockets.

Again, please remember that this is not 100% bulletproof, but any protective gear between the projectile and the body makes a difference. We regret not being able to protect the head and neck, which are often targeted.

We please ask that each person that has a sewing machine, and especially the clothing and accessory designers' guilds in Venezuela, to collaborate in order to make it possible to create this and other solutions that help us circumvent the current violence. The vests we can make will be free of cost. Thank you.

Photos of the completed vest:

2014 Version:
[Picture]

2016 Version:
[Picture]