Nice vest!

I'm sure your wife won't mind you using the new sewing machine - I bet she'd even help if you ask. Look for a jacket pattern that has the collar you want and see if the shoulders are in the right location without sleeves. If not (and it's not likely they will be) simply use a vest pattern for that part of the garment - basically, overlay the two different patterns, making them fit together for the different parts of the vest.

Let us know how you make out with this.