Hope you’ve been enjoying the Christmas period! I have been doing close to nothing and boy it feels good. But New Year is almost upon us, so I thought I should cover recent sewing events in my universe.
As it’s the season to give and receive, I thought I’d better send out some good vibes or Santa would boot me to the naughty list. After last year’s gift of a cardigan for my Mum, she requested a sequel, so I decided to continue my quest to create THE perfect piece of knitwear.
I used some stable knit fabric in hot pink and black animal print and the same pattern I traced from my Mum’s ready-to-wear cardigan last year. This time it had to be 4 inches longer, since last year’s version was a touch too short:
Rather than buttons, this time I used some snaps, and attached faceted plastic jet buttons for illusory purposes. I also added some black piping to the slanted pocket opens to try and make them stand out a little more.
In my rush to add length to the cardigan, I forgot a basic principle. People are not straight up and down. So the cardigan was the right length but wasn’t wide enough to account for hips. HOW did I overlook this? That’s why the floor is modelling this rather than my poor Mum. We’re going to have another go around and see if I can insert some panels along the side seams.
The quest continues.
Despite my sewing failures, Santa was still generous enough to bestow the following gifts on me:
On the left, Fabric for Fashion: The Swatch Book. On the right, famous Japanese pattern book, drape drape; two very delicious titles.
Fabric for Fashion is exactly the book I’ve needed for a while. Tilly does an excellent review of its features here but in essence it discusses how different fabrics are structured, used, and best of all, includes neutral-coloured swatches of around a 100 of these fabrics. I am wholly ignorant about different types of fabric and a lot of the fabric stores I shop in can be a little scant in their labelling. So until now I’ve been doing a lot of guessing, usually resorting to describing my purchases as ‘synthetic’ or ‘cotton (maybe?)’. This book doesn’t give me all the answers but it certainly gives me a better understanding.
As for drape drape, you don’t have to look at too many sewing blogs to come across a pattern from this book or one of its two follow-up volumes. Particularly inspiring is Dixie DIY’s recent dress, which I’m tempted to rip off wholesale, she rocks.
So the new year beckons. I certainly don’t lack for patterns, fabric, or ideas. What I need is a little more focus, which can only have benefits for this blog too. I don’t have a Secret Life of Seams 2013 masterplan beyond SEW STUFF I’m afraid.
So 2013= sew stuff. It might not be elaborate but it sure sounds like fun. Enjoy your NYE!
What a rocking cardi for your Mum! Love it! And also nice haul on the sewing books
Thanks Amanda, my mum can rock a mean animal print!
Glad you like the fabric book – it’s a life saver!
Happy New Year! Where did you get that amazing animal print? It’s so cool. I want to make a cardigan this year thanks to your awesome example. Hope to see you in person in 2013!
Happy 2013 to you too! I found cardigans pretty straight-forward, the only trickiness is the buttons/fastener element. You should definitely have a whirl since you’re cool with knits.
The source of the animal print knit is actually the subject of my next post: a factory clearance place in Tottenham. Maybe we could arrange a trip?
YES definitely! Was just talking to someone about that place at Christmas! Is it the mysterious factory shop that’s only open in the week? Really want to go there.
It is the mystery factory shop! Cool, let’s do it then! i’ll drop you an email…
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