Yes, I Made It!
Yes! This is the first make on my new machine, and I couldn’t be more chuffed! After a few little starter test swatches on some calico, I decided to pile right in to stretch and overcast stitches and give this delicious sweatshirt fabric a go. It’s my (currently) favourite sweatshirt pattern, the Embla from Juni Designs. Just love this pattern. It’s a great shape – slim around the waist / hip band, and plenty of bagginess around the tummy for when you need to let things hang out slightly. And those sleeves… oh my.
I followed the pattern all but for adding about 6cm to the sleeve length to make sure those cuffs really did have a gloved feeling, as I made another version a year ago and found the cuffs sit a tiny bit short. It made sense to me to push that big sleeve for max drama.
And the bold print? Me and pattern don’t hang out very often — I suppose I’m worried about things looking too busy and distracting underneath my sometimes untameable hair — but I found this dottiness so appealing and decided with the right pattern it would work.
I think the blousy pattern shapes along with straight-line structure of cuffs and hem help it feel like quite an elegant, considered make. Box pleats at the shoulder add to the sleeve volume, and line up with a slash neck seam which all add to a sense of lined-up structure rather than just crazy-scribbly-busy-stretchy-cosy-curl-up-cocoon sort of sweatshirt.
So, me and pattern? Me and bold pattern? I’m encouraged to give it another go and try to push myself out of my normal plain and neutral choices.
It sews up like a dream, this one. So simple, and a really nice way to build confidence with both stretch fabric, bold print fabric and a brand new sewing machine. I’m really glad I made this my first new-machine make because it’s bringing me a lot of chilly winter joy. In fact, it helps me dance a little bit, and a little dance step can always help lift the energy to brave new projects.
Plus it works really well with a pair of animal print boots, some extra silver and a splash of red lippy too. See you by the fire in the pub!
[Pink woven label by Kylie and the Machine]
