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Sweater Hack!
If you know anything about my sewing style,
you know that I love a great pattern hack!
This time I hacked
Butterick 6244! I found a medium weight navy sweater knit at Joann's a few weeks before I went to the Houston International Quilt Festival last month. Due to the changing weather in Chicago, I knew I needed something warm to wear while traveling - and I did not want to lug a full coat!
I was looking for denim for a totally different garment! But when I saw this fabric, I forgot about the denim, because I knew this sweater knit would be perfect for transitioning from the Chicago cold to the cold aircraft to Houston (which was not as warm as it was last year). The waterfall front was perfect for wrapping myself in this warm knit!
The pattern is designed to be longer in the front than in the back (a look I don't like for myself). Sew... I reversed it and made the back longer and made it curved it vs. leaving it straight. I love the resulting feminine look of the back!
I also hacked the waterfall shape of the front - I wanted soft edges vs sharp angles! I jokingly told the ladies in my
FaceBook Group that I did 8000 fittings. It certainly felt like that, but I am more than happy with the front shaping!
Now that all the fittings are done - I now have a new pattern that I can make again. Oh yes, I make and keep copies of most of my hacks!
I completed most of the construction on my serger. I set my differential feed to 2.0 for the entire construction. Even though my current compulsion is bias binding finishes, I finished the edges on the serger by decreasing the stitch length - that gave the edges full coverage. I opted to turn the sleeves up 3/4" and top-stitched them.
I think this is a very versatile piece! It can be dressed up or down! And it is now one of my staple pieces! I received quite a few compliments in both the O'hare and Houston Airports! A Supervisor at the Houston Airport has actually commissioned me to make one for her!
A young design student in the Houston airport asked me to take it off so she could see the inside...I happily obliged! She REALLY examined it! I enjoyed watching her turn it inside and out and back inside again. The entire time she was examining it, I could not help but think of what I often say to my students and other sewists...our me-made garments need to look as good on the inside as they do on the outside!
Are you making cardigans or dusters this season? My next
Online Sewing Course will be a cardigan - which can be lengthened to a duster...with pockets! It will be available this month. You can purchase the stand alone course or you can opt to purchase the 6 month membership, which includes all 6 courses regardless of when you join!
My classes include bonus videos for those who purchase the membership program. This month the bonus videos will be about pockets...with a free pattern!
Happy Endless Sewing!
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