sewing

Denim Vest


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I pattern tested Itch to Stitch’s latest release the Envigado Vest. This is an anorak style vest with lots of details and an optional hood.

It makes for a great transitional layering piece as we head into Spring. I wear mine around the house a lot when I get cold or need more pockets!

As with most ITS patterns this one is cup sized. Yay! I made a straight DD with no adjustments but it has princess seams if you need to customize fit. The pattern doesn’t use much fabric but you do need a fair amount of hardware. I had a Closet Case Patterns Kelly Anorak hardware kit in my stash and I used that for my snaps, grommets and and drawstring endcaps. I love hardware kits. 🙂

The Envigado Vest is on sale for it’s launch week for $9.60.

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Aveiro Cardi


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Itch to Stitch just released the new Aveiro Cardigan and it’s perfect for Fall!  This cardigan has tons of options for bodice lengths and sleeves so its incredibly versatile.  There is a 20% off launch sale going on on now, too.

I was a pattern tester for Aveiro and I was holding on to this fabric to make a short Helen’s Closet Blackwood but I dig the neckline on Aveiro so much that I used it to test. This is the regular length with the Long Cuff sleeves.

This was super quick sew! It’s maybe 5 or 6 pattern pieces. The only issue I had with construction is that the front band is interfaced but needs to stretch and my interfacing wasn’t stretching enough!

Pattern: Itch to Stitch Aveiro Cardigan
Fabric: Telio Topaz Hatchi Knit in Sapphire

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Tank for the Heatwave


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Itch to Stitch just released the new Chirripo Top and since I was a pattern tester I’ve got some photos to share! It’s also on sale right now.

This top has a flutter sleeve option but I went with the tank since it’s been ridiculously hot in Portland. When I do pattern testing I try to use stash fabrics so this was a Nicole Miller print from Joann’s that I’ve had for years. The top is a very quick and easy make with cup sizes so no adjustments! The construction is pretty interesting, using an interfaced side panel for the under arm to give it a clean finish. I also really liked the shaping in the yoke. I’ve made other tops that basically has a very flat yoke that gapes, but this one is contoured.

The only thing I don’t like about it is that it sometimes the center bodice below the yoke falls into my cleavage but I think that’s more of a factor of how I gathered it and the fabric choice.

Visby Striped Raglan Top


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Itch to Stitch’s latest pattern is the Visby top. This is a super versatile pattern that has options for a quick-to-make raglan top, a henley, or a hooded henley.  Plus it’s on sale for launch week! As a pattern tester for Visby, I made View B the raglan top.

I have had this striped double knit fabric from Hart’s Fabric in my stash since the fall, but I hadn’t found the right project for it until Visby! This denim-y blue fabric has wide stripes one side and fine stripes on the other that are also toned due to the large stripes. So it was perfect to make a raglan top! I used the fine striped side for the body and neckline and the wide striped side for the sleeves and cuffs.

With just 4 pattern pieces, View B is a quick make. I think it was about 3 hours from when I clicked print to when I finished the hem. A few notes on this pattern… First check the sleeve length. It’s intentionally pretty long. I had limited fabric and I took about 4″ out of the sleeve length to fit it on my fabric and they hit me just above my wrists. I like raglans with 3/4 sleeves so I will mostly wear this with the sleeves pushed up. The body is also a bit longer than you might expect. I like the length though!  I really like the deep cuffs on this too.

I definitely think, for me, this is a superior pattern to the Hey June Lane Raglan. The poor grading on the larger sizes of the Lane result in a ridiculously big neckline. It practically falls off my shoulders! While I had thought about fixing it, I think I’ll just stick with making Visbys.

Once I find the right fabric, I’m definitely going to make the henley version as I love henley!  Someone also mentioned that this would be a great rashguard too! I could also see this in a technical fabric as layering piece for hiking or snowboarding. I love patterns with many uses.

Black Black Blackwood Cardigan


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I have a huge backlog of projects from 2017 that I never photographed or blogged. Here’s the first one! Early in the fall I made a Helen’s Closet Blackwood Cardigan. The fabric is a rib knit from Joann.

This is a great layering piece that I wear to work ALL THE TIME! I need more. I have some fabric to make the short version and it sews up so quick that I have no excuse for not making it already!

I’m also wearing my Springfield cami hack which I posted to instagram and never blogged. I don’t wear it much because the color is not great for me and I don’t have a bra that works well with it. I’m also noticing in these photos that you can see the facing hem across my bust so I need to lower that next time!