Pink Zip-neck Jumper

I'm very excited to write about this make because I love it so, so much! It's basically the jumper that I've had on my mind for at least two years now, and I've finally managed to make a version that's just right. 

If this jumper looks familiar, it's because it kind of is. Back at the start of this year I made myself this jumper out of the same pink fabric. I liked the style of the jumper but I just didn't really like the end result, the main reason being that the zip insertion looked a bit strange. I tried wearing that top a few times but I just wasn't really happy with it, so it stayed in my wardrobe. A few weeks ago, I decided that as I wasn't wearing the top at all I might as well pick it apart and try and remake it. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it any better, but I thought it was worth a try.

I'm so happy I gave it another go because this version turned out so well! Luckily I had a bit of fabric leftover which, combined with the pieces I got from unpicking the old jumper, was just enough to remake it. Because I had less fabric to work with I had to change the style a bit, so this jumper isn't as loose as the other one but I definitely prefer this look. The main thing that I knew had to change was the neck because that's what was bothering me about the first jumper. So for this one, the zip is inserted into a turtleneck style top which worked so much better than the collar of the other one. I thought this would be a better technique after the success of my zip-neck Freya top, and it is definitely lying more flat.

After the neck, I didn't really have enough fabric to make any major changes. In changing from a normal shoulder to a raglan sleeve top I ended up using a lot of fabric on the sleeves and was slightly worried there wouldn't be enough. To get around this I added in a seam halfway down the sleeve. I then chose to replicate the added seam effect by putting in another seam down the centre of the lower half of the sleeve - I cannot emphasise enough how much I love this detail! The gathered sleeves on the first top were a really nice feature so I'm glad I didn't have to lose the statement sleeves. Topstitched seams also show up so well with this fabric.

My main focus on this top was the neckline, and I'm very pleased with how smoothly the zip went it. I tend to wear this top with the zip partially undone but it looks really nice done up too for a cosier feel. This fabric so soft and cosy, like the fabric for this jumper it's a fleece-backed sweatshirt which is perfect for this time of year. 

I'm so happy with this make, I feel like it's a style I've been wanting to create for ages and now that I've finally cracked it I can make lots more. I'd definitely like to make a plain black version with a contrast zip. To finish off this jumper I added a hem band, I had just enough fabric left and I think it's the perfect finish. Once again I was able to add topstitching to tie it all together.

Handmade Forest Green Jumper

I've liked the colour forest green for so long that it seems crazy to me that this is the first item of clothing that I own in that colour. It wasn't hard choosing this fabric from the Minerva website as it's exactly the colour that I had in mind and I love cotton jersey. Deciding what to make out of the fabric once it arrived proved to be a much harder decision as I think it would have looked good as pretty much any style of top.

In the end, I decided to make a jumper - it's such a great item of loungewear. Because it's new it feels more put together than a hoodie, but it's also really comfy. I'm living in joggers at the moment but I think it will look really nice worn with jeans too in the autumn/winter months. I made the jumper really oversized with dropped shoulders, adding to the comfort. Cotton jersey isn't really typical for jumpers so I added cuffs to make it look less like a top, a hem-band would also reinforce this although I just left the hem raw. I like how the raw hem rolls up and it's obviously a really quick and easy finish.

To finish off the top, I added an Eiffel Tower patch to it. I thought the plain top needed a little something extra and this was the perfect addition. You may recognise the patch from a top that I made a few years ago - this simple grey t-shirt. I wore that top so much and was really disappointed when it no longer fit, but I'm glad that I got to reuse the patch. I bought it on my first trip to Frou-Frou in Paris.

You can head over to my profile on the new Minerva website to read more

Handmade Boxy Placket Collar Jumper

 

My goal when it comes to making clothes is always to make something wearable. For me, that's pieces like joggers, trousers, t-shirts and jumpers. Wearable doesn't have to mean boring though, and I am a big fan of making basic garments with a twist. This jumper is the perfect combination of something easy to wear, but with interesting design details that made sewing it enjoyable.

I love sewing with stretch fabrics and I wear plain fabrics the most, so this grey French Terry from Bobbins and Buttons was the perfect fabric! I own quite a few grey jumpers already but they are definitely my most worn items of clothing, especially at this time of year. I know from personal experience that sewing t-shirts and dresses in the Autumn and Winter is not fun because they can't be worn for ages, so my sewing at this time of year tends to gravitate quite heavily towards jumpers! For this project, I was able to create something that I've had in my mind for a while. I really like the look of jumpers with placket collars and I wanted to try and make one, it's a style that I can see myself wearing a lot. 

The jumper definitely turned out quite oversized and boxy, but it was the look I was going for and I think the proportions work well together. It also makes it really comfy to wear! The sleeves are wide at the top but taper down to the cuff so they don't get in the way. Although I made my jumper cropped and boxy you could definitely add a placket collar to a more fitted jumper and I've recently made a placket t-shirt.

In order to add a placket collar like this one onto an existing jumper pattern, you'd need to create a collar that fits around the circumference of the neckline. Alternatively, you could keep the neckband and just add in a placket. I've made several placket tops (I'm not sure why, I just really like them!) and have found this tutorial to be really helpful. With this jumper, I veered off track slightly and was worried the placket had gone completely wrong but the next day was able to come back and rectify it. A lighter-weight knit like a French Terry is a good fabric to use when sewing details like a placket as it's fairly forgiving and not too bulky.

As a last-minute decision, I decided to add some jazzy cuffs! I bought this Albstoffe cuff ribbing so long ago and never seemed to find the right project for it. I wasn't sure if I should add it this jumper in case it limited what I could wear it with, but I'm so pleased I did! I love the pop of colour and it makes this jumper feel so much more special. Cuffing fabrics are quite hard to come by, but Bobbins and Buttons have two lovely navy versions here and here which I really like.

I'm really pleased with how this jumper turned out, it definitely fits the vision I had in mind. I also love making things that I know I'll get a lot of wear out of. The combination of this jumper with the black joggers I made recently is the ultimate comfy loungewear outfit!