Saturday, February 1, 2014

Simplicity 1668

I love cardigans.  You may have noticed that already!  So when I saw Simplicity 1668, a summer wardrobe pattern , I thought that I would give the cardigan a try.  Now I know you are thinking 'summer wardrobe'?  IN the middle of a Northern Hemisphere Winter.  Seriously?  But it really does make sense.  I work in an office that has pretty good heating, so a cotton cardigan would go down a treat.  Fortunately I had some fabric left over from this previous cardigan:


The fabric is a great cotton jersey with a rib pattern.  Lovely and soft and washes well.  So this is what I made:


I really must check out my clothes before taking pics.  My Sorbetto looks all skew-whiff.  Doh!  


This top has dolman sleeves, and that adds to the bunching up of fabric under the arms, but as it is part of the design, I'm OK with that.


I really like the collar on this, as I have questionable posture in my upper back, and rounded shoulders, I find that this type of neckline/collar covers that up rather nicely.  I also like how the front bands fold back nice and flat.  I used some Palmer Pletsch interfacing and I think it has given just the right amount of support.


This is a really quick sew which only uses three pattern pieces - front, back and collar. Which means that it sews up very quickly indeed.  I should mention that there is a centre back seam which is great if you need to do any adjustments. I have reviewed the top on Pattern Review here. I will probably make more of these as it is so quick and easy, but I do prefer the sleeves from McCalls 6169, so I may morph the two patterns together.

Of course, as this is a cotton top, it feels lovely against the skin and I have already worn it once to work.  Which brings me onto an issue that I have come across with some of the other cardigans I have made that I mentioned above.  I used some lovely Ponte de Roma, the lighter weight version, from my local Fabricland.  The colors are deep and saturated and I bought quite a few colors - red, blue, green, cream etc.,etc.,  Now this was not cheap fabric, about $18/m that I picked up half price (OK, so that makes it quite cheap!) but after only a couple of wears, the garments are pilling.  Urgh.  I am so disappointed.  It is a real shame as the fabric sews up so nicely, but I guessing that the poy/rayon mix just isn't as good as it could be.  So guess what??????  I have purchased some cotton and cotton/lycra jersey to make a couple of new McCalls 6169!  Woohoo!  The fabric is washed and dried and I will be cutting it out this weekend!

Oh, I took the photos in my great room today, rather than the en-suite.  It seems a little strange staring at the bathroom door when I take the photos in the en-suite!  Only issue with the great room is the light streaming in through the windows washed me out a bit so I had to juggle with the brightness a little.

How is your sewing coming along in this second month of this new year?

19 comments :

  1. Very nice addition to your wardrobe. Love the lapels

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank-you! I am really pleased with how well they lay!

      Delete
  2. Your cardigan is lovely. Sorry to read about your Ponte de Roma, I also had the same pilling experience with that fabric from Fabricland. Now anything with rayon or the rayon family is on my avoid list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's interesting Graca - I have been OK with linen/rayon and rayon/poly for suiting, but I will certainly be paying closer attention in the future!

      Delete
  3. The cardigan looks so nice on you. If I was ever in need of a cardigan, this is the pattern I would use, love those lapels.

    What a shame about that Ponte, I saw that when it first came in. I wanted the black but didn't buy any, and when I went back to get some, all the black was gone. Now I'm relieved. Thank you for making me feel better about not getting any. 8-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy to have been your guinea pig! I am going to do some research and try and find something similar that has a high cotton content - perhaps an interlock?

      Delete
  4. Very flattering on you! And I love the lapels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank-you! I do like a collar, and the lapels are fun!

      Delete
  5. I have noticed that you enjoy cardigans ;) the color of this one is especially pretty on you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks - I find cardis so versatile . . . .and quick and easy to make!

      Delete
  6. Great looking cardigan jacket. Love the collar and lapels. Color looks beautiful on you even with your photo fiddling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank-you! The cotton jersey feels so lovely against my skin as well, so it is an all round win!

      Delete
  7. love this cardigan too.. Looks great on you.. So sorry about your fabric piling.. That is so discouraging, after paying so much for it..
    I love both the cardigan patterns.
    [So proud you let me know ,that I had found the singer plus wardrobe sewing book on your sight.. I could not remember where I had read about it. but I went straight to Amazon and bought it.. Love it.. thank you so much for sharing it with me]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome - I am rather thrilled that you like the book as well!

      Delete
  8. I really like this on you.The colour is gorgeous and the length really suits you.Oh my.Finally someone else has the same problem with the Fabricland/Fabricville ponte knit.I did the exact same thing a couple of years ago and loaded up on the stuff only to find it pilled awfully. Now, i only use it for muslins.So disappointing isn't it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Urgh - I feel for you with the ponte. It seems such a waste to use it for a muslin, but really, that is all it is good for. I guess it would make a good wearable muslin if you wanted a couple of wears out of it. I wonder if the heavier weight was the same? Oh well, I should know to stick to natural fabrics and keep away from the poly (I am blaming that!!)

      Delete
  9. Lovely sweater/jackets--so very flattering! I have to pipe in re: the Ponte. Here in Outer Mongolia, of all places, I get fabulous Ponte from Italy--for approx $5 USD per very wide meter!!! And it never ever pills! In fact, I have a suitcase stuffed with as we speak and heading to airport in a bit to return to US as it's so hard to find the good stuff there. Anyone have some good sources?

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is a fabulous cardigan. I love it on you - I'm sure you will make a million more in every color! it's great!! g

    ReplyDelete
  11. That is so cute! It looks great on you. I think those short cardies are workhorses of a wardrobe. It is disappointing that the Ponte is starting to pill. I hear that if you try to get Ponte that has more Rayon than Poly that pilling is decreased. Don't know if that is true. ~Teri

    ReplyDelete

Thank-you for taking the time out to leave a comment - it is much appreciated!

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.