Sunday 25 January 2015

Wonders happen overnight ... sometimes!

I must say that I've never done this before ... cut and sewn a new garment, literally overnight! (no sewing fairies were available during the making of this edition, due to holidays)

So I might have made a new #JennaCardi after work today - just coz #stashbusting #sewcialist

I think it was Wednesday evening, when I arrived home from work I was at a bit of a loss ... I didn't have to cook dinner and kids were all taken care of, so that just left me and my sewing corner :-) But I couldn't carry on with my current labour of love (B5882) because it needed a fitting and the body needed for said fitting wasn't home.  What to do???  Pull out a quick and easy project on the to do list, of course!

This is the Jenna Cardi that I first made back in September and have worn endlessly ever since. The cropped version with long sleeves is spot on for me.

Chevron Jenna


It sits bang on my waist and is perfect for wearing with just about everything in my wardrobe, but it works well with a dress.

Chevron Jenna

I hadn't transferred any of the adjustments from my first cardi over to the pattern, so first things first I made the following changes to the original size 36 I'd traced off:
  • shaved 1/4" off the shoulder seam, at the sleeve edge, blending into the curve of the armscye about half way down.
  • removed 1" from the length of the sleeve
  • added 1" to the length of the sleeve cuff - just cause I prefer a deep cuff.
  • removed 1" from the sleeve cuff pattern piece, reducing the circumference of the cuff by 2".
  • removed 1" from each side of the sleeve hem, tapering to zero about 2" below the underarm, providing me with a more fitting sleeve - again personal preference.

Chevron Jenna

The fabric was maturing in the cupboard... the sold black is merino (not the best btw) that I picked up from the Arthur Toye closing down sale for $15 p/m.  At the time I thought it was a bargain, but when I got it home to discover that it was all off grain and with a few flaws, well it then wasn't such a bargain!

I ignored the selvage matching and just tried to lay the fabric out on-grain as much as I could.  That seemed to work pretty well because it doesn't feel 'all wiggly' when I wear it.

The chevron is a poly knit that I previously used to make an Ensis Tee (that I don't wear that often because the cuffs are too tight and I can't be assed fixing them).

Chevron Jenna

The chevrons!!!  I cut both front pieces on a single layer so I could match the chevrons exactly where I wanted - and I'm pretty darn happy with dem chevrons :-)  I'm pretty much floating away on the happy matching cloud right now!

I'll leave you with more photos on my Flickr while I revel in this happy sewing high...



16 comments:

  1. I love this cardigan! The wide waistband is super flattering. Someties quick projects really are the best!

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    1. Thanks Lisa. It's great when I can just sit and sew, it doesn't happen very often.

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  2. This one looks so flattering on you . I did not realize the potential it had when I had seen the pics of this release. Lovely

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    1. I agree, it wasn't until I made my first one did I really start thinking about variations I could put together. It's also doesn't require that much fabric so you could use left overs to create something really interesting.

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  3. I love that cardigan! I will have to check out that pattern.

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    1. Thanks! It's a great pattern with so many variation options to suit your personal style. Well worth the investment.

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  4. I may have to purchase this pattern , based on you successes! I live the chevrons and the black arms and trim.

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    1. This is a great pattern Andrea, I'm sure you will love sewing it and making a cardi for every occasion :-) I feel I'm gonna make a few of these!

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  5. Love it. You are getting great value out of the pattern. It may be the one extra pattern I buy this winter.

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    1. Thanks Gail. I'm also wondering what it would be like made out of a thicker jersey knit?? Both times I've made it with merino which is really staple and great to sew with.

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  6. Nice. I have this pattern and must get around to making it.

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  7. I am just skimming the pictures because I have more than 100 posts in my feed, but I really like your cardi! It looks like a nice pattern. And a black-and-white chevron is always a winner in my book! Great - and speady- make!

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    1. Thanks Wendy :-) I am super happy with this one, and it's such a great pattern.

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