Fluffy Box March 2017 -Cocoon Cardigan

Fluffy Box

I think I should start by explaining what a Fluffy Box is. Last Christmas I gave a family member a small filing box with some handmade items inside. She then returns it to me and then I put new items and give them to her the next month.

Merida added the description to the side

• Recipient: Merida (not her real name)
• Age: 22
• Size Range: XS-M
• Favourite Colour: Green
• Likes: Beluga whales, fluffy things
• Style: modest, athletic, girly, comfortable

I felt pretty good about the Cocoon Cardigan by Patterns for Pirates that I had made myself so I decided to repeat it for Merida.

The fabric was an unknown from Fabricland that I picked up on Boxing day. It resembles a double brushed poly but I’m not completely sure. It had about 40% 2way stretch.

Merida fits the measurements for the XS in the bust and a S for the waist and hips so I graded the pattern out. This pattern fits very loose because her size fit better than the M-L that I made for myself.

I find that taping the print out sheets to the window is the easiest way to tape the pattern together. My printer tray is not the best so the pieces are always slightly off. I have to do some guesswork with placement but it hasn’t caused problems yet.

 

My pattern weights are the cutest! I use some clay owls that I made in an adult art class. The cutting took a few hours. I’m very careful about lining up stripes and I work slowly. I like to watch documentaries on YouTube while I’m cutting. I decided to do some colour blocking on the sleeves and add elbow patches. The pattern says to use two layers for the elbow patches and then invert but I tried that before and it was too thick. Instead, I used a fabric that wasn’t going to fray and just did a zig zag stitch to attach them.

The construction of this pattern is very straight forward the second time around. This was my first try. You probably noticed that my pins are the ‘wrong’ way for using a serger. I like this way better and I’m super careful about removing them as I go. I’ve only run over one. It put a nasty chip in my knife. I replaced the knives just the other day so I am good to go now.

 

Here is the final result on me. I was surprised it fit so well considering it is smaller. I seriously considered keeping it for myself!

Hacci Knits from West Coast Fabric Boutique

I got fluffy mail!!!!

These Are Hacci sweater knits that I snagged at 20% off from West Coast Fabric Boutique. It worked out to a little over $10/yard. The picture of the black is not great but it has flecks of grey/black in it. They arrived FAST!! I’m planning to make a Pumpkin Spice Dolman with the mint pattern. The black is going to be the lining of a Carefree Cardigan and part of a henley for my husband.

They are in the wash as I type this. Can’t wait.

Cocoon Cardigan- Ugly Fabric Challenge Round 1

A couple weeks ago I purchased a striped sweater knit from the clearance rack of my local Fabricland. I was more excited about finding a cheap knit with good 2-way stretch than I was about the pattern. So I have decided to use it for my first Ugly Fabric Challenge.

The subject:

• Purple/Gross Yellow Sweater Knit
• 2 metres
• Unknown Fibre (Probably Polyester)
• 2-way stretch
• $6.00/metre at Fabricland
• Approximately 60″wide
• Significant  imperfections in the first 6″ of the selvage edge

This was the perfect material to try a pattern on my wish list: the Cocoon Cardigan by Patterns for Pirates. The pattern has several options. I went with tunic length, long sleeves and short bands.

As usual, my measurements fell in-between several sizes.

I printed pattern with the M and L lines visible and graded the pattern out below the bust. In hindsight I probably should have just went with the M size all round. It’s a bit looser than I usually wear but it fits beautifully in the shoulders.

The trick is to do this before the light goes away.

The instructions were fairly straight forward and the construction went smoothly. Actually, it went too smooth because I didn’t run up against anything that made me think to take a picture. I did choose to some colour blocking in the sleeves with a plain white knit. (I actually didn’t want to attempt to do strip matching with a dolman sleeve.)

And… the big reveal!!!!

Pockets!!!!

I made some adjustments to the sleeves to allow for colour blocking.

So did I succeed in overcoming the obstacle of ugly fabric?

The Good:

• Shoulders fit is great.
• I’d wear it out of the house.
• Fabric feels really comfortable and has good drape.

The Bad

• Stripe matching was difficult due to wavy lines.
• I still have roughly 0.5m of fabric to use up with something else.

The Ugly

• That yellow.