V8778 || Scrap-Happy Sweater

Fun with wool and cashmere

Last January, I got really excited about making new sweaters with project scrap remnants and sweaters that I picked up on the cheap at Goodwill (charity shop). While cleaning out my fabric stash (since it IS January again!), I was ready to part with even more scraps and sweaters... enter sweater V8778.

It's like wearing a hug!

Pattern Description: Very loose-fitting, pullover top or unlined jacket has collar, front and back extending into upper sleeves, lower sleeves and stitched hems. Topstitching.

Pattern Sizing: S – XXL

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? You bet!

Were the instructions easy to follow? They are, although I put the sleeves in flat and did most of my sewing on the serger.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? It runs REALLY large. According to pattern sizing, I should have made a large, but after doing some flat pattern measuring, I would have been SWIMMING in that size. Mine is a small in the bust, moving to a medium in the waist/hips.

Fabric Used: Wool and cashmere sweaters and scraps from my stash. The pattern recommends fleece and sweatshirt material, but the hacked up sweaters worked out great!

Pieced under collar (on the right)

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I had to strategically carve up the pattern so that I could use my scraps. Each time I cut a section from the pattern, I had to also add extra seam allowances so that everything would line up. The layout of the project took MUCH longer than the sewing, but the finished product is so cool, I wouldn't change a thing.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might make the zipped version in the future. I've got some red cashmere still in the stash...

Conclusion: This is a warm and cozy sweater that I'm sure I'll be wearing for years. I met Katherine Tilton (and her very inspiring sister, Marci!) at last years' Sewing Expo in Puyallup, WA. I'm considering wearing this sweater to show Katherine at this years' expo. :) Fun!

M6450 || Houndstooth Newsboy Hat

Fun with scraps!

I'm working at stashbusting, and had a couple of different houndstooth fabrics on-hand. On a whim, I picked up M6450 at a $1 pattern sale and decided to play!

This is a fun hat to wear!

 
Pattern Description: Lined hats in head sizes X-Small (20 ¹/2"), Small (21 ¹/2"), Medium (22 ¹/2") and Large (23 ¹/2") Hat B: Contrast crown, band, belt and buttons to cover.  Designed for medium-weight woven fabrics.

Pattern Sizing: XS - L. Mine was a Medium.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it did!

Were the instructions easy to follow? Super easy. I'd never made a hat before, and this was quick and made up in less than a day.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I used up some stashin' scraps. It doesn't take much fabric to make a hat, I've found. 

Side view

Top view (the center button is a little misplaced, but no one else will notice!)

Fabric Used: 100% wool houndstooth fabric. The large format is a boucle, which was challenging to work with (it shreds when cut). The small format was from the Pendleton store.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I didn't have any fusible hair canvas in the stash and used PalmerPletsch Tailor-weight fusible. Were I to make the hat again, I'd def. get my hands on the hair canvas. The hat collapses really easily under the weight of the heavier fabric.

Since I used the large-format (shredding!) fabric for the band, I couldn't stitch it up as the directions ask you to. Instead, I did my best to tuck under the unruly ends, sandwiching them between the layers. It wasn't a perfect solution, but with the addition of a little strategic Fray Check, those darn unruly ends won't continue to shred. 

I also attached the lining to the crown with a couple of invisible stitches so it wouldn't collapse every time I took the hat off.

I didn't buy a button cover kit for this project, and instead covered a stray stash button using this tutorial. I highly recommend it!

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?  I would definitely make this hat again. It was quick and easy and it's CUTE on top of it. I'm considering using more scraps by making the gloves in the pattern kit.

Conclusion: This is a fun hat that I get tons of compliments on when I wear it out. If you like a stylish topper, I highly recommend it!