My newest make is a Fibremood crossover collar sweater in the same chunky knit I used for my Nikki sweaters. This is the Griselda sweater from issue 31, the latest magazine from Fibremood. Along with several other sewists, I could choose a new design from issue 31 to make up and was given the pattern free of charge. As I mentioned before, I only ever join in if there’s an option that already aligns with my plans and as luck would have it this olive green chunky knit was already on my ‘to sew up into a sweater’ list.
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As soon as I saw Griselda I was interested in the lovely crossover neckline and the not-too-oversized shape of this pattern. It also looks like my fabric is a very similar knit to the Fibremood example. Having made up this particular chunky knit before, I knew that it had a tendency to grow a bit in width so after looking at the size charts I chose a size small. A medium may have been ok but I’m really happy with the fit of my finished sweater. PS, I got my fabric from Pound Fabrics
There’s not a lot to say about the pattern itself. I found the instructions to be great and the drafting good. Overall it’s a lovely project to sew and I recommend it. I would love to sew another! I have one little thing to point out though and it’s about the collar construction. The pattern suggests that you add a knit binding/facing on collar edges if using a very chunky knit like mine, or if you use a lighter-weight knit, to make it double. I did something in-between and lined my whole collar with some lightweight merino jersey and it worked a treat. So I recommend that as an option too 🙂
Minor adjustments that I made to the fit were to add 1″ to the sleeve length and narrow them down at the wrist, adjust the shoulder seams to suit my forward-rolling shoulders and take some off the body length making it more cropped as that’s how I like my sweaters.
By the way, if you want to hear about how I tackle sewing this very chunky knit fabric while avoiding stretched-out seams may I suggest you read this post that explains my techniques.
I loved sewing this sweater and I couldn’t be more pleased with it. The collar is sitting a little higher up my neck than the Fibremood example and that may be partly to do with my very square shoulders and partly due to me sizing down a little. However, I love it like that as it’s even cosier to wear.
In other life news that explains my still very sparse blogging: We finally finished with our recent phase of house renovations and we now have new flooring everywhere apart from the hall and kitchen. It was such an upheaval and I hated having lots of workmen in the house. Oh, and I laid the flooring in my sewing room myself 🙂 though I did overdo it a bit and suffered from backache for a while afterwards despite maintaining good body mechanics as recommended for osteoporosis sufferers.
We’re now giving ourselves a much-needed break from house DIY before making plans for a new kitchen. On top of all that though, we’re in the throws of clearing my late mum’s house out…so many trips to charity shops and recycling/refuse centres! Still, it wouldn’t do to be bored eh?
I hope to be back soon with a make that I sewed a few months back but never got around to posting, so I’ll see you then!
Thanks Diane. As always your stitching skills are very professional. You mentioned this fabric stretches a bit. Do you mean when sewing and wearing it or after washing it? How do you wash and dry it?
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Ohh, thanks Sandra. Well the fabric has only mechanical stretch. It’s a cotton and polyester blend and the ribs naturally just spread out a little as you handle it and wear it. When I cut my top out I let the fabric relax out before cutting into it and that way my chosen size stayed consistent. It washes really well on a short half an hour machine wash at 30degrees. My two other sweaters in the same fabric still look great. I just dry it over an airer or radiator rack, I don’t actually possess a tumble dryer, but I wouldn’t use it on knitwear anyway if I had one.
This is lovey, Diane! Great color. I will read your tips post as I’m not experienced in knits sewing. You sound very busy. Thanks.
I too am having my flooring replaced right now! Congratulations on your progress. My 25 years old engineered wood is failing. We’re on the 2nd half of the project, the first half in July / Aug was tiling the laundry room and foyer, plus total remodel of the primary bath off my bedroom. I have a great contractor. Even so, It is so noisy and disruptive to me and my 2 dogs that I’ve rented an artist Studio about 4 miles away to escape to during the day. I’m now making a wool jacket, Maison Fauve ‘s Cliff pattern, there and getting lots done with minimal interruptions. Also distracts me from the appalling US political news.😊
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Thank you Heather! So glad you like it. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I love the design and how easy it was to sew up.
Oh my, it sounds like you’ve been super busy in your house too. Doesn’t it make you feel unsettled though, and it’s difficult to concentrate on anything else. Good for you for setting up a nice little get away to create in, I bet it was bliss to get in your studio 🙂
I’ve been looking at Maison Fauve patterns lately, there’s a blouse pattern I fancy trying out (perhaps Santa will bring it, hehe). I must look up your jacket pattern
Hi Diane! Your sweater (I thought this would be called a jumper in British English, no?) turned out beautifully. Thank goodness you are excellent at sizing. taking info from using this knit previously, and fitting yourself — a small looks perfect, and still a bit-oversized, which is really in style now.
I didn’t realize that the U.K. seems to have limited electricity like Italy? Dryers are still rare in Italy (my husband is a native) due to expensive electricity and most homes are wired for limited usage. I am not used to ironing as much as I do when we spend time in Italy…
I hope your back has fully recovered from your flooring work!
Similar to you, I have been to our family home in Northern California twice this Fall to begin sorting through my mom’s things, 10 years after her passing… (and hiring a roofer and drywall contractor, AND plumber…). We had just moved from CA to the Midwest when she died, we began building a new home then, as well, so I turned my back on sorting her things.
It is bittersweet work: Mom had many dresses and coat/dress outfits made for her in the 60’s, many in Hong Kong, and some by local CA dressmakers, so the beautiful pieces are really interesting, and worthy of saving as inspiration, and some for learning techniques. I found a poly top and it looked vaguely familiar: inside was my label! I had bound the armscyes and neckline with binding and hand stitched all the raw edges by hand, hand stitched the interfacing along the foldback facing, and catch-stitched the hem… I was really much more proficient as a seamstress in my teens than now! A bit of motivation to just get on with it!
IF we don’t hear from you in the next few,
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!
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Thanks Joan, I’m so pleased you like my jumper (;) ) Yeah, a size small feels perfect for me. I’m glad I listened to my instincts about the sizing of it.
Oh, you misunderstood about the tumble dryer situation…our electricity in the UK is perfectly fine and not at all limited. I just don’t want to own a tumble dryer as I’ve never felt like they are good for the longevity of clothes with all that heat and tumbling around. I just prefer to dry things more carefully. Now dishwashers on the other hand, there’s no way I could be without one of those, lol! I read a post on IG the other day and the person who wrote it said they preferred to dry dishes by hand (no thank you!). Each to their own eh? 🙂
I hope your mum’s house clearing task continues to progress ok. It is bittersweet for sure. Lovely to here about the top you found that you’d sewn though, what a lovely memory.
I’m not sure If I’ll post on here again before the holidays, though I do have photos of a make all ready to go, but I’ll wish you and your family the happiest of times. Always lovely to hear from you x
Thank you, Diane.
I am curious about your drying: all line-dried?
In the States, I tumble dry clothing (mine and hubs) for 15 minutes on DELICATE temp. and then hang: this shakes out almost all wrinkles in cotton knits, and in nylon or poly travel pant type garments. Works for denim and cotton/lycra, too: you re-shape the garment (pull along seams and smooth the fabric), then hang to dry.
Socks and undergarments are hung on a rack to finish drying (to avoid damaging fabric and lycra)
The only thing I dry 100% is towels. I dislike the hardness of towels and socks when line-dried, so in our new little apartment in Turin/Torino, we installed a washer/dryer all-in-one. It does help to fluff things like towels and socks, and I do the same short and delicate dry approach with it, but it is a bit trickier than a standalone dryer.
So in the U.S., I only iron pillowcases, shirts, tailored items, for the most part. All the (many) Europeans I know are somewhat proud of their ironing skills, and have lots of ways to do ironing while doing something else (watching tv, etc…)
Of course, when it comes to my garment sewing, I am very thorough about pressing as I sew, and about caring for the garment to decrease wear/tear. I always iron the t-tops I make, even tho I don’t necessarily iron my purchased ones!
Sorry: way too much info!
Happiest Holidays!
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It is very weather dependant if I can line dry (though I notice my neighbour hangs washing out every single day except for if its raining! Even on cold frosty days) so in winter I have little bar-type airers that hook onto radiators at the top and I drape my clothes over those. And I only iron regular every day clothes and pillow cases, and of course my own makes. As for sheets…life is too short I’m sure you would agree, to be ironing them, hehe!
Take care and all the best.
DEFINITELY a NO to ironing sheets! I do have a Greek friend, a professor, who irons sheets by hand 😐
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Yikes, that’s dedication!