The Monthly Stitch Challenge in February was “Miss Bossy” telling us what solid colour we must sew up. Miss Bossy’s commands for me were: yellow (which makes me look like the walking dead!), blue (which I love), or RED (which I really love). So lucky me, Miss Bossy was surprisingly kind and told me I had to sew up RED in February!
The MAGAM Challenge in February was to “Frankenpattern” something for yourself! Again, lucky me, I have had the perfect Frankenpattern idea in sitting in my pretty little head for a while now.
I wanted another knit cardigan like my blue one posted here, but I wanted it in RED (using my crepe knit in my stash) and I wanted to use view E and D of my Butterick B5789 pattern, specifically I wanted to use one side front of view E and one side front of view D.
The pattern pieces for the fronts were not too much different, one had a larger flap with a rounded neckline, which I later cut straight across.
This is the tracing of the two fronts combined. I straightened the neck line out even more as I was sewing the cardigan up. It just didn’t feel right as is. I ended up with one front piece as is and one with a large flap attached to it. Oh yes, I also deliberately used the wrong side of my fabric. I remember someone saying that if the right side and the wrong side looked the same, then who cares what side you use. Well the wrong side was slightly different. It had little lines in the fabric, not smooth like the right side, so it had a nice texture and feel to it that I preferred.
The shoulder seams were sewn with double fold bias tape. I didn’t want any stretching over time at the shoulders and it made the insides look nicer. The sleeves were sewn in and the side seams were sewn up.
Now when it can to the band pieces, the bottom hem band was made longer on one side to run up to my shoulder, following the curve of the extra flap, and it was gradually tapered to half the width. The neckline band was the right length but I made it gradually taper to half the width at my one shoulder too. I couldn’t imagine having such a wide band on both edges running up to and across to my shoulder.
My fabric was light weight so I interfaced one side of all the band facings.
I under stitched all the band facings too.
This stops the seam from rolling to the right side of the fabric. Just open out your facing, iron your seam allowances to one side (you can trim the lower seam allowance if it is too thick), and stitch them down close to your seam. I used my 1/4″ seam foot as I wanted a perfectly straight stitching line in case my cardigan opened up and my under stitching became visible.
This is the inside of my cardigan with the neck facing band attached on the view E side.
This is the inside of my cardigan with the view D side shown. It might be difficult to see but the bands are 1/2 the width of the other side.
Finished cardigan, view E side!
Finished cardigan, view D side!
I have spread out the flap fully to show you how big it is, but when I wear it, I don’t have to spread it out like this – I could pin it loosely with a nice drape from shoulder to shoulder or I could just leave it to hang as the fabric does have a nice drape.
Finished cardigan on me!
You are not going to see my hair today as it is kind of wild-looking! I do love this RED!
Back of cardigan. I never noticed how long it was when I was making it… concentrating on the front pieces, I guess!
Oops! there’s me. Bad hair day and all.
Don’t you just love this weather? I heard on the news there was a fellow in Boston that had started up a web site to sell the snow that has fallen in copious amounts in his front yard. Of course, by the time it arrived at your home it was melted and was nothing but a bottle of water. Somebody is making off like a clever bandit with the loot! If we ever get snow here (knock on wood!), I will be sure to post a photo of it! How’s your weather been this winter?
Well I must go. There is a treadmill in the other room calling out my name. Then back to sewing my jeans tonight!
Happy Sewing!
You’re looking good, sister!
Thank you!
it looks great on you.
Thank you!
Gorgeous! Red is a great colour on you (thank god you didn’t get stuck with yellow!)
I know right! I have never had yellow up to my face since the time I tried it on in the store change room and almost died! Therefore… The walking dead!
Very cute! I love red too. I will have to try this pattern.
I liked sewing it up! It wasn’t too difficult and it is very comfortable!
Good to know.
What a cool idea! The red looks great on you. My favorite view is “D”.
This pattern certainly has lots of choices!
What a clever mash-up! I love it.
Thank you!
Looks fab – inside and out! Red suits you, nice one ✂️😀✂️
Thank you!
Lovely choice of fabric – it drapes really nicely. I’ve clocked the cute dragonfly brooch too (I have a little obsession with brooches!)
Thank you! I don’t have many brooches, but this and another are my favourites!
Great idea combining the two different front bits, I never would have through of that! The drape is absolutely beautiful, it looks great!
Thanks! It’s pretty easy to do when you are using only one pattern, the pieces fit quite nicely!
This is such a lovely vibrant red – it really suits you! I love draped cardigans like this
Louise
Thank you! I like to have the extra layer just in case the office gets drafty!
Lovely colour on you: Miss Bossy knows her stuff! Looks like a great, useful piece too 🙂
Thank you! I must say I did enjoy this Challenge immensely!
Beautiful drape and colour, it really suits you!
Thank you! I wish I had more of this fabric, perhaps a blue?
WOW! That’s simply BEAUTIFUL and I love the COLOR!!
Thank you!
I think a red cardigan is more useful than black. I heart red too!
Very cool! The color is fab and I love the drape of the neckline/front. Looks like doing what you were told worked out, LOL!
Ya, THIS time! 😄 I don’t usually take “being told what to do” well!
I think this is the first red article I have seen on you and it really is very flattering. Nice detail work with the interfacing and bias tape! 🙂
Thank you!
It turned out beautiful inside and out! Nice blog post, lots of juicy details. Your asymmetric has great balance you wouldn’t want it any shorter at the back or it wouldn’t have as nice a drape all around. And your hair look good too- I’m a professional;) lol you should see my hair on my days off- sad:(
You are right about the length. I wore it to work today and it was all round comfortable. Thank you for the compliments and the comment!
Lovely cardigan, it drapes beautifully and the colour is perfect, now I want a red cardigan too!!
Well it’s a good pattern, and there are lots out there too! Post if you do one too!
I actually have the Julia Cardigan and would love to make it some time soon 🙂 sorry for the misspelling above, I meant it drapes beautifully.
Well you will have to blog about it! Don’t worry about the typo. I type “sewist” and it never comes out right! (Maybe I can fix it anyway?)
Wow! Nice work!
You mentioned a red cardigan in a comment, so this is how it turned out. Really nice to see!
Thanks!
Looks beautiful! I love that pattern but have only made view D. It’s a good one, but may try your approach next time. Nice job!
Thanks! This is the first time I have mixed and matched. I’m getting braver! 😄