Catching up on Cardigans

Posting about my latest Star Wars cardigan made me realize that I never blogged this version, either. This is another Cocoon Cardigan - my second, in fact, even though I am blogging about it much later. I found this fabric at JAF as well, but it is one of their Doodles line. I had heard that the fabric didn't have the best recovery, and it definitely doesn't when compared to the cotton-lycra fabrics. But who can resist Christmas paw prints and snowflakes???

It's definitely not my favorite of these cardigans, but I do enjoy wearing it in December/January. And it's nice and cozy, but I don't get too hot when I wear the 3/4 sleeves.

 

STAR WARS CARDIGAN!!!

So three years ago, I finally made my first Cocoon Cardigan, which I'd been planning for some time (but was spurred by the desire to wear a Star Wars cardigan to a wedding). I wear it frequently still! And either just before or just after sewing that cardigan, I bought the fabric for the next one!

This was from JAF, and I believe it is a cotton-lycra type fabric. Very stretchy, and a lot of drape. The background is actually navy (it looks almost like faded black in this pic!), and those are Star Wars designs in constellations.

A picture of it all spread out. I made this exactly the same way as I did the maroon Star Wars cardigan, and my modifications are well described in that post.

And the obligatory but not very helpful picture on me. ;)
 

A new cardigan

Another one that is finally getting blogged months after finishing. This was another Butterfly Cardigan for my niece, with a sort of matching cardigan for her doll. My niece loved the first one I made her and had asked for more, so this is now her third of these cardigans.

The fabric is a thin knit that's been in my stash for quite some time. I think I used some to make a T-shirt for one of the Things, or maybe I just was going to. Don't remember for sure. I definitely was annoyed with this fabric throughout the making, but it sure looks cute when done! This went to her as part of her Christmas gift.

Finally....the Star Wars Cardigan

The Star Wars cardigan that has been mentioned but never before pictured!

The fabric was a JAF purchase - on sale, naturally. The pattern is the Cocoon Cardigan, from Patterns for Pirates. I sewed this for a wedding held on May the Fourth. (May the Fourth be with you?) This is tunic length with three-quarter sleeves and short bands. I wasn't going to add the patch pockets - I was under deadline - but pockets are life! So I took the extra time and was really glad I did!

The pattern doesn't call for stabilizing the shoulder seams, but I was concerned about growth because of how stretchy the fabric is. So I cut strips of rib knit against the grain and used that to stabilize the shoulders. I did the same just behind the topstitching to anchor the pockets in place, then I cut them away near the stitching. It adds virtually no bulk but helps give more strength to the pocket attachment. And I added short "cuffs" instead of hemming the sleeves.

I plan to make more - I have two fabrics waiting for time. One is another Star Wars knit, and another is a Christmas paw print knit.....maybe I'll get that one sewn up over the holidays!

More cardigans!

So my niece loved her cardigan prototype! And she wanted more. So what's an aunt to do but oblige? I had this knit print that I picked up somewhere, and it yielded enough for one cardigan for my niece (size 10 - the 8 fit her perfectly so I wanted some growth room), one cardigan for a friend's daughter (not pictured but identical except a size 2T), and one doll cardigan (pattern).

I went with the same pattern options as before - patch pockets, tunic length, short bands, and three-quarter sleeves. I used a rib knit cut against the grain to stabilize the shoulders and just behind the top of the pockets. And I added bands instead of hemming the sleeves. Way too lazy for that!

No changes to the pattern for the doll cardigan!

These are going in the box for her birthday present - I hope she loves them just as much as the last ones!

Cocoon Cardigan

I mentioned the Star Wars cardigan I made for myself when I blogged about my niece's cardigan.  Well, this is another one from that pattern, Cocoon Cardigan from Patterns for Pirates.  I bought the knit Tardis fabric at JAF quite a long time ago, with intent of making this cardigan for a friend who's a die-hard Whovian.

I got Thing 2 to model it for me for pics.  It's not his usual style (well, maybe - when combined with PJ pants!), but he looks pretty dapper! ;)

This is size S, with the short bands and 3/4 sleeves.  I did add the patch pockets, and I also added short bands to the sleeves to avoid having to hem them.

I hated sewing with this fabric, but I love how it feels and looks.  And my friend loved it, which is what's important!

Cardigans!

So I made myself a Star Wars cardigan a year ago (never blogged it, apparently) using the pattern Cocoon Cardigan from Patterns for Pirates.  It's super comfy - and it even has optional pockets!  And there's a girls' sized pattern, too - the Butterfly Cardigan.  So naturally I thought my niece needed a cardigan or twenty.  This is the first prototype, to see whether she likes it and how the sizing is for her.  I found this fabric at JAF - pretty sure it happened to be on sale that day.

This is a size 8, tunic length (she's 7 at the moment), with "short bands," patch pockets, and three quarter sleeves.  All of these are listed options in the pattern.  I added bands to the sleeves to avoid hemming.  I can't wait to hear how she likes it!

And of course I figured her doll needed a few, as well.  The pattern is a free one from Fleece Fun.  No changes made to that.  The first cardigan is from leftovers from my niece's cardigan, so that they can match.

The second is from leftovers of my Star Wars cardigan!  (Hopefully it doesn't give my niece any ideas about what her next cardigan should be!)