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Classic crew neck wool cardigan

DIY Crew neck wool cardigan

So here it is, my Grace Kelly inspired crew neck cardigan. Sewn out of double knit organic wool and based on a cardigan from People Tree.  I wanted to have a simple classic cardigan that I can wear for years and wool is great for this purpose as it keeps it shape and is very durable. When I saw this locally knitted fabric on a sewing fair last fall, I knew I had to buy it. Not just because of the fine but also because of the red colour that is very special and rich.

DIY Crew neck wool cardigan

As I talked about in my vlog I drafted the cardigan to be an exact copy only to realise that some things should have been tweaked, such as making the shoulders more narrow and tapering the waist band a bit. Which is so ironic since I thought the RTW cardigan was pretty great, so I clearly have different standars for my own makes compared to what I buy in stores.

DIY Crew neck wool cardigan

This cardigan can be made both as a top and over a blouse since there is enough room in the sleeves and bodice. It has some ease but is not bulky. I like my garments to be quite fitted since I feel that my small frame drowns in voluminous clothes.   Here it is worn with the issue 1/2010 Burdastyle trousers that was also part of my capsule collection.DIY Crew neck wool cardigan

When I was looking for buttons the store clerk asked me what colour the cardigan had, and when I said red, she said “why do you want white buttons on a red cardigan?”. What an odd, narrow minded, reaction! But I digress, personally I think contrasting buttons actually can elevate the garment.

Buttonholes on knits – it can be done! The trick is to use interfacing that stretches crosswise but not lengthwise and sew the holes vertically. For really stretchy knits sewing over elastic cord is a great idea too. I’ve done a tutorial on how to sew buttonholes on knits.

Twill tape neckline tutorial

The small details count when making your own clothes. The ribbon adds a nice touch and I’ve come up with a method of applying ribbon to the neckline that makes it easy to succeed.

DIY Crew neck wool cardigan

Keeping with the vintage theme, I even brought out one of my vintage pearl necklaces! Apart from a few tweaks (such as making the shoulders more narrow) I am very happy with how the cardigan turned out.

 

 

6 Comments

  • Esther
    March 1, 2017 at 6:52 pm

    I love this cardigan!! And what you say about the RTW makes me think that we usually have higher standards on the garments we sew than on the ones that we buy. We accept in RTW what we would not accept in handmade!!
    I wanted to ask you about the blogging address of the swedish sewing blogger you mentioned in last post, can you write it here?
    Thanks a lot!

    Reply
    • Johanna
      March 2, 2017 at 2:36 pm

      Totally! We see every little stitch that goes into it, so it is hard not to notice. I have never every examined a store bought garment in such a way, but perhaps I should to make me feel better! What post with blogger do you refer to? I’m answering this on my afternoon break with my cellphone and is not 100% alert 🙂

      Reply
      • Esther
        March 2, 2017 at 5:46 pm

        Must have been some post this week or last week… or was it maybe in the Facebook group sewing active wear?
        I am seeking for Sweidsh sewing bloggers that write in Swedish and sew garments, for the moment I only found patchwork sewists!

        Reply
  • Myra
    March 2, 2017 at 1:50 pm

    Bravo Johanna! This is an absolutely adorable sweater and I love everything about it! You secured a beautiful fit and a gorgeous look with that outstanding color! I had to laugh about the store clerks reaction and I totally agree with you! The contrast buttons elevated the look and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

    Reply
    • Johanna
      March 2, 2017 at 2:38 pm

      Absolutely! Store bought clothes can be so boring because they have to cater to a big consumer group, plus detailing costs more money! Why would we want to make our own garments as boring as stuff that we find in stores? 🙂

      Reply

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