fo: Linden Sweatshirt of LOVE

I have to say this before anything else: I LOVE THIS SWEATSHIRT, above and beyond anything I have ever made (and that says a lot, because I've been sewing/knitting/crafting for a very very long time)!

Pattern: Linden Sweatshirt, by Grainline Studios

Fabric: Two medium-weight mystery knits I've had for ages - the grey patterned one I bought years ago at Value Village (thrift shop) for a few bucks and suspect is pure polyester; the black is a cotton-poly fine-rib knit (I think) that I got in a large fabric package from a friend a couple of years ago. Despite the difference in stretch (the first has about 20%, the second closer to 50%), they paired well in this garment.

Size: I cut a size 14 through the sleeves and upper body, gradually grading to size 16 at the hips.  And then I chopped a bunch off.

Modifications: There were a couple - mostly due to me wanting something less loose with this stiffer body fabric, but also because I suspect I have very short arms.

Of course, I took exactly 0 pictures of this entire process, but I found the body was just too wide once sewn up.  Cozy and comfy, and I might've kept it as is, but it pushed just past the sloppy line and I knew it'd bother me.  So I took my trusty chalk and marked, on both sides, 1/2" from the hem and wrist stitch line, and 1" from the underarm stitch line, connected them all with a smooth line, and restitched.  This means I took 4" total off the width at the bust and upper arm, and 2" total off the wrist and hemline.  And now it's a perfect fit!  Still loose and comfy, but I'm not drowning in oversized sweatshirt.  (Although if I used a thinner or more fluid knit, I might not make these same mods.)

 

 

 

The only other mod I did was to hack 2 1/4" off the sleeves, because raw they were longer than I wanted them finished, and I still had a 2" cuff to add!  Easy peasy alteration though.  I nearly added thumbholes to the cuffs, but then changed my mind.  Mostly because sleeves long enough for thumbholes to be used drive me batty.

ETA: OH!  I also cut off 1/2 inche from the bottom hem, because I don't know it made sense at the time.  Forgot about that, until I looked over my notes from last night.  Oops.  This is why I learned to take notes, becaue my brain is rubbish at remembering things sometimes.  Slacker brain.

The only critique I have for this sweater and pattern, and this is purely personal preference, is that the neckline is a little too wide.  My bra-straps, sadly, get shown off nicely in this sweatshirt.  I'm not choked up by this though, because this sweatshirt is cozy and perfect for layering, which I do like sediment deposits in the warmest months, nevermind in winter.  BRING ON THE BRIGHT TANKTOPS!

I think, to solve this next time, I may either project the raglan seams, shoulders, and back neckline up a bit to get more coverage.  I could probably try a smaller size considering how much I chopped off the sides as well, but I think I have the fit I want worked out there, and this might be a fun drafting exercise.  Alternatively, I could try pinching out some of the width on the front and back piece to reduce overall width.  Hmm.  Any other suggestions?  Have any of you tried something like this?

None of that above distracts from the pure love I have for this garment, and I don't even want to make anything else until I've made at least 3 more.  Already I'm plotting how to incorporate all of my knits into this pattern, and different ways I could alter the pattern (lace? zippers? pockets? embroidery?)!  And it's so quick and easy; I think it took me about 2 hours total (ignoring interruptions like dinner and a gym visit) to make up last night, and that includes putting it on constantly and running out to show off to Darryl (the boyfriend - I guess I should finally give him a name on this blog).

That expression screams 'damn proud'.

And because I don't have anything else to say but OMG LOVE THIS PATTERN SO MUCH SQUEEEE, here's a few more detailed pics.

So glad I "saved" this patterned knit for just this project - nothing else would've worked nearly as well!  This is why extensive stashes are a must for any crafter.  *nods*

Neckline ribbing and topstitching.  Plus the purple ribbon I'm using to designate 2014 makes (and which side is the back).

Don't know why, but those sleeve cuffs ans topstitching brings me joy.

Don't be fooled by the even-ness of the bottom topstitching - the damn seam meanders like a slow-moving river.  WHATEVER DON'T CARE.

Have you sewn this super easy pattern up yet?  If not, do you think might in the future?