Simply put, this is a wonderful sweatshirt pattern from Trish Newbery Patterns. It is an easy pattern that is great for beginners or a quick sew. I saw Trish's example of the Statement Sweatshirt pattern and was totally inspired to recreate it. It only requires 1.2 m (1 1/3 yards) so it is a perfect pattern for scrap busting. I had just enough stretch lace left over from a previous make so I knew it would be the perfect choice!
This Statement Sweatshirt will be a great transition piece to take me into a cooler fall season and it will work really well as a layering piece for the winter months. I think the lace layered over a turtleneck will add interest and versatility to many winter outfits.
The pattern instructions are simple and straight forward and if a video is easier for you, the sewing steps are available on this Sew-A-Long video . Trish creates patterns that we can feel good in. Her PDF sewing patterns and blocks are designed to be easy to use. Most patterns come with a video tutorial to help you create professionally finished garments. Her patterns allow you to express your personal style and to build a wardrobe that is fashionable and cohesive.
I made a size XL sweatshirt based on the finished garment measurements. I wanted the sweatshirt be roomy but not oversized. I am not really a fan of cropped tops so I added 3" to the length of the bodice pattern pieces, 2" is a normal modification for my height. I added 5" of of length to the sleeve length. I sewed the entire sweatshirt on my overlocker including the ribbing. If you don't have an overlocker you can easily sew this pattern on your sewing machine using a zigzag stitch for a bit of stretch.
For my cuffs and collar ribbing I used some wonderful sports ribbing that I had purchased from Minerva. I love the white and silver stripe on the ribbing and the sparkle of the silver dresses it up just enough for it to pair well with lace. I used a regular black ribbing for the waistband as I will usually wear it tucked under so I wanted it to blend into the lace. The stretch lace that I used is from Zelouf Fabrics in New York. They offer a huge selection of fabrics, I have used this lace in both black and white. You can see the top I made using the the white stretch lace here. As always, I like to finish any garment with a Kylie and the Machine sewing label.
I know I will be using this pattern a lot! I am already planning to make another Statement Sweatshirt in a leopard print knit AND as soon as I find the perfect French terry I will be creating one in a more oversized look.
Go and take a look at your stretch knit fabrics and see what you can create from your scraps as well. After all.... There is Sew Much To Design!
Happy Sewing,
Lou Sheffer