summer cardigan

A few weeks ago I was in my local Hobbycraft and came across Sirdar No1 stonewashed aran yarn. It is so soft and I fell in love with the Used Blue colour.
Totally unlike me I bought enough for a cardigan even though it was more than I would usually pay per ball - it saddens me how expensive yarn has become.
However - having bought the yarn I then had to find a pattern and to be honest none of my numerous patterns were summery enough so I  downloaded Sirdar's own summer cardigan which is actually a very quick knit - all plain with a slightly  unusual rib feature.
 The yarn knits up very quickly so within a couple of weeks I had finished and here is the result.

I love it - the cardigan is super soft and very lightweight - perfect for a British summer!

There are 7 buttons so I decided to make my own with polymer clay.
I used a mix of blue, pink and white which I marbled and am very happy with the result. The extra pop of colour makes them stand out rather than just match.

I rather like the washed denim in the range so might be tempter to make another!

Dinosaur summer shirt

After my first try out of a shirt pattern for my grandson Joel - which fits really well and he likes - he asked for a blue short with dinosaurs on. No pressure then!
Amazingly I have been  able to find exactly that material - and in my local shop Calico Laine !

This is the pattern - McCalls shirt, T shirt and two types pf ummer ahprts for youngsters.

I chose this pattern because it has the option for both cotton and stretch tops which makes it very versatile.

The only thing that causes me problems is the collar and how it works with the front facings. I still don't really understand what they want you to do so am fudging it. I am sure I will owrk it out eventually!

struggling to work out the facings

turning a narrow hem on the shirt bottom

I love my automatic buttonhole foot on my new machine so making buttonholes for the front is no problem.  I chose a sparkly orange button which picks out the colour of some of the dinosaurs.

I really like this pattern and plan to make a few more but I think next it will be some shorts for Joel using the owl material left over from the first shirt.

NEW PATTERN TRY OUT

I got a free pattern in a sewing magazine for a summer top so I thought I would give it a first try in a cheaper material to see how it sewed up.
The polycotton is a dusky green with a small polka dot and although slightly too heavy to drape well was a good price for a try out.
I don't think the front placket with a pleat is designed brilliantly and when I sew this again I will change it slightly - there is no need for interfacing with anything but the lightest material. There are too many layers to sew neatly and lie flat.
However the simple collar sews up well and the simple gathering on the shoulders looks good and the boas bending on the sleeves works well.
I like the dipped shirt hem but I think I will make the front a little longer next time.
All things considered I am happy with the top and will wear it - and considering it cost less than £10 not a bad buy.