Patterns for Pirates is now my go-to for patterns involving anything for me or Louis. (Sorry Bennett.) Judy just knows what I’m needing to add to my wardrobe before I even know it! I love her style and that I get to use her genius patterns to make something for me.
I tested the Carefree Cardigan by her and I ADOOOOOOORE it. Not joking one bit. I even made a second one so I could wear it on the plane on my way to St. Lucia last week. (ie: I sewed instead of packed and prepared for my out-of-the-country trip.) I wanted something that would be comfortable, cute, light and yet warm. It was the perfect travel companion.
As always, P4P’s patterns are easy to make work for you and there is a large range of sizes. There are always a lot of options for sleeve length/design/style/belts/etc in everything I’ve ever sewn from her and this cardi was no exception. Thankfully (because it’s stupid cold here) I was selected to make a long-sleeved version. But I can see how the shorter sleeves would be excellent for transitional weather. Right now, West Virginia is cold and all I want to do is bundle up and cuddle under and in things.
I wish I could give you better information about the fabric that I used, but I can’t. I found it at JoAnns for super cheap a long time ago without a real idea of what I’d make with it. I haven’t been much of a leopard print girl since the 90’s when I was rocking it pretty hardcore in middle school. So this was an impulse purchase. It has an amazing drape but is a huge pain in the ass to sew with. It stretches before you can even get it up to the machine and I had a heck of a time getting it to work for me. But I do love the end results.
The banded parts are pieces of black tshirts that I had laying around. Nothing fancy about it!
I sewed a size Large but could have easily made a medium, given the weight and stretch of my fabric. If I do ever get around to buying the fleece I saw in JoAnns that has my name on it, I’ll most likely stick with large. It’s crazy how different the sizing can be when you just change the fabric up a bit. My cardi fit just fine but it certainly had room in it than I normally prefer.
Maybe I’m crazy. But I feel like things that are more form-fitting or curve-hugging actually make me look slimmer than when I wear baggier things to try and hide my “fluff”. As long as it’s not skin tight, I prefer a little closer fit just to make me feel less frumpy.
^^ Oh that picture? I was all “I’m going to be cute and throw a snowball at the camera with *perfect* timing and it’s going to be an awesome picture”. And then my hand froze, I barely made a snowball and the timing was terribly off. Whoops. I tried?
The Carefree Cardigan pattern is releasing TODAY. RUNNNNNN and get a copy of it. You will not be sorry!
You can find Patterns for PIrates: Etsy | Facebook | Craftsy
Other patterns I’ve sewn and reviewed by Patterns for Pirates:
Love this pattern and your sewing skills! I took some quilting lessons 2 years ago but I feel like pattern clothing is WAY more over my head. Also, I love the snow ball pic! Photos that dont always go our way are always so much more entertaining to look at.
You'd be surprised how easy and fun it is to make your own clothes. There are amazing designers out there nowadays that release patterns in PDF form and are so willing to answer questions when you have them. 🙂
BWAHAHAHA! But I love the snow picture even if the timing was off and your hand froze. The fabric was PERFECT for this. It looks so sassy and suits you. Somehow it also brings out your red hair. It's very true the over sized clothing makes you look bigger than you are. If I learned one thing from watching what not to wear, its that.
This is such a COOL cardigan! I love wearing cardis, but I've never owned one with this shape and style before. I waaaaant one! haha Love the snowball throwing pic. 😉
I think women are so accustomed to trying to hide their fluff that they end up making themselves look heavier than before. I try and tell my Momma this but she doesn't listen.
I find that storebought cardigans don't work for me anyway. Being busty has it's disadvantages…and most of them are related to things with buttons. So making something free-flowing like this is totally my jam.