This might come as a shock to you, but I feel like I haven’t sewn nearly as much as I’d like to in the past couple of years. Or at least in the last year and a half for sure.

I moved my sewing room into a studio space late spring 2022. And while it was a great idea for me to be able to remove myself from work and to be more present while at home…it has removed the ability for me to just “fun sew”. I used to just steal a few minutes at a time at the sewing machine when it was housed in the room next to our living room. But with everything being removed from the house and me having to actually physically leave the space that my family is in and go to my “work environment”…I just don’t sew at random as much.

Which probably doesn’t seem like a big deal to some people. But for me, I love making my own clothes. And as my body changes like the weather, it’s nice to have something made for my body in that moment…that makes me feel good about myself.

Anywho. Today, I walked my butt up to my studio, through the snow (got a little bit of work done if I’m being completely transparent here) and then took time to just “fun sew”. And I’m so glad I did. Because I love what I made.

My friend Michelle designed this Everly Cardigan Top pattern for Made for Mermaid last year. I was ::so close:: to testing it, but I just didn’t have time to be a tester. And since then, it’s been on my radar to make.

How could it not be? It’s adorable! Slightly oversized, dolman sleeved, perfect length. I mean…..there’s a reason I’ve been obsessing over it for months now.

Okay so here are the options I chose for my Everly:

• High Hip Length
• Hemmed bottom
• Basic sleeves w/oversized cuffs
• Trim Fit

I also sewed the placket shut everywhere but the bottom few inches. Because I knew I’d just want to wear it as a standalone sweater…but wanted a little bit of illusion that the buttons were there for a reason. Maybe it worked, maybe I tricked no one. Either way, I stand by my decisions.

I was SO GEEKED when I saw this fabric while shopping at JoAnn the other day. My local store doesn’t always have the greatest selection of apparel knits. But there’s a “super JoAnn” in the Pittsburgh area, so whenever we are nearby I make sure to stop there.

This cabled knit stopped me in my tracks. It’s very few and far between that you can find an actual sweater knit like this by the yard. I couldn’t have thrown it on the cutting counter any faster than I did.

Here’s to more “fun sewing” in 2024. I’m making a promise to myself to try and carve time out for it way more than I did last year.

Pattern: Everly Cardigan Top by Made for Mermaids
Fabric: Ebony Thick Cable Knit from JoAnn