Pattern: Circle Top from Papercut Patterns
Fabric: Merino wool crepe knit from Metro Textiles (thanks, sis!)
Size: XXS
Tank: Old Navy
Jeans: Paige Denim
Boots: London Fog
Hooray, my first finished garment for 2014! I started this on New Year’s Eve, actually, but couldn’t finish the binding until I got my sewing machine back from the shop – as much as I love my serger, you can’t do everything on it. I’ve worn it out a few times already and I bought some fabric for another version of this cozy cardi. I guess that’s a testament to how much I like this!
This cardi is massive: it’s basically a giant circle with two holes in the center where the sleeves are inserted. That’s it! The pattern envelope claims there’s many different ways you can wear this – I didn’t find that to be the case, but if you’re feeling silly, you can wear it as a hoodie.
My sister picked up this fabric for me from Metro Textiles before she headed to our parent’s house for Christmas – it’s a yummy mauve merino wool knit with a crepe-like texture. It has a lot of body, and behaves more like a woven than a knit, but it’s warm and I love wrapping it around me while I sit on the couch and watch TV (helloooo Downton Abbey season 4!)
The binding was the most time-consuming and fiddly part of making this cardigan. There’s a lot of circumference to bind! I decided to opt-out of how the pattern called for sewing the binding and did it my own way, which seemed a lot easier: sew the strip of binding around the cardigan, press it over to the right side of the garment, turn the raw edge under about 5/8″, and edge stitch it down. It has a thicker look to it, but the way the instructions have you sew the binding seemed way too fussy for my liking and I’m happy with how my binding turned out.
This cardigan has a very fluid and casual style to it, and I fought with it the first time I wore it to get it to lay exactly how I wanted it to. But in the end, it’s best if you just let it do its thing and undulate around you. I bought a light pink rayon cotton jersey for my next version and I bet it will be even softer and drapier. A quick, no-stress project!
Pretty. Love the fit and the fabric!
Very nice!! The color looks great on you, and will coordinate well with other things.
Thank you! It's really easy to pair up with other things, I've worn it a bunch of times already.
Well, I certainly like it!
Ooh, I really like this! It looks so nice on you!
Hello,
this looks absolutely wonderful. I have just bought the pattern and your version is the best I could see on the internet, besides the one from the shop. Do you think that the arm holes are at the right place for you? would you have liked to have them slightly shifted toward the top of the cardigan rather than in the middle as they are in the pattern?
Many thanks
Hi there! Thanks for your comments on my sweater, I love wearing it. Honestly, the arm holes are a bit low for me, they always seem to fall off of my shoulders and I have to tug to pull the sleeves up throughout the day. I think moving them more towards the top would have helped.