The sweater season is upon us once again. Of course I didn’t just make a sweater but instead a sweater dress. This is the Southbank Sweater pattern by Nina Lee London. I sewed up it in the cosiest Fur back Ponte Roma fabric which was generously gifted to me by Minerva.
I thought I should bring this to your notice that Minerva has launched their new website this week. It is much more interactive and it also allows you to follower other sewists over there. Another exciting thing about the new website is the ability to purchase fabric off their site in increments less than a metre.
Pattern Description:
The Southbank Sweater is a slightly oversized fit, funnel neck and drop-shoulders. This pattern comes in 3 versions: Version 1 is a sweater dress with a sweatshirt-inspired hem band and side-seam pockets, Version 2 is a hip-length top and Version 3 is a cropped sweater designed to finish at the natural waist. All three variations feature slouchy, slightly over-long sleeves with cuffs.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I lengthened the pattern by 2 inches.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, I hope to make a few more of the jumper dress. I would recommend this pattern to anyone even to a beginner.
Conclusion:
I love my jumper dress and it has had loads of wear already in the short time since I made it. If you would link to read in detail about how I got along with making this jumper dress, here is a detailed blog post over at the Minerva website.
Here is a brand new Henley pattern with no buttonholes. Yes, you heard right. Love Notions has just launched the Breckinridge Henley sewing pattern which is sure to be a favourite of many. I am honestly not a fan of buttonholes but I can’t always avoid them. However, my sewing machine and I hate sewing buttonholes on knit fabrics. I have already made two tops from the Breckinridge Henley pattern and I don’t think they will be my last. My final version is in pink in honour of Pink October for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Here is a pattern review video if you would rather watch instead of read.
I am both a pattern tester and an ambassador with Love Notions patterns. This means that any purchases you make using the Love Notions patterns links I share on here earns me a small commission which goes to support this website. However, this comes at no extra cost to you and you are under no obligation to use them.
I made my first version out of a Striped cotton jersey fabric which was generously given to me by Fabrics for All. I am a blogger for Fabrics for All and I am given fabric in exchange for a review. The stripe pink and yellow fabric is the perfect fabric for pink October which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This fabric also comes in other colourways which are still in stock online. I really enjoyed sewing up with it because it is quite stable and has a good weight to it.
My second version was made with two viscose jersey fabrics. The main fabric is a floral red which I picked up from a local fabric store a few years ago. And the grey viscose jersey I used to colour block was a scrap fabric I had in my stash.
The Making
I sewed up both my versions in size XS he sewing process these tops was straight forward. The one part in the process which would be a bit of a challenge is sewing the placket but the instructions come with a video tutorial which simplifies that part.
For the pink top, I sewed up the long-sleeved version with the tabs. The cotton jersey fabric gave me a more relaxed and almost boxy fit.
Alterations
I took in the top at the side seams for a more close fit.
I shortened the top by 1 inch mostly because I have a shorter torso compared to the rest of my body.
The red floral viscose jersey version was made with the short sleeves. The viscose fabric has more drape and fits better on the body. I did not find the need to take in this top because I was happy with the overall fit. This version was not shortened and it comes past my hips.
The finished projects
I am really happy with my final makes from this pattern. I am so sure these will not be my last. I hope to sew up the dress variation next with probably short sleeves. I hope you give this amazing pattern a go. You will not be disappointed. Thank you for stopping by. xx
I am so sure we can all agree that this year, 2020, has gone by so fast. I do not need to get into details because we all probably have personal stories to tell. Where did the summer go? I do not remember enjoying wearing my me-made summer clothes out of my house much. And right now we need to start sewing for Autumn/Fall and Winter. And I would like to offer you some inspiration for your cold season wardrobe featuring Love Notions patterns.
Love Notions is currently running a 40% off site-wide birthday sale from Monday 5th October to Friday 9th October. This is also the last sale of the year. I hope you are inspired to pick up a few patterns before it ends.
I am both a pattern tester and an ambassador with Love Notions patterns. This means that any purchases you make using the Love Notions patterns links I share on here earns me a small commission which goes to support this website. However, this comes at no extra cost to you and you are under no obligation to use them.
Just in case you are wondering why Love Notions patterns? I have been a pattern tester with Love Notions for over 2 years. I have loved how the patterns are drafted and with the extra attention given in writing up the instructions. These patterns come in a wide size range not forgetting the full bust pieces included on all ladies’ patterns. These are PDF patterns so you should not expect them to come in the mail. The PDF patterns come in 3 versions: A4/ Letter size, AO size and a projector copy. This gives you instant gratification with many options to work with.
Love Notions patterns are drafted for ladies, gents and children. And many adults especially ladies’ pattern come with coordinating kids’ patterns. I would like to share with you patterns I have both sewed up or plan to sew up in groups.
Tops
La Bella Donna (Ladies) and Girls La Bella Donna – This pattern comes in both ladies and girls and can be throughout the year. It comes with various sleeve options. The long-sleeved and the cowl or hood options are perfect for the cold weather.
Terra Tunic – This is a straight fitting tunic which comes with 5 neck options and 4 sleeves lengths. The long-sleeved with wither a funnel neck or hoody is perfect for the cold weather in a cosy fabric.
Rockford raglan and Wrigley raglan – These are raglan tee patterns which feature various hem options and sleeve lengths. The Rockford is the ladies whereas the Wrigley is the girls’ version.
La Bella Donna (Cowl and Long-sleeves)
Rockford Raglan
Bottoms
Glissando Pattern – This is the newest pattern which is exempted from the sale. It features shorts, cropped pants and a knee-length skirt. The cropped pants can be lengthened to make them suitable for the cold weather. And the skirt in a heavy-weight fabric would also be perfect when paired with tights and boots. This is exempted from the sale.
Resolution bottoms – This is such a versatile pattern which I plan to sew up really soon. It features 5 variations; plain leggings, moto leggings, bootcut yoga pants, straight cut yoga pants, and joggers. All these options are suitable for cold weather if made in cosy fabrics.
Glissando Cropped pants
Jumpers
Sloane sweater for ladies and Sloane sweater for girls – This is a pullover with various options. It can be made more fitted or with a relaxed fit. It also features any hem options. I have made to ladies’ Sloane sweaters which I hacked to be more fitted.
Constellation and Navigator Hoodie & Pullover – This is a great layering piece with a zipper option which can be made either as a hoodie or a pullover. I made both of these during pattern testing.
Canyon Cardigan – This cardigan is a great layering piece which can be made as either a waterfall, gathered or A-line.
Coat
Octave coat – This was the very first coat I ever made. It features a shawl collar, hood and a wide collar option has recently been added.
Octave Coat
Men and Boys
Dockside and Driftwood Henley & Polo: The Dockside is the men’s whereas the Driftwood is the kids. Both these patterns feature 3 variations: a crew neck tee, a polo and a Henley which when sewn with long – sleeves are perfect for the cold weather.
North Star and Navigator hoodie and pullover are similar to the ladies’ constellation jumper.
Samson Sweater: A boy’s shirt pattern which comes with two shirt hems and a hood option. It is a great winter wardrobe stable if made in cosy fabrics.
Vanguard Kit: This contains cargo joggers and a colour-block long sleeved it.
Dockside Henley
Navigator Pullover
That is a round-up of my Autumn/fall and winter LoveNotions pattern recommendation. I hope you get round to sewing up some. Which of the patterns shared would you love to have a go at making?
I made woven fitted pants!! I would like to introduce you to the newest Love Notions pattern Glissando. I am not saying these are the very first pair of pants I have made. I have previously made a pair of culottes before (the flint pants by Meghan Nielsen) and loose-fitting viscose pants. Both of these didn’t require much fitting at all. I am speaking of making high-waisted pants which needed to fit my somewhat long body.
I am not that tall by any standard but an average 5’4” woman, however, my natural waist sits quite high up. That only means that a lot needs to be done in regards to adjusting the crotch length of the pattern pieces. I also need to make adjusts for the bum too (I thought I would put it out there).
I am both a pattern tester and an ambassador with Love Notions patterns. This means that any purchases you make using the Love Notions patterns links I share here earns me a small commission which supports this website. This comes at no extra cost to you and you are under no obligation to use them. Thank you.
The pattern is recommended for non-stretch medium to heavy weight woven fabrics ranging from denim, linen, chambray, quilting cotton, Cotton poplin, twill and many others.
For my version, I decided to use a lightweight an indigo blue denim fabric I purchased from Fabrics for All in Leeds, UK. The lightweight denim was much easier to work with compared to the heavy denim which was my first choice. The fabric was much easier to fit around my body which also gives both a casual and dressy look.
The Making
I would want to say that this was such an easy make, but I won’t. I know we can all agree that we do not always find perfectly fitting pants in ready to wear. The same goes for sewing patterns because they are drafted for a standard body and size. It is not surprising to see that even people with similar around the body measurements have other different adjustments they always need to cater for such as Lengthening or shortening the torso, swayback adjustment and many others.
During the pattern testing process, I made 3 toiles/muslins to get the perfect fit. Yes, I wanted to pattern test the skirt version because it was the easier option. However, that did not happen as I ended up making the cropped pants. I embraced the challenge and I knew by the end of it all I would have learnt a lot about fitting pants on me.
I sewed up the cropped pants version in size 4 with the alterations mentioned below.
Alterations
I made two significant alterations to the pattern that gave me the fit i was finally happy with. I lengthened the crotch length and also made a sway back adjustment.
Adjusting the crotch length
I measured my crotch length with an elastic tied around my natural waistline. I took the measurements from one end of the elastic to other (as shown in the picture below).
Where to measure for crotch length
This helped me determine both the front and back crotch measurements which I later accommodated for on the pattern pieces. I added 7/8 of an inch to both the front and back pieces by cutting across both pattern pieces as shown.
Front PieceBack piece
Sway back adjustment
I made a swayback adjustment to the back piece , a common adjustment to me, that I accommodated for when I was lenghtening the back crotch.
The Finished Project
I am super proud of myself that I did not give up in the middle of the process. I have always considered sewing pants like the Love Notions Sabrina Slims but the thought of fitting pants always terrified me. I am now ready to sew more pants. I also plan to sew up the Glissando skirt in A heavy denim which Is likely to become a winter staple when paired with tights and boots.
Josephine is an entrepreneur, blogger, public health professional who loves sewing, baking and is passionate about a healthy and natural lifestyle.
