The sweater season is upon us over here in the northern hemisphere and I am proud to bring to you the Arlington sweater by Love Notions. This is the newest pattern by Love Notions and there is no doubt that a lot of planning has been put into it. This pattern is a great transitional piece for your cold-weather wardrobe. It is a very versatile pattern offering so many options to make which is always a bonus with most of the Love Notions patterns,
Love Notions Arlington Sweater with a cowl neck, bishop sleeves, and a banded hem
This pattern is on a release sale at 30% off from today (28th September until 4th October 2021).
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 earn 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.
Arlington sweater with a mock neck and straight sleeves
Love Notions Arlington Sweater with a cowl neck, bishop sleeves, and a banded hem
Love Notions Arlington Sweater with a cowl neck, bishop sleeves, and a banded hem Arlington sweater with a mock neck and straight sleeves
Love Notions Arlington Sweater Pattern Features:
It comes in 3 lengths: banded shirt, hip length shirt and above knee dress.
It features 3 necklines: turtleneck, mock-neck and cowl
There are 5 sleeve options: short & long puff sleeves, long sleeve, bishop and elbow length sleeves.
Pattern Sizing:
The Arlington pattern comes in 9 sizes ranging from size XS to 5X. All these sizes come with full bust pieces. I made both my versions in size XS which is true to size.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes, the instructions were easy to follow. I must add that this pattern is very easy to sew and I would recommend it for a confident beginner.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
The one thing I really love about this pattern is its versatility. This pattern has many options to choose from.
Fabric Used:
This pattern is meant for light to medium-weight knit fabrics with at least 25% stretch. The recommended fabrics include Sweater knit, French terry, Interlock, and other jersey blends. A more stable knit is recommended for the mock neck view whereas a drapey one would be perfect for the cowl neck one.
For version one, I used a medium-weight Sweater knit for my cowl neck version and I also opted for the bishop sleeves. These two features came out better in this sweater knit because it has some drape.
I used a medium-weight rib-knit fabric for the mock neck for my second version. This fabric is stable enough to hold up the shape of the mock neck. I bought this fabric from Minerva purposely for this top.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I shortened the shirt length version by 1 inch which is a common alteration I make. I have a shorter torso compared to the rest of my body and I often do it to most of the Love Notions patterns I have sewed up with.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Of course, I need to make the dress version soon now that sweater weather is finally here. Who am I kidding? I live in the Uk where it is sweater season all year round. 🙂
I would recommend this pattern to anyone who needs a sweater or Jumper (as it is called in the UK). And a confident beginner would not struggle with putting this together.
Conclusion:
I love the Arlington sweater because it is a cold-weather staple. I do not really need to say more about it because it offers a view for everyone out there. You will be seeing more of these sweaters really soon. Thank you for stopping by.
I have always wanted to sew a shirt but I knew it is such an engaging sewing project and not the easiest to undertake. I am so glad I found the Love Notions Melody Dolman blouse because it is an easier alternative to a shirt. This pattern has been updated with more sizes added and It is currently on a release sale going for $5 (today only 21/05/2021) and it will be at $9 for the rest of the week.
Love Notions is also holding a virtual workshop on zoom if you would like to join with other sewists to sew the Melody Dolman blouse. You could book your place to the Melody Dolman Workshop here.
Pattern Description:
The Melody Dolman is a woven button-down dolman with a shirt-tail hem that can also be knotted at the waist. This dolman gives you a polished look without a lot of effort. This pattern is recommended for anyone new to sewing button-down shirts and comes with few pattern pieces to work with. It features an easy to sew camp collar with a construction video that holds your hand throughout. A breast pocket and sleeve cuffs are optional features that come with this pattern.
Pattern Sizing: The sizing of this pattern has been extended with the update. It now comes in 9 sizes running from XS – 5X. I made size XS which was true to size.
Were the instructions easy to follow? This is one of the easiest shirts you can ever sew. The instructions are easy to follow and an instruction video is included for the not-so- easy steps in the construction.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like that the collar comes in just one piece which is cut in a pair and sewed together. And another bonus feature of the Melody Dolman is that it does not come with a yoke which makes its construction less complicated.
Fabric Used: The Melody Dolman pattern is recommended for light to medium woven fabrics such as Linen, Shirting, Chambray, and Viscose/ rayon. I used Rose & Hubble Cotton Poplin Fabric (Ivory) from Minerva which paired up perfectly with this blouse.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I shortened the bodice pieces by 1.5 inches which is a common adjustment i make because i have a short torso.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Of course, I plan on sewing more of this pattern. I would recommend this pattern for anyone who has never sewn a shirt and wants to have a go at an easier one.
Conclusion
I am not sure what took me this long to sew this blouse but I love this blouse. I have wanted to sew a shirt for the longest time and this blouse has made it possible. I hope you have a go at sewing the Melody Dolman blouse.
The Love Notions Sunday romper is a secret pyjama pattern which you can wear out of the house. I made my first two versions of this pattern during the pattern testing process last year. I loved them so much that I have made two more this including the girls pattern. I have not exhausted all the options that come with this pattern but each i have made is different from the other.
I wrote a blog post where i reviewed this pattern in the blog post here if you would love to hear about it and also in a video linked below (if you would rather watch it instead.
Pattern Description:
The Sunday Romper is a versatile pattern which can be worn by both jumpsuit lovers and those who would not be caught in one. It is possible to dress it both up and down and all go down to the fabric of choice.
It features V-neck openings on both the front and back bodices which are wide enough if you opt for the pants option. It also features front angled pockets which is an added detail, however, you also have an option of omitting them.
Specifications
Dolman & tank bodice options
Drawstring or elasticated waistband
Three lengths for pants- shorts, cropped & full length
Two length options- knee & full length
Meant for knit fabrics however woven fabrics can be used for pants and skirt pieces.
Ladies Sunday Romper comes in sizes 0-32. I made size 2 for the bodice which i blended into size 4 for both the skirt and pants version.
Sunday Romper Girls comes in sizes 2T-16. I cut out size 7 for my missy which is true to size.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
I have not had issue with Love Notions instructions because most of them come with helpful videos which hold one’s hand through steps which would be difficult to tackle.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love the many options this pattern comes with and also the fact that it has an accompanying girls version. This is a winner for other cheesy mums like mum who love twinning with their little girls.
For the romper version, I used Viscose jersey fabric and Olive Cotton rib knit for the tank version.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
Ladies
I made a sway back adjustment to the back bodice pieces of all my versions.
I omitted the V-neck line on back bodice pieces on both my daughter and my version. I was happy to do this since the neckline doesn’t require to accommodate for the hips as in case of a jumpsuit or romper.
Girls
I shortened the skirt piece by an inch mostly because I ran out of fabric after squeezing both dresses out of just 2 metres of fabric.
Conclusion:
I love the Sunday romper pattern which I think is very clear by now. I am glad to have made the girls version too which is pretty much like the ladies’. I would recommend this pattern to a confident beginner mostly because it is sewn in knit fabrics which can be challenging for a complete beginner. I am now ready for any garden party or BBQ since thats all we are doing at the moment with the sun out. Thank you for stopping by. X
I think this pattern is growing onto me. I made the Rhapsody dress last year and I knew I needed the blouse version too. I guess you are wondering why I love the Rhapsody sewing pattern by Love Notions. Firstly, this pattern does not require buttons nor zippers but instead requires ties for closures. The second reason is that this pattern features 9 sleeve options. and yes you heard right 9. I am so sure there is an option for everybody 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 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 reviewed the rhapsody dress pattern when I sewed it up both on my blog here and over on my youtube channel and if you would like to have a read or a watch, I have included both links here.
The Pattern
The Rhapsody is a versatile top and dress pattern featuring nine sleeve options. It is drafted for lightweight and drapey woven fabrics making it perfect for a summer wardrobe. It features a flattering curved hem on both the blouse and dress pattern. The neckline is finished with self-made bias tape which may include ties for additional detail.
This pattern is recommended for lightweight and drapey woven fabrics such as crepe, rayon challis, voile, cotton lawn, peachskin, 100% rayon gauze, silk and chiffon. I used a metre dobby viscose fabric I purchased from Felicity fabrics last year. I had wanted to try the bishop sleeve option, unfortunately, I could not squeeze it out of a metre of fabric. However, I am glad I had enough fabric for one of the options.
The Making
I sewed up the blouse version in size XS and I went with the cap sleeves option. I can say that this pattern is not for a complete beginner but worth a try for a confident one.
The making entails sewing gathers at the front bodice that are seamed into a lined yoke which runs to the back. And this back yoke connects to a back piece. A buritto method is used to conceal the yoke seams, however, a video tutorial for this is included with the pattern.
Skills required
How to make and sew up with bias tape binding. I found a bias tape maker to come in handy for this and I can’t recommend it enough.
How to sew french seams. French seams add such a nice finish to garment seams, especially on very lightweight fabrics. It requires one to get confident with sewing with a very small seam allowance.
Finished Garment
I love my Rhapsody blouse so much and I am sure it will get loads of wear out of it this summer. That’s if the British weather grants us the summer we desire. Thank you for stopping by.
Am I the only one who loves twinning with my daughter? I am almost sure the rest of you are less cheesy than I am. I had the honour of pattern testing the updated version of the Love Notions boyfriend cardigan. I also thought it was the perfect opportunity to sew up the Love Notions boyfriend cardigan for girls in the same fabric. At this point in time, I am still the coolest mum ever and I guess I should make hay while the sun rises.
The Love Notions boyfriend cardigan for ladies has been redrafted and It is on a release sale. Both the ladies and girls boyfriend cardigan are the feature Friday pattern(s) and are on sale for $5 (today only 26/03/2021). However, the ladies version will remain on sale throughout the weekend at $9.
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 have uploaded a pattern review video of the Boyfriend cardigan in a collaboration with other two ladies and we all show our spin on this pattern. Here below is the video if you would instead watch it.
The Patterns
The Love Notions Boyfriend Cardigan comes in both the ladies and girls version.
Pattern features
Ladies
Three collar options: Shawl collar, plain collar and hoodie.
Two length options: mid-thigh and duster
Girls
Two collar options: shawl collar and hoodie.
Mid-thigh length
Pattern Sizing:
The ladies Boyfriend cardigan comes in 9 sizes ranging from sizes XS-5XL. It is worth noting that all these sizes come with full bust pieces which is a bonus for anyone who often needs to make a full bust adjustment. I made size XS for my version which fitted perfectly well with no alterations.
The boyfriend cardigan for girls comes in 16 sizes ranging from 2T -16. I made size 7 for my missy because she will be turning 7 really soon. It fitted her really well and I did not need to make any alterations.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions were very easy to follow and this pattern is quite easy to sew up within a short time. I Made the shawl collar version with mid-thig length.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
This is the second time I am making the boyfriend cardigan. I made my very first version before the recent pattern update and I am really happier with the overall fit I am getting with the new one. I did not have any issues with the previous one but having made the second version in the same exact fabric I can easily make a comparison.
Another aspect I love about this cardigan pattern is the coverage it gives at the front which comes in handy when it is chilly.
First Cardigan
Second cardigan
Fabric Used:
This cardigan is recommended for knit fabrics such as Ponte, Cotton Lycra/spandex, Rayon spandex, French terry and sweater knits. The structure of the cardigan is greatly affected by the amount of drape in the fabric chosen.
I used Red Marl Brushed Knitted Fleece I purchased from TFG Fabrics, an online store in the UK, which stocks a variety of knit fabrics. This fabric a sweater knit texture on the front and a fleece one at the back. I used the same exact fabric for my very first Boyfriend cardigan and I was happy to buy the same exact fabric for this one too. This fabric is warm and it washed really well too.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I made no single alteration to both cardigans and the both fitted really well.
Sewing tips:
I was able to sew up both cardigans out of 2 1/2 metres of fabric. This was only possible because I laid the fabric on the floor and placed all the pattern pieces on it so that they all fitted well before cutting out the pattern pieces.
Conclusion:
I love our twinning cardigans and I would recommend this pattern to any confident beginner who has had a go at sewing with knit fabrics. These won’t be the last boyfriend cardigans in my wardrobe. There are more to come …
Josephine is an entrepreneur, blogger, public health professional who loves sewing, baking and is passionate about a healthy and natural lifestyle.
