Hello! It’s officially spring here in Utah which usually means t-shirt weather one day and snow the next. I’m someone who is perpetually cold and pretty much wear long sleeves or jackets 9 months of the year. As such, I spent the first week of March sewing a crop of brightly colored sweaters. Ready to talk spring sweaters? Let’s do this.
Helen’s Closet Elliot Sweater
Last fall I was lucky enough to win a copy of the Elliot Sweater pattern. The PDF file sat on my computer just waiting for the right fabric to come along. Luckily, on Super Bowl Sunday (aka: Super Sew Sunday), Sewing Studio had a sale on several colors of bamboo/cotton french terry. I took it as a sign that my winter attire needed a bit of color and scooped some up in heather and ruby. The fabric is lightweight with just a slight amount of drape. Perfect for tees, lightweight sweaters, and cardigans. It arrived promptly but, due to other obligations, I had to wait to work with it until early March. Worth the wait.
I chose to sew up a size Small graded to a Medium at the hips. In order make long sleeves, I added 8 inches to the sleeve length. It still wasn’t quite enough length but, I didn’t have enough fabric to make the sleeves any longer. Instead, I added cuffs to give it the extra length. My only other deviation from the pattern was to sew the side slits closed two inches lower than instructed. With alterations ready, I got to sewing.
Like most knit tops, sewing the Elliot Sweater was quick and easy. It came together in an afternoon without mishaps. Upon finishing, I tried it on immediately. Despite having a purple prom dress and the fact that it’s my mother’s favorite color, I’ve never actually worn much purple. As such, I decided to give it a chance and am glad I did (My love of this sweater is what inspired me to choose the purple tencel used for my Jean Paul Coverall).The color is cheery enough for spring and the fabric is lightweight and just right for those in-between weather days.
Megan Nielsen Jarrah Sweater
I’ve wanted to make a tie front Jarrah Sweater since making my first one (here) in December. In fact, I ordered this grey and pink stripe cotton ribbing with a second Jarrah in mind. I visited Suppose and fell in love with this Pink Avalana Sweatshirt Fleece. It’s a deliciously soft cotton/polyester blend. I tried to resist its siren song but was powerless upon feeling its soft hand.
Like my first Jarrah, I used a size 4 at the bust and graded to a 6 at the hips, adding 1.5″ to the length of the front and back. This time I did add an extra 1″ to the sleeves for a total of 2.25″ of added length. These minor changes have me digging this second Jarrah even more than my first.
Did you notice my one mistake? That’s right. The tie is on the opposite side. I laid the pattern piece on the fabric right side down and didn’t notice until after cutting. Luckily, this pattern is one of those forgiving patterns that makes this mistake no big deal. Perhaps I’ll need to sew a third Jarrah to achieve Jarrah perfection. Now to find another lovely ribbing…
True Bias Nikko Top
Finally, my bamboo/cotton french terry Nikko Top. This is my third Nikko and I’m honestly wondering why I only own three. My other two Nikko tops are worn at least once a week during the winter months. The fabric used is the same ruby bamboo/cotton french terry mentioned earlier in this post.
The Nikko is one pattern to which I don’t need added length. My only fitting adjustment is using a size 4 at the bust and grading to a 10 at the hips. Cutting and sewing the pattern is just as quick and easy as the minimal alterations making this one of my most satisfying sews. It makes a strikingly bold combination when paired with my rainbow striped Persephone Pants, an outfit that feels just right for transitioning seasons.
Final Thoughts
Most of my winter wardrobe is either grey or black; possibly due to the way I usually feel about the winter months. Adding these three brightly colored sweaters to my cool weather wardrobe has made getting dressed much more fun this spring. In fact, I took all three of these tops on our recent trip to the Pacific Northwest because they seamlessly combined both comfort and style. Thanks to them, I plan to add more color to my winter wardrobe once fall rolls back around. Now, bring on all the summer sewing.