For this project, I wanted to create a chic layering piece for fall. Something that would go with everything, and have the comfort of a sweater but with a bit more polish!
The fabric is Cali Fabric’s Heavyweight Black and Off-White Striped Stretch Jersey. It is exactly what the description says: a beefy jersey with 4-way stretch. It’s got quite a stiff hand with little drape, and it’s more stretchy than a ponte.
I’m calling it a jacket, but really, it’s a cardigan. The Jenna Cardigan by Muse Patterns, to be exact! To give it a more Chanel jacket sort of vibe, I got rid of the bands at neck, centre front and hem, and finished it with a lining on the front instead. The back neckline is just turned and stitched, and the back hem is finished with a facing. As a bonus, the silky polyester crepe knit that I used for the lining/facing means that the jacket sits more smoothly over clothes.
When you sew stripes, you have to decide how much of a perfectionist to be. I aimed for “good from a distance” but didn’t make myself crazy basting every seam for perfect alignment. I did make sure while cutting the fabric that the front, back and sleeve all lined up. I used my serger to sew it up and hemmed on my sewing machine instead of my coverstitch for a bit more control. It’s so easy to hide stitching in the dark stripes!
I think a wide stripe can sometimes be a bit intimidating to wear, but it also makes for a great neutral statement piece! I like outfits with mixed prints, so I can picture wearing this with floral dresses for work or with leggings and a tunic on the weekend. Here I’m wearing a ruffled rayon tank I made last summer and an ITY wiggle dress I made last winter.
Gillian is a teacher, cat lady, and colour-fanatic, and blogs at craftingarainbow.wordpress.com .