Hello sewing friends! Today I’m sharing three totally different looking tops I made from the same pattern where the only difference in approach was the fabric itself. If I hadn’t shared with you that these three tops were all made with similar options in same exact size…would you have known they all came from the same pattern? Read on, and let me know in the comments!
First, the pattern – this is the Ellie & Mac Fall in Love sweater. I’ve had this pattern for ages and it’s been a tried and true for me over the years. I think the first time I sewed it up was back in 2018. It’s a great beginner pattern due to a few features:
1) Relaxed fit – it’s meant to be oversized so you don’t have to nail your exact measurements.
2) Not a ton of pattern pieces and limited options – it’s a basic sweater/sweatshirt so no wondering if you cut the right neckband for the right neckline
3) No hemming! If you sew the pattern as designed (which I did in one of the three options), it comes with cuffs and a waistband
Next, let’s talk fabric. I was trying to force myself to sew up some basic solid pieces for this project, but I let myself deviate from the “basics” concept with my fabric choices. My three versions all use fabrics with amazing textures. I still ended up with some timeless wardrobe pieces, but they all have that extra something to them.
First version – I used a cream-colored sparkly rayon spandex rib knit. It has nice stretch and I ended up with a comfortable but elegant looking top. For this version, I elected to do a binding instead of the band option that came with the pattern. I also sewed one size smaller than I measured into, which I did with all three versions. Although I paired this with jeans, I also see this as a great office top paired with dressier pants, or a skirt and boots. I love how it turned out!
Next up – this amazing orange double knit fabric. It’s fairly light-weight, was easy to sew, and has a beautiful cable knit texture. For this version, I made two small modifications to the pattern. First, I omitted the cuffs and just hemmed the sleeves. And second, I widened the neckband piece by about ½ inch to make it a little chunkier. I love the color – very Fall pumpkin-esque! But I could also see this sweater working well into the Spring.
And finally – the fanciest! – I used a pink stretch velvet with an embossed pattern. I did a binding instead of a neckband, and for this version I left the sleeves raw versus hemming or doing the cuff. The result is a very different looking top than the first two, and it’s different than anything I currently have in my wardrobe.
So… fabric choices really DO make a huge difference with your finished garments! Coming back to my initial question – if I hadn’t told you these tops all came from the same pattern, would you have known? 😊
Thanks for checking out my post! I hope my projects have inspired you to take a risk on an unusual fabric, maybe pairing it with a tried and true pattern to see where it takes you.
Andrea | @happy.things.here
i like the fall color in your sweater knit, too. i just love fall! nc is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSo true about fabric choices - I have made the Toaster sweater multiple times and each one looks so different because of using different fabrics, and they're all great - your tops show how well that works!
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