Sometimes my garments start with a pattern, and I buy the fabric afterwards for it. Other times, I think up an item I want to sew and find the pattern and fabric to match it. And sometimes I start with a fabric, and think about how I’d most like to wear it and find a pattern from there. This top is one of the latter.
I bought the “Old Gold” ribbed jersey from Like Sew Amazing (£19.50/m) and I originally thought I’d make a sleeveless tank with a high collar, but when it arrived it was SO SOFT and I knew it should instead be a polo neck (turtleneck) sweater instead.
However, I made the mistake of only buying 1m of this, but then I didn’t have nearly enough for long sleeves so I scrambled to buy the very last remnant, which Sarah kindly set aside for me. Thank you, Sarah!! So my yardage was in two pieces (1 + 0.8 metres) but it was plenty enough for this top. The “Old Gold” is sold out but there’s a little bit left in the Paprika and Black colourways.
I used the Named Ruska pattern (again!) from the first Named book “Breaking the Pattern”, using the curvy layer rather than the boxy one. This is the same as I did for the monochrome striped rib jersey top – the fabric of which was also coincidentally from Like Sew Amazing!
As with the previous top, I used a rectangular collar instead of the curved one in the pattern, lengthening it this time to be a polo/turtleneck instead of a wide band. I think I got the collar length to be exactly what I was after – it’s not so close or tall that it chokes me, but it’s still plenty tall enough even after folding it over.
With the extra remnant I bought, I actually would’ve had room to cut out a dress version of this instead – and I considered it – but then realised I’d get more wear from a top. But I may very well make a mobius scarf or snood from the leftover fabric because it really is just so soft and snuggly!
I really wanted to pair this sweater with my wide legged Claudia tribute trousers because the colours are SO delicious together. But I ended up wearing it with my brown linen Bob trousers here because I don’t think I can fit into the Claudia trousers right anymore after 4mo of barely leaving my bed…
I may have gone out on deck for the photos (during Storm Isha, if you were wondering why my hair is so windswept!) but this is how I’m usually wearing it, laying down in bed, or on the couch for something different.
PSA – our extended 10th Anniversary pattern sale is still on until the end of January now – save 20% on all digital sewing patterns with code “10FREAKINGYEARS”. This is likely the cheapest they’ll ever get, as I haven’t raised prices in the whole ten years, but they’ll need to inevitably increase soon…