Amongst the bolts
One of my happy places is hanging out amongst bolts of fabrics.
I’m lucky to have a lovely local fabric shop where I regularly teach Genoa Tote classes, buy sewing essentials (ie. thread, elastic & buttons), feed my fabric habit and have lots of chats and laughs along the way. I consider it cheap therapy!
On a recent visit to The Cloth Shop, I suggested to Kim (pictured) that I’d like to make a shop sample (in my size of course!) using one of their newly arrived bolts of boiled wool. I was inspired to sew a Saunio Cardigan after seeing Sara’s boiled wool version a few months ago.
The pattern is not a new one. It’s from one of the early Named collections and I’ve sewn it up twice before in quite different fabrics. This version has the right amount of coziness for chilly Autumn mornings, and in my books, the vibrant teal is nothing sort of divine.
The pattern is described as a oversized relaxed cardigan (I consider it a jacket, but each to their own!), with drop shoulders, three-quarter sleeves, a round neckline and overlapping front edges. It has been designed without closures (hello quick sew!) and the overlapping fronts have great movement whether you are lounging, standing, smirking, twirling or trying to look cool!
The pattern suggests that you top stitch the facings in place, but I opted for the time consuming route… I hand stitched down the facing and all of the hems! My stitches disappeared into the boiled wool like magic!
Pattern: Saunio Cardigan by Named
Size: 38-42 (the sizes are grouped… this is the middle of three sizes)
Fabric: Boiled wool/viscose blend from The Cloth Shop
Alterations: Hand stitched facing and hems
Accessories: Scarf from Scarlet Jones and boots from Florsheim
Gorgeous! As is that silk you made your shorts from…. I think I need that!
It is Rach… and you do. It’s fabulous stuff.
Hi Anna, everyone of the Saunio jackets you have made are great!, love this latest one the most, really suits you. Can you please help me? Am just making one and am at the stage of fitting the front facing, the facing is shorter than the front of the jacket, should this be right? The iron on interfacing is meaning the facing won’t stretch to meet the front of the cardigan. Hope you understand and can help, thanks Jo
Hi Jo. The front facing is shorter than the front jacket by the hem allowance. This reduces the bulk when you fold the hem up. I hope this makes sense. Best of luck.
Oh it’s lovely! And I bet gorgeously warm. I bet many a lady will be trying this on with glee, me included!
It’s so cozy Sarah. Perfect for those mornings with an autumn chill. Try away!
What a lovely cardigan! The dress form doesn’t do it justice! You have to attach one of these photos so people can see the lovely fit and drape.
What a good idea Sarah Jo. The poor dress form is armless, which definitely alters the drape of the garment.
This jacket is amazing! Yes, the colour is all sorts of gorgeous!
Thanks Jenya. I love to buck the ‘Melbourne wears black’ trend.
That wool looks divine! The jacket suits you very well, nice score with the “sew for the shop” gig.
It is divine fabric Shelley. The sewing sample gig is a self appointed voluntary position… and lots of fun!