Central Download

Ok, so Ive figured out another way to insert some Breton vibes into my wardrobe: as a kind of sweatshirt. Ive used up my official photographers goodwill, so whilst that replenishes, youll have to see this garment on the stand. Goodness, I hope the goodwill is sufficiently restored before #mmmay16!  

I want to talk about the fabric before the pattern in this post because that is where this project started. Back in August, I helped out at the Fabric Godmothers first open day. Josie was incredibly generous and let me pick a couple of lovely pieces of fabric as a thank you for my time. When I got home I kept thinking about this awesome paint-effect stripy french terry knit and was kicking myself for not having picked it at the time. I mentioned it whilst chatting with someone on twitter, and a short while later, two metres arrived in the post!!! Josie is the sweetest lady, let it be said! 

This garment is my third that has been based in some way on the vintage pattern pictured below. Im still firmly in love with my 1960s Breton top so I imagine this wont be the last time I try and recreate a little of that magic by turning to this pattern. This time I decided to monkey around with the hem, probably inspired by something Id seen via Pinterest. I eye-balled the curved hem shape and made the corresponding facing pattern piece. 

Because the french terry is so drapey, I probably should have omitted the bust darts (which I promise is more inline with my bust on my actual body; my stand is unrealistically pert!) but I wanted to get cracking so blazed ahead without doing so. I added a little patch pocket to break up the stripes a bit from the same fabric as the facings. The jury is still out on whether the fabrics go together, but I like that they both have a hand-painted effect to them. 

Until you see this modelled during #mmmay16, youll have to trust me when I tell you that this is a pretty good looking garment when worn. It is definitely more casual than the 1960s Breton version, which holds its shape very well, but thats fine as playgroup/ground-suitable wardrobe fodder is always welcome round these parts. Currently I have no cardigans that are suitable for layering over the top of this, so Ill have to wait until it is a lot warmer to bust it out properly. 

Im not, however, entirely convinced yet that the hem facing is a win. It feels slightly more constricting round my hips than it would if Id just hemmed it, and Im a little concerned that the drapey french terry might sag a little around the topstitching that secures the hem facing in place. If that ends up happening, Ill probably rethink the curved hem and re-hem it straight after unpicking the facing. 

Fabric: £0 (it was a gift from Fabric Godmother and sadly, although unsurprisingly, its no longer on their website so I cant even tell you how much it would cost. The last time I was there though, there was a tiny bit left on a roll, so if youre interested it might be worth contacting them)

Lining fabric: £0 (a scrap of a charity-shopped curtain that my mum gave me)

Pattern: £0 (well, I probably bought it on eBay yonks ago but Ive long since forgotten about its source so am considering it free!) 

Total: £0 (arguably)

This garment is the last of my nippy weather sewing plans. My aim was to make another version of my 1960s Breton top, as I wear that thing sooooo often. When I took out the fabric that I had lined up for my second version, I realised that it was way too thin to keep me very warm in nippy weather. Ill still make that version, but when the fleece came into my life, the project took on a different angle and the fabric and pattern kind of informed each other. 

I decided that full length sleeves would be required, and that the drop shoulders of the original 1960s Breton top pattern (based on the pattern pictured above) probably wouldnt sit very well in the stiffer fleece fabric. It became clear that a mashup was being called for so I used the Tilly and the Buttons Coco pattern (pictured below) for the armholes and sleeve in a size larger than I would usually require, and I decided to incorporate the funnel neck option as well for maximum snugness. I basically used my original Breton pattern from the armpits down, omitting the bust darts. 

I found approx. 1m of this stripy fleece in a reduced bin in a fabric shop/haberdashery called Thimbalinas in Bexhill. I was in there with Dolores and my mum a few weeks back (the latter was buying yarn to knit a cardi for the former). When I saw it I joked to myself I could make a fleece Breton!" Then I thought, Umm, actually I could make a fleece Breton.... So I spent about £5.60 on the metre and took it home to ponder. I decided that a contrast shoulder panel in a solid cream would hopefully make it more evident that a Breton top was what I was trying to emulate. The solid cream fleece also came from the Hastings branch of Thimbalinas. Initially I had intended to cut the sleeves entirely from the stripy fleece only, but there wasnt enough to I had to use the cream fleece for the tops of the arms as well. I kind of dislike the slight difference of fleece textures that comprise the sleeves, but there wasnt really any other option. The garment seams where stitched using my (long-suffering) overlocker, and I used my regular sewing machine for hemming. 

Im in two minds about this garment. On the one hand I love it because it is now the cosiest garment I own, and it means that my only other two cold-weather tops can get a tiny break! On the other hand, I look at these pictures and I see a someone who belongs on an allotment. Which is a ridiculous thing to think because actually I would LOVE an allotment! Although Ive been a mum for a couple of years now, and my barfly days have been largely left behind (two drink limit these days, amirite?), and Ive long been committed to comfort in any clothing I make, I think this garment is a significant leap in that direction that I didnt quite see coming.