My train arrives in Manchester at 12.30 on a very cold, but sunny Saturday in January 2017. I am literally chomping at the bit to get off the train. With a brief, absent-minded kiss to my husband, I rush as if hypnotised out of the train station. Never mind pedestrians, traffic, Saturday tourists. I am dragging my minuscule suitcase after me at an incredible speed. I almost run, filled with giddy excitement. It feels almost like a date, my heart rate is up, my cheeks are flushed. And finally, I arrive…
I don’t know if I should call this my happy place, or a den of iniquity, but here I am again in Abakhan in Manchester, face to face with a big challenge: how do I stop myself from buying my body weight in fabric.
Spoiler: I did not manage it. Remember the minuscule suitcase? Well, it was useless! I had to get a few large bags to accommodate all my loot. And it took myself, my long-suffering husband and another friend to carry all the stuff back home to London. We were in Manchester for a wedding and the day after was difficult, to say the least (urgh, did anyone say hangover?), without the added on luggage. But it was so worth it, as I got my fill of wonderful woolly knits to last me a long long time (well, until the next visit, of course).
But what does this have to do with anything other than showcasing my fabric madness?
Well, this jumper is made with fabric from that trip. I only got to sew a bit of that massive haul (the green rib jersey here and here and the rust jersey here).
I had forgotten all about this gorgeous knit fabric, it was only when I uprooted my sewing room that I found it again. So it jumped the queue and here we are.
Fabric
I’m not even sure how this colour is called. I want to say mustard, but it’s much warmer. Maybe a golden ochre?
This is a very soft knit poly with a metallic gold thread. As with everything in Abakhan’s remnant baskets, the fabric is a mystery, but I did the burn test and it definitely came out as something polyester. It has a nice drape, but is also quite fluffy, which I quite enjoyed snuggling in.
Pattern
When in doubt, dig up a Burda Magazine! Yes, I know, it’s a pain in the proverbial to untangle the spaghetti bowl of the copy sheets. Yes, the instructions are minimal.
But how awesome are some of those patterns? Obviously, not everything is everyone’s cup of tea, but I very rarely don’t find a pattern to fit a particular fabric or one of my crazy ideas. I think I might have even bought this fabric with this pattern in mind, as I can see it was saved on my Pinterest board ages ago.
Burda Description: Very oversized, V-neck pullover with slouchy sleeves and forward side seams and side vents.
It’s a very simple pattern, with only 3 pattern pieces and can be quickly assembled with the overlocker. The instructions are a bit weird, with a lot of hand sewing required (beah!) so I ended up doing things my way and using the coverstitch machine for the neckline and hem finishing.
I ended up having to do a bit of creative fabric cutting, as my fabric piece was a tiny bit less than required, so I ate into the side seams a bit. However, there is enough ease to go down even more, as you can see, it’s quite baggy.
Alterations/Modifications
The only notable change omitting the centre front seam, I cut it on the fold. I wasn’t sure how the fabric will sew, so I didn’t want to worry about puckered seams on my front. Well, not that I can live with them on my back, but less I see, less I stress if they went wrong.
I also used the regular t-shirt band insertion method and used the coverstich to top stitch it down. They were instructing you to hand stitch and I’m certainly not doing that! I’d rather unpick coverstitches twenty times over, haha!
Construction
This was the last project I sewed with my old Brother 1034D before I gave it away, sniff! But I got a shiny new Babylock Enlighten instead, so I wasn’t sad for too long :).
I reinforced the shoulder seams with iron-on 1/4” tape, as the overlocker did not want to sew the clear elastic for some reason. However you decide to do it, make sure you do reinforce, as the weight of the sleeves does hang off this seams and they will stretch out.
So, everything was sewn together with the overlocker, except for the neckband, and bottom hem and sleeve hems, which were coverstitched.
On the hems, I added a band which was then topstitched in place with the coverstich. Somehow the front hem was a bit wonky and this really helped to keep a nice, straight line. Also, I think it helps the garment hang nicer. The fabric is quite light and fluffy, so it benefits from a bit of weight. The sleeves were just turned over and topstitched with a two needles coverstitch.
The one watch-out would be to make sure you mark the slit ends carefully, as I forgot about them and could not understand why the back and front pieces don’t match. Then I tweaked that there was a slit and the sides were not the same length.
Wear & Style
This is my new favourite colour this autumn, and I want to wear it all the time! In fact, I have already worn this jumper loads since I finished it last week. I probably need to sew myself something else in this colour for a little variation. I just feel so nice and snuggly in it, but because of the metallic thread, it also looks nicer than just a regular sweatshirt.
So far, I have styled it with tight jeans, like in these pictures and also with a pair of dark culottes and a pair of faux leather trousers. I love the loose/tight combo, but it equally goes great with something looser. There is something about an oversized jumper that goes great with leather. So here I am wearing it with my fitted leather jacket, but I also wore it with a more masculine looking biker jacket.
What else I love about this one? I got so many disbelieving comments when I told people I made it. Everyone thought it was RTW, and to me, that is a compliment!
P.S. Hope you’re appreciating my matching socks combo, I’ve had these ages but only just got a chance to show them some love! ‘Tis the colour palette season :).
*************
Details recap:
Pattern: Burda Style Magazine Oversize V-Neck Sweater 12/2015 #118A – also available in PDF on the BurdaStyle website. Size 38, with 1/4” SA
Fabric: Poly knit jersey with metallic thread from Abakhan
Notions: None
Alterations: Removed the centre front seam (cut on the fold); finished the neckline with a visible band (t-shirt) and used the coverstitch to finish neckline, hem and sleeves.
Next time: Maybe go one size down.
Other versions: Only one other review I could find on Pattern Review.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO ABAKHAN? LOVE OR LOATHE? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS OR TWEET ME @SEWRENDIPITY!
————- DON’T MISS A SINGLE POST —————
———— FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA ————-
TWITTER|INSTAGRAM|FACEBOOK|PINTEREST|BLOGLOVIN’
OH. MY. GOSH. I love everything! The colour, the shape, the amazing pictures, and definitely the socks! Also loving the image of you making people drag your fabric home for you, because we have all bee there at some point! š What an awesome project!
Author
Thank you Gillian! Iām going back to that shop in November – they donāt have any stores in London, only the North of England, a blessing in disguise really. My husband is worried š. But itās ok, weāre getting a new wardrobe so more fabric storage space, ha ha!Not that I have a fabric habit or anything… š¬
The first thing I noticed was the matching socks! This jumper is so on trend and I want one but summer is hopefully coming so I shall abstain for now. Lovely make Alex!
Author
Thank you! I forget you lucky people are going into summer now! There is a version in Burda in much lighter fabric, might work for a summer cover-up piece too.
Love this make! That color is great on you and the pattern is such a find. Beautiful photos too!
Author
Thank you! I have again dragged my husband taking pictures all over town. I realised that the City of London is the best place at the weekend, the buildings are amazing and there are very few people around. And we had an amazing sunny weekend, yay for Indian summers!
Stunning Alex! I love the golden shade with your complexion and the styling is fabulous. Loving the great photos too.
I really, really need to get my butt to Abakhan sometime!
Author
Thank you! š My husband is my hero, he did such an amazing job with this shoot. I only had to do a tiny bit of editing. I just saw that there is an Abakhan in Stoke, is that closer? Btw, Iām going to the cocktail hour party on the 10th in Manchester, if you fancy. Iām definitely including some Abakhan visits, ha ha!
Oh, I would have loved to do the cocktail hour party but I don’t think I can unfortunately ā¹. Yea Stoke is a bit nearer for me for Abakhan(my dad is in hosp near there at the mo). I have Sew Brum soon too š so that will be my first fabric splurge day.
Author
So sorry your dad is still unwell :(. Unfortunately, no Sew Brum for me, I already had plans for that date. But I hope to see you again very soon!
I adore this sweater!! (And those matching socks with the black trousers and brogues–it’s fantastic!) This is such a great silhouette for colder weather, and the sparkle in the fabric adds a touch of glam to it.
I have heard of Abakhan from UK bloggers I follow and I am very jealous that such a gem (with a seemingly endless supply of amazing remnant pieces!) is there to be visited. If I ever make it to the North of England, I’ll probably go on a bender at Abakhan, haha!
Author
Thank you!! Someone suggested the colour is called saffron, so I definitely need more saffron in my life!
Abakhan is amazing! Not the best quality fabric, but the pleasure of going through the remnant baskets is the selling point. Such a thrill! I just saw the have shops all over the Baltics too!!
I love LOVE LOVE this! Great colour, great design, and it look spectacular on you. Your photos look great, too. So worth dragging multiple suitcases home with a hangover! lol
Author
Thank you!! I am so happy with these pics, my husband really outdid himself. And totally worth it š¬!
Alex…what a terrific make!!! I just love the whole outfit and your hair is just fab! š
Author
Thank you so much! I do find short hair so easy to live with, just wash and go. A bit like this jumper, ha ha!