Jasper sweater love

I love a good sweater - since I discovered Liberty sweater fabric I haven't looked back, actually spending a lot of time wearing them - perfect for working at home, being mum, late night feeds, running around the playground - you get the idea. 

So far every one I have made are using the Grainline Linden, and variations thereof.  I like but don't love this pattern.  Its just not as cosy as I would ideally like- the neck is too wide for my liking and I always wish it had pockets.  

So I finally got around to sewing up the Jasper sweater by Paprika patterns.  Now I'm ashamed to say I've had this pattern in my stash for a good few years and I knew I would love it the minute I saw it, but I didn't tackle it as I assumed it would eat fabric and that it would be complicated with welt pockets and all.  I am very pleased to report that I adore this pattern and neither concern proved to be true.  

The reasons I love it... its everything the Linden is not - snuggly & cosy, a little fitted and HAS POCKETS!  Its a straightforward sew and making the pocket is especially satisfying.  It  must use more fabric than the Linden, but because of the piecing, you can combine fabrics using up some scraps so I find it quite economical (I don't like to have to buy more than one metre of Liberty sweatshirt fleece/loopback due to cost and happily managed both of the below with that plus scraps left from other stuff.)

And there are 3 options- a hood, a funnel neck and a dress version.  I ve made the first 2, dress to follow ;)

jasper sweater pattern

Here is the first one I made and the sad story of my fabric letting me down... grrrrr. 

Its made with a Liberty Loopback, bought from Guthrie & Ghani with a contrasting Denim look Loopback from my stash.  Then I used a navy flecked jersey for lining pocket & hood.  I absolute love it.  

I really like the fit of the pattern- no adjustments at all, it fitted great.  I find the side panels give a bit of shape and structure and the contrasting fabric choice makes it look quite streamlined and less bulky than most sweaters.

The hood on this jumper is absolutely huge.  Its fine down, looks actually quite nice being chunky, but you just wouldn't wear it up - I could actually fit 2 heads in it.

The only negative I have on this are firstly the size of the hood and secondly, I don't like the way the hood is finished, a lot of seams would be visible, and very visible when it is so huge! Loopback was white on reverse, looking terrible so I lined the hood, but it was difficult to attach- next time I would construct hood differently and significantly reduce size.

Giant hood alert!!

I'm gutted to report that since washing it has incurred some issues.  I can't remember where I got the denim loopback from but its letting me down.  Some patches have gone really strange meaning one side looks totally different to the other- really don't understand it.  And when I ve washed it, its started coming away at the seams in 2 places- I've sewn alot of knit fabrics and I've never experienced this before!!.  Note to self,  never risk mixing Liberty fabric with an unknown quality one.  

 For my next one, I m using a trusted loopback from Fabworks with the Liberty to ensure it will stand the test of time...So onto version 2, this time without the hood.  This version I find more practical to wear actually- the neck sits nicer when not puled back by the giant hood and it fits easier under coats.  I've lived in this one since making it.

I started with the Liberty (also loopback from  G&G) and went through my stash to look for a royal blue to combine with it- but then I came across this duck egg loopback and it just looked perfect.  So that was that!  I then used a scrap of red as a pocket accent and then choose a very thick fleece back jersey for lining the neck- a nice contrast and the body helps the neck sit nicely and makes it extra snuggly.

I just love this.  Everyone needs one of these sweaters in their life!!

Nursery sewing

Hello!

I thought it would be nice to share some of the sewing my mum and I did to decorate our little ones nursery.

Its a small room, so we wanted to keep the walls white and add some bright accents.  When we started, we didn't know if it was a girl or boy, so its all bright and unisex.

My mum is my chief curtain maker and I just love this cloud fabric I bought and she sewed.  Its from Just fabrics, here cloud fabric

I then decided to make some kites to decorate the walls - I bought some contrasting fat quarters and made 2, one larger one for over the cot and one small one.  I just drew a template and. made it, stuffing with a bit of wadding.  I made little bows and put a loop at the end to pin them up.

I only recently finished everything - a cushion with the same fabric for on our red chair - I spend many hours sat in this chair, feeding.  The lovely throw was hand knitted by my friend Claire's mum. Its stunning colours.

Our bed and changing table are from Stokke, bought second hand and have already served us well with our first son.  I love the cot in its smallest shape, its so dinky and cute.  My mum made a cot bumper with animals on it and the mobile is from Mamas & Papas, bought a few years ago.

To finish off, I bought some wall stickers from Etsy (chocovenyl store) which were expensive but are just gorgeous!  You can see the squirrel, rabbit and birds above, and here are a few more.  Plus a wonderful woodland themed blanket that my mum made.

And  my favourite thing my mum made- which my first son also used- a lovely personalised blanket, which lives on our lounge floor for him to lie on.  And a picture from when he was tiny.

So there we have it, our lovely little nursery which our little man seems very happy in.  Not sure he will be so happy with how small the room is when he is bigger, but we will deal with that at a later stage :)

and to finish off, sharing a few outfits I made for him too.  So cute, though always sad that he only fits them for a matter of weeks!   I used the brindle and twig cross top pattern and the free baby tights pattern from Made By Rae, plus a few other things which are just cut from ready to wears.