Monday 21 October 2013

Blogging by request

How very flattering!

I snuck a little photo in the Oliver + S pool and it seems it is perhaps worthy of a blog post after all as I got quite a few lovely compliments. So for those who can feel a copy coming on, here's another of my tutorials DIY - LIDs (Like I Did).


The pattern is another Oliver + S (of course) in the Nature Walk pullover and pants. This is, I think, the unsung hero of the Oliver + S stable. It's a pretty unassuming pattern but it's been used to knock out quick dance pants, multiple shorts for kindy, nice sweaters for boys and girls and has been the basis for a LOT of costumes. Here's the Flickr pool for inspiration (I LOVE the octonaut costume)

I'd made the Pullover and pants for P and wanted to give it a bit of a girly twist for A. She has many gorgeous knitted jumpers thanks to my amazing mother in law, but needed some throw in the wash type jumpers for everyday. Coincidentally, it was my mother in law who gave me the velour skirt that I cut this sweater from.

 
The pattern has a collar and I decided I wanted a hood instead. I used the hood pattern piece from Happy Homemade Vol 2 seen here:

 
It wasn't a perfect fit as this hood has quite a deep attachment at the front, so after making the hood I started pinning it at the centre back neck and then when I got to the front I just chopped off the most pointy part that didn't want to fit.


 
 
Then I folded over the hood lining as if it were the undercollar and sewed it down. Not as neatly as I should have done mind you, but I couldn't be bothered handstitching it first. There may or may not be spots where the raw edge will poke out after a bit of wearing...


The other changes I made were to cut the sleeves and the body sections from a single piece of fabric each rather than having seams where contrasting fabrics would normally be used. I also did this cause I had a very tight squeeze to cut this from the thrifted skirt and saving half an inch on each pattern piece was vital.

The lining was likewise cut from single pieces of fabric. I put the front lining on the front panel when I sewed the placket down. I'm sure if I'd thought more about it, a placket wouldn't have been necessary at all. Or even better, I'd like to have inserted a short zipper there as it does gape open a bit.

And then some ruffles at the pocket openings:

 
The pocket opening measured about 5 inches at the inner curvature, so I cut a 10 inch long strip that was 2 inches wide. Fold in half lengthwise then gather to fit the inner curvature. Because the ruffle's ends get sewn into the side seam there's no need to taper or finish the ends of the ruffles.
 
Looking at the photo above, I did learn that velour likes to be sewn in the right direction. The bottom hem and one sleeve went a bit wonky whereas the other sleeve is lovely.
 


 So there's my Nature Walk hoodie. It's already been worn as evidenced by the spaghetti sauce stain, but I pulled it out of the wash basket to share it with you. Thanks for asking!

14 comments:

  1. This looks very cosy - I love the hood. I always meant to make a proper, non-Octonauts version of this for A, but seeing this makes me realise it could be a good jumper for the girl child too.

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    1. I loved that costume! I don't know why a hood seems more girly than a collar. I also thought about changing the collar shape slightly. There are a few ways it can be girlied up a bit.

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  2. Thank you for taking the time to show how you mashed this pattern. I suppose the hood pattern piece from LTTS cape would work too. The ruffle on the pocket is a perfect detail to make this unsung hero pattern more girly. Nicely done!

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    1. Thanks for coming by Deb. Sure, the School days or LTTS Red Riding hood hoods would work, and possibly closer to the original collar shape. Best would be to use those hoods for height and depth and then use the neckline of the true collar piece. then it would fit properly at the neck line with no chopping bits off like I did.

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  3. Thank you for taking time to show how you made this! I will have to copy for this fall. (Love it!)

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    1. Go for it. I look forward to seeing yours (and anything to distract you from blazing through the LTTS book so much faster than me!0

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  4. wow, i love it. i love the colors you chose! it all works together so well. nicely done!

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    1. thank you. lucky mix of leftovers and thrifted skirt.

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  5. Love this! I suppose that's another pattern to go on my list. I am seriously tempted by this because of the bottoms (for dance class etc). The top half has never really appealed to me before now. Damn you! ;-)

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  6. I have been contemplating "nature walk" pattern for a while, and the collar was what was making me sit on the fence. So I *love* what you have done with it, and added the hood from happy homemade v.2. Absolutely brilliant! I may have to copy this. Oh and the ruffles, another lovely touch. Really really inspiring. -Asmita

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    1. Thanks Asmita. It is a nice basic jumper pattern with plenty of ways to change it around.

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  7. Oh what a lovely pattern mix! O & S mixed with Happy Homemade . . . bound to be beautiful (and it is:). It looks delightfully soft - I'm sure your daughter loves to wear it!

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    1. Thanks Lucinda. It is very snuggly, especially if you hold her upside down to hug her (which she loves) as the pile runs up!

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