Geodesic sweatshirt with pointed pixie hood

 

I bought this pattern many years ago when The Monthly Stitch was still running. It was part of a pattern bundle I bought during the Indie Pattern Month. I always intended to make it but until now never had the correct fabric. 

The Geodesic pattern does not have a hood but I wanted one so decided to use an existing top to copy. The problem though is the RTW hood is far too small. Its for aesthetics rather than use ( hippy stuff from a festival!). So I needed to make it quite a lot bigger so its actually a real hood to keep me warm not just something pretty to hang down my back.

So I traced round the RTW hippy hood then transposed the hood from a Burda sweatshirt that I know fits me on top and drew round the new design.

After cutting it out this is what I got:

The hood pattern is a very strange shape. I nearly sewed it on upside down but luckily I realised when pinning what I had done. 

This fabric is actually two french terrys ( cotton and lycra) from Pound Fabrics and both were my birthday gift to myself back in July. I did not have a clue what I would do with them just I liked them and so I bought 2m of each. So not the cheapest top since both fabrics were £9.50 /m. 

But the blue in particular is beautiful with gold flecks and I don't mean dark yellow I do mean metallic gold. The "red" is a multi coloured space scape type of print.  Though I also got a pair of leggings from each colour and have enough for a top made from the "red" colour too. I have not yet cut that and it will be a more basic top than this one.

It hit me to make the Geodesic when I was getting ready to have the operation. This then, was one of the last things I sewed. I have been planning to make one for years just never getting round to actually doing it. That never shortening to-sew list! 

I also made two pairs of leggings in these fabrics, which will be a nice change from my usual boring black french terry ones ( H&M) that I wear for most winters. Since I am not right now working they should brighten up my winter as well as keep me warm. Anyway right now I still have a swollen ankle and foot so cannot wear the leggings but decided to wear the top today. It was my first outing in fact  ( other than physio anyway) after the op to see my Mum. I was so happy to actually go somewhere and not be stuck inside. I have missed all but the first few days of September and half of October. 

So we stopped en-route and took these photos.

The pattern itself is an easy make.

 Its tedius cutting all those triangles and the pockets are tricky though not difficult. 

My calculations here were incorrect. I needed two more triangles to make this but it worked in the end. 

If you enjoy patchwork you would enjoy making this top. I made the longer version. 

I lengthened the sleeves with the intention not to have sleeve bands but just hems but I found they were still short so added the bands anyway. So if you do make this pattern check your sleeve length. I didn't I just assumed I would want them longer. I was lucky!

Surprisingly my pixie hood worked a treat. I am pleased with that and will be using that pattern again on a different top or dress. Not so sure as yet what I will make but I do like the hood very much. 

Now when I bought this, I had thought it would be a great pattern for remnants. In the end I properly designed this down to deciding not to have the triangles on the back etc. I just have a plain back piece ( a pattern option)  because I reckon this top looks better with that. I went for an all over blue look too rather than contrasting hood. I do have lots of French terry offcuts though so might have to have a go at another of these in a more multi-coloured remnanty mix in the future because it will be a good way to not waste those bits of fabric you get left with that are just too good to throw. And really how many offcuts do I need for possible pocket linings?

Ah in case you wanted to know the trousers are camo sweatshirting made here.

I have to say though I do love my tracksuits and luckily have loads of different choices of tracksuits, but having lived in them for the last 6 weeks I really do not intend to wear them again (once I can get into normal clothes) for at least a month. I can't wait to wear something else!

Have a lovely week and thanks for visiting,

Bracken