Oversized Hoody Skulls Tshirt - May 22nd #MMM22

 

I wanted a large baggy over top thats not so thick as a sweatshirt that I can throw over other smaller tops in summer when its cooler in the evening, or wear on the beach - or when its raining!

I also wanted it to be a hoody. 

 I have lots of different hoody patterns but many are princess lines or fitted girly tops and I did not want that.

This is Newlook 6142 and I made size mens XL. I used the same pattern before for my mesh spotty top.  

 

This time though I shortened the sleeves and added cuffs.The cuffs are just scraps of black ribbed fabric.

 

I actually won this fabric from Minerva Crafts in a competition last year using my 2-tone dress as the entry. Or at least I won a voucher and used that to buy the fabric. I was so happy. I never usually win anything.

 

The lovely fabric is an expensive cotton and lycra fabric and as you can see is covered with grey and red sugar skulls. So I was slightly tempted to make leggings but I think I will wear this more. I find with leggings its fine on a warmer day but then if its cold or rainy I add an extra layer of something such as combat trousers or joggers over them, meaning they end up pilly due to the top fabric rubbing and it means if I make leggings they will not last long. And this fabric is very precious to me partly due to I actually won this, hence its taken a while to actually use it. I wanted a pattern that was basic with not too many lines or seams breaking up the skulls. It also need to be worthy of several seasons which I think this top will be.

Unfortunately, some of the photos are a bit blurred due to me happily twirling.

I went through so many ideas of what to make for months before deciding on this very basic and XL sized hoody.

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I had just 1.45m of the fabric which limits what can be made and also I wanted to use it all so I do not waste much of this lovely fabric and this design works for that. I do not have a lot left of this in bits. Making it an environmentally friendly top too!

Theres no doubt about it sometimes that basic is better for some of the nicer fabrics - so you get to see the design rather than have it all chopped up into sections. And I also like to wear big baggy tops so this works very well for me for summer - and probably autumn and winter as well.

Here its worn with my black narrow joggers which is a free pattern. 

The black ones I find a bit tight on the shins for my taste and the fabric is not very stretchy but then these were made to test the pattern out and the fabric was super cheap as well as being left over from an older project. 

Despite the tightness on my shins they are still wearable as you can see and I am wearing them all day today so they are not that bad but I did make the later versions of these a bit looser. But then thats the point of making a tester/ muslin isn't it.

I think its going to be a brilliant top with just about everything!

And I am confident this top will get worn a lot!

And thats what I wanted to achieve.

Have a great Sunday and thanks for popping by to visit me,

Bracken 

2-Tone Hoody Dress

 

I had the fabric about a year, maybe 2 years. I only bought a metre of each colour and thats the problem because there really was not enough of either colour to make anything from it. Or at least not until I got inspired recently.

Both of the fabrics are stretch lycra velvet - sold for dancewear so very nice and stretchy good quality fabric and its a real shame not to use it.

Anyway I was using the Simplicity 1251 pattern for another dress I wanted to make and it came to me this would work in it. Simplicity 1251 is a costume pattern I think but I have successfully made a lot of tops and dresses including for work from it and its a very nice pattern.

I even managed to line up the pattern on the sides on this one which has pleased me greatly!

I actually forgot that its the front piece that wraps round so I envisaged it having like a princess effect front when its really the back ends up with the princess look but I realised my mistake when I was putting the pattern pieces onto the fabric and I decided to go ahead and cut it anyway and it really does not matter because I am very pleased with how this has turned out. I also  raised the neckline slightly because I wanted a higher neck but otherwise this is the unchanged pattern. 

 

Though now I see the photos better  I am wondering should I do a FBA on this pattern and if yes that will probably be quite difficult due to the side seam having moved from the usual position. I am considering how already. Ah what it is to become more "experienced" at your sewing so you end up picking fault with every item you make and finding how to make it better next time.

I am going to the theatre at Christmas so I will be wearing this for my outing. Probably with a nice pair of boots or shoes and tights rather than leggings😁

Have a lovely week

Bracken