(Another) Cozy Floral Hemlock
Hi friends,
I'm just going to put it out there, Grainline patterns might be my favourite indie pattern brand. Jen's patterns just make me look really, really good.
The very very first make I shared on the blog with you guys was my first Hemlock sweater. Since making the garment, that sweater has been in constant rotation in my wardrobe. It's comfy enough to wear around the house, looks great with jeans for school, and I've even paired it with a sexier skirt for going out to a party.
This sweater is the ultimate wardrobe chameleon. I LOVE it. Plus the pattern is totally free!
Given the great success of my first Hemlock, I knew I needed to add another to my wardrobe. I ultimately decided to use this luscious floral knit I picked up during my winter Fabricland haul a few months ago. I originally wanted to make a dramatic floral maxi with this print, and really, I would still think that would be really cool. However, after seeing how much mileage my first Hemlock has been getting, I thought making a second version would be more practical.
Best decision ever!
This sweater is just as wonderful and just as comfy as its big sister. This print makes it a little dressier too, so I can see it pairing well with a lot of different outfits!
Construction Notes:
Pretty much the same as the first version, only I feel like the neckline band is a little tight. In retrospect, I probably should have lengthened it a little bit since this floral knit isn't as stretchy as the sweater knit I used before. Oh well, still love it!
I also decided to sew neckline in the flat instead of in the round.To do this, I sew the first shoulder seam together, then attach the neckband, then sew the other shoulder seam shut. Its not a super popular technique, but personally I think this is the best way to get a super flat neckline.
This time, I only tapered in the sleeves, not the side seams. I ended up taking them in by 2", and lengthening them about 3" from my previous version. Altogether, I've added about 5" to the sleeves to get them to a length I like.
Last time I decided to take some length off of hem, but this time I left it at the original length. Both options are really nice!
There we are, Hemlock Sweater #2. Don't be too surprised if you see a third coming at a later date, just saying!
Until next time,
Rachel
PS: Can we talk about how HARD it is to get nice blog pictures when you live in a city that's perpetually cloudy? (Nearly impossible). Sorry these are a little dark, here's a picture of my cat to make up for it. Please share your tips for nicer indoor photos down below!
