Patrones #289 cardi

The mornings are getting cooler and my office is fridge like.  I need some warmish things but jackets demand a bit more concentration to make than I'm feeling.  Cardi time!  Cardis are such good quick gratification projects aren't they?  Good stash user-uppers too. 

You always hope that a pattern is going to be good but isn't it nice when a pattern turns out even better than you expected.  I've been meaning to make this Patrones cardi for ages.

Of course I've made 2. 

The pattern is from Patrones #289 Model 9.  The fabric for both is a modal/wool from Potters Textiles Outlet Store.  I was wondering what 'modal' was - apparently made from cellulose, as with rayon I guess.   The mix of wool and modal is wonderfully soft whatever it is. 

They do suggest 1.5 metres of 140 cm fabric but I got these out of a metre each - this is great for using up remnants.

I didn't make a muslin and when I tried on the first version discovered that the back neck was so wide it slipped straight off my shoulders and the shoulder seams were down on my collarbones.  I took 12 cm (yikes) off the length of the back neck band and eased in heaps of the fabric by gathering. 

 To make:

• staystitch and and clip at notches.
• Sew shoulder seams and under sleeve up to notches.  I did a french seam using wooly nylon thread in the bobbin and a stretch zigzag stitch on the sewing machine.  I so loathe trying to changing my overlocking thread I avoid it whereever possible for small projects.  

• Sew centre back seam of bands. 

•  Sew other band seams.

• Sew one seam of the band to the bodice, all the way round. 

• So it looks like this.

• And then turn in the seam and sew around the band on the inside.  I handsewed as I was in the mood but machine stitching would be quicker I guess.
• The sleeves were enormously long so I took quite a bit off the length.
• The cuffs were too wide so I took in 2cm.  Sew cuff to sleeves.

And if you have this Patrones, I highly recommend this one....  a nice, quick project.