03 Feb More St. James Please!
If I was a stylist, I suppose I would spend all of my time doing stuff like this…..
which is loads of fun!
Here I am in all my practicality….. but who needs fancy when Mood Fabrics’ beautiful St. James knits are available at the click of a button 😉
It was time for some every day clothes, and these phenomenal Ponte knits are the best. In 2017 I sewed the dress blogged here in the reverse colors ~ White & Black. This color way is ~ Black & White ~ featuring a larger black stripe and smaller white stripe. Either way, the black and white bug bit me hard for these year round stable knits available in several color patterns.
Classic twin sets serve me well for everyday dressing leading me to select two of my favorite patterns for this ensemble: the Blackwood Cardigan by Helen’s Closet and the Lark Tee by Grainline Studio .
Featuring four neckline options AND four sleeve options the Lark Tee is adaptable to numerous stretch fabrics.
I love all of the necklines but the crew neck won out perhaps due to our recent frigid temperatures. I like the way it works with the cardigan,
but also like it on its own as a capped sleeve top.
The Blackwood Cardigan by Helen’s Closet is a long time favorite pattern due to its longer length and slim silhouette. This is my fourth Blackwood and I can’t get enough (two previous Blackwoods blogged here)
As I was cutting the fabric, I reached out to my Instagram friends for their opinions about sewing the contrast band vs. the striped band. To no surprise it was almost evenly split!
In the end I ran slightly short of fabric to freely play with the stripes for both pieces and used a black rib knit trim from Mood (now sold out) for the bands. I think in the photo above one looks like spring and one winter…….
I omitted the cardigan’s lower band to achieve a longer silhouette,
and shortened the length of the cuffs by 3 inches.
Either the pattern sleeves are extra long or my arms are extra short because even with the alteration, the sleeves reach to the ends of my wrists!
Sewing with knits can be like a box of chocolates, but this knit is the cream of the crop! It’s wonderful recovery, ample stretch and medium weight are the characteristics I relish in knit fabrics. All seam allowances were finished with the serger.
In my last post, I said I was cautious about sewing too much black….. Black and white is a different story!
Until soon!
Karey Harrison
Posted at 18:35h, 03 FebruaryThis is a great combo. If the sleeves are still too long I think they would look good finished like you did the hem. The black sleeve bands add a horizontal note. Removing them would leave just the solid neckband as a strong vertical.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 05:26h, 04 FebruaryGreat suggestion, Karen! Many thanks 😊
Becky Holdswort
Posted at 19:01h, 03 FebruaryTotally precious on you! I really like that you didn’t put the band on the bottom of the cardigan. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your casual wardrobe.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 05:39h, 04 FebruaryAhhh…… thank you, Becky! I’ve only used the band once and even then, I modified it to a one inch band. I’m fairly judicious using large horizontal patterns 😉
Carol Odekirk
Posted at 19:35h, 03 FebruaryI like the clean, classic look of black and white stripes. You can’t go wrong with a twin set either.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 05:39h, 04 FebruaryMany thanks, Carol! Always good to have basics 😊😊
Gerhild Turner
Posted at 19:54h, 03 FebruaryBeautiful!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 05:40h, 04 FebruaryThank you, Gerhild!
Irene Mischkinis
Posted at 20:31h, 03 FebruaryMy favourite colour combination! And stripes to boot! Looks like you have yourself some very versatile pieces. Lovely!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 05:44h, 04 FebruaryMany thanks, Irene. Versatile is the name of the game, black and white are the ultimate versatile colors 😊
Rhonda Gatti
Posted at 20:55h, 03 FebruaryAs usual, it’s fantastic and looks great on you.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 05:46h, 04 FebruaryThank you, Rhonda! Both were enjoyable to sew 😉
Carolyn
Posted at 23:41h, 03 FebruaryThese are beautiful pieces and I like all of the ways you’ve styled them!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 05:48h, 04 FebruaryHi Carolyn! Thank you ~ I bet I can find 101 ways to style these versatile pieces 😊
Marianne Johansson
Posted at 04:13h, 04 FebruaryLovely outfit ! Classic !
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 05:49h, 04 FebruaryMany thanks, Marianne! Hooray for the classics! 😉
Patricia Flynn
Posted at 08:46h, 04 FebruaryStunning! Such beautiful work!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 09:23h, 04 FebruaryThank you, Patricia!
Ellen Miller
Posted at 12:39h, 04 FebruarySew Beautiful! xo….
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:14h, 04 FebruaryThank you, Ellen 😊
Alice Elliot
Posted at 14:32h, 04 FebruaryAll I can say is I LOVE IT!! Can’t wait to get seeing again after a brief vacation after the fast. A cardigan may well be it.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 16:15h, 04 FebruaryMany thanks, Alice and best wishes for a happy return to seWing 😉
Alice Elliot
Posted at 14:36h, 04 FebruaryOops! Sewing again!!
Jackie Shepherd
Posted at 11:45h, 06 FebruarySounds like you really like this fabric. Is it machine wash friendly? Black and white is a favorite of mine also!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:09h, 15 FebruaryJackie, The fabric washes beautifully! All was pre-washed before sewing to prevent shrinking. I think you’ll love it!
Kati
Posted at 06:17h, 13 FebruaryHi Sarah,
None of your images are displaying on any of our devices. 😢 We tested them on both of our Apple desktop computers, iPads, iPhones, literally tried every different setting possible (husband is well above average when it comes to computers) and spent a long time trying to fix the problem on our end. Have you ever come across this issue with any of your other readers before?
Thanks!
Kati
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:11h, 15 FebruaryKati ~ I don’t know what could be wrong. The images show on my family’s devices. Hope your situation is resolved soon 😊
Pattern review and Garment sewing excitement: Blackwood Cardi | Janome Life
Posted at 10:00h, 24 April[…] She has made a few of these Blackwood cardi’s – one just recently (above). Check out this link. And another Blackwood cardi make from Goodbye Valentino […]