I suppose that by this point in the season I should have moved on to spring wardrobe planning. But it takes a while to work out your ideas in fabric, and there is one more winter garment I've gotta get out of my head. I'm in hot pursuit of the perfect oversized funnel neck sweater. I've done a lot of sketching and a little tinkering, and way too much fabric shopping online. Here is my analysis:
Ready To Wear Inspiration.
My basic sweater criteria includes funnel neck, boxy body, falls at mid hip. The roomy fit makes it a great
top layer over just about anything. (You can even wear it instead of a jacket when it's 68 degrees in February.) I'm most smitten with the
Hackwith Design House sweater at the bottom right, the unstructured fit works with so many
silhouettes. It's the perfect color, and exactly the drape and waistline I have in mind. I'm thinking longer sleeves would make it more of a wardrobe staple.
Sewing Pattern Possibilities.
There are quite a few sweater patterns on the market at the moment that would be a a good starting point for a sweater. The Makers Atelier
Big Easy Top is a beautiful specimen. So cozy, but still sophisticated. (Anyone have experience with Maker's Atelier patterns?) I'm really taken with
this version by
Beyond Measure UK. The
Karl Dress by
Schneidernmeistern could be sized up and cropped into a great sweater. It is a
quick sew, and I love the way
Monika has styled her's as a top. The crisp shaped neckline of the Named Clothing
Talvikki Sweater is a more dressed up version of the oversized sweater. It's more structured than my vision, but
Heather's sweatshirt version makes a strong argument for it's casual wearability. The neckline and arms of the Sew House 7
Toaster Sweater 1 make it an easy candidate for sweater of the year. It would be great made up in
a wool knit, to add a little luxe to your loungewear. The Hey June
Talinn Sweater (not shown) is another attractive possibility with its chunky neck, and wrapped front.
When it comes right down to it, none of these patterns have all the little details I'm looking for in a an oversized sweater, so some modification will be necessary. The beauty of a simple design is how easily it can be altered to suit your personal style. A basic top can be tweaked into a garment with a totally different look. You could
add some swing to the Toaster Sweater, or graft the pleated neck of the MIY Collection
Parkwood Cowl onto the top of a cropped Karl Dress.
I began this little exercise looking for the perfect sweater pattern, but what fun would that be? I think I've got enough tracing paper, tape, and fabric to figure it out for myself.
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FOLLOW ALONG!
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