Remember how I mentioned fashioning a little cardi out of the leftovers from the ponytail top? Well, here ’tis!
If I say so myself this was a minor miracle in cutting out; why? Well I originally had bought this Kelly green jersey to make a St Patrick’s Day thingy which was actually cut out but not made up. It struck me early on in the piece that the finished garment would be tres hideous and could never ever been worn without inviting well-deserved mockery, so it was abandoned before any actual sewing was done. However, the perfectly-good-for-something-if-only-I could-work-out-what-it-was fabric was too good; a great colour (as long as it was separated from the St Patrick’s Day concept) and there was too much of it to just ruthlessly toss out. Luckily the pieces I had cut out were big enough to get the Pattern Magic ponytail top, and there were still some reasonably good sized pieces and scraps left after that, so I played with them. This is the result of my “play”; at my kind of “Play-Station”, if you will, hehe. The back of the cardigan is quite short and the two fronts are quite skinny and so give a rather sex-ay decolletage, but y’know what? I like that. I feel like the unusual shape is happily avant-garde and cool.
Something that may not be immediately apparent on first sight, but which amused me while I was making the cardi is this: the whole cardigan is made of just one fabric, and thread, and that is all. I used pieces of the same fabric for all the trims, and the buttons and closures are all made of the self-fabric also. Interesting little factoid, yes?
The closure is with long strips of self-fabric that were laid horizontally and topstitched down on the front of the cardi… as they go off the front edge these are faced with the same fabric (for stability and to lessen stretching through use) to make ribbon ties at the front. The front opening edges of the cardi were decoratively finished with two separate long strips; the underneath one is a wider straight cut strip, and then with a pinked narrower strip sewn on top. I’m really happy with the look of this, it is an interesting edge but still a unobtrusive as it is of the same fabric. The pinked edges remind me of banksia leaves…
The front lower edges are left raw, and the back lower edge of the cardi was finished with a strip like this: (I did this because the lower back edge is subject to stretching, and so this strip is cut on the grain to stabilise and strengthen this area)
While making the trims and buttons, I also amused myself by comparing what I was doing to Chanel’s jackets, which famously are often edged with trims made of the self fabric in various incarnations. So my own secret joke is to think of this as a Chanel-inspired cardi. Of course there is no quilted lining and the hemline is not weighted and therefore no real resemblance at all to a Chanel jacket…! but well, I did say “inspired” and one has to use one’s imagination here! Another little fact about Chanel’s earlier work is this: at a time when such fabric was considered only suitable for men’s underwear, her clothing was made of knit jersey … another tenuous little link, no?
But all the oddly shaped pieces and non-classic silhouette are very un Chanel!
Details:
Cardigan; my own design, Kelly-green cotton jersey
Dress; Simplicity 3745 modified, pink lace and beige border lace, details here (this is my other pink lace dress and not the one from yesterday’s post; embarrassing to admit I have two pink lace dresses but this is my more casual everyday one so that makes it alright, yes?)
Petticoat; Burda 8071, pink silk satin, details here
Shoes; Bronx, from Zomp shoes
Ingenious design! I really love how you did the trims and buttons with the same fabric.
Love it. Lots of nice and interesting details.
Your same fabric trim is great. Very effective, efficient and creative!
I really like your ponytail top. Somehow I missed that post. This cardigan is a work of genius. The features and details are all so cleverly crafted resulting in one very groovy cardi indeed. I'm a big fan of the colour too. I'll definitely be returning to this post when I'm in need of some inspiration.
What they all said! And I loved that it was all just one material plus thread. Very ingenious, you are a clever chookie! Knot buttons really add that extra texture against the banksia leaves (which what I was thinking when I scrolled down, and then you said it). Can't wait to see hwat happens over the weekend…
I love that color so much. Those little knot buttons are so neat. Very nice!
Brilliant! Playing around with fabric certainly does yield some very interesting results.
Your cardi is tres' stylish. Love the double horizontal trim detail across the front.
Always an inspiration.
That is so amazing! Even now I have problems believing that it was just made out of "scraps". It might not be 100% Channel, but it looks like a really expensive designer garment. It's such a lovely colour too. And it suits you ever so well.
very creative, the pinked trim is great, and you look great in that green.
Yes, I agree with everyone 🙂 The pinked trim is great and the knot buttons are so ingenious.
that's a nice one… especially the details on your cardigan are great!
Love all the trims, especially the pinking and knot buttons!
I like how you were short of fabric, but it has tested your creativity and you have come up with something different but better!
Love the cardigan – it's in one of my favorite colors, too. I hope you don't mind if I add it to my list of garments to knock-off!
Love your cardigan!
I love that colour, and the buttons are fantastic. Its amazing what can be made with oddly sized/shaped pieces when thats all there is. Love it.
Love it! I love everything about this. You have a wonderful creative way with fabric. I wish you could send some of your talent to me. 🙂
I love the color, and all of the little details. Those buttons are really cool-looking!
You are so creative and make the most interesting clothing. Love your green cardigan.
Bravo, this is gorgeous and so lovely with the pinked edged fabric used as the trim!
Beautiful cardigan. The color is beautiful and suits you so well. Love all your design details you've added.
It's a wonderful color, really close to my favorite shade of green! I really like the self-fabric embellishments!
love your original piece and the intricate details! (Chanel who?)
Those trims are so very clever.
I have a kelly green knit put aside for St Pats too…eventually it will emerge from the stash. When it does, I hope it looks as good as this.
Another Carolyn exclusive! So clever and such a beautiful colour. Love it!
Love the way you've trimmed the cardigan. Can you PLEASE post a tute on how to make the buttons?
Fantastic cardigan. I love the trim and the different hem lengths.
I can see a Carolyn-inspired front trim coming to a cardi at my place … (Chanel who?)
-Sewingelle
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