Happy Monday. Today I’m sharing with you this super easy to sew Chelsea Cardigan from Designer Stitch Patterns. The Chelsea Cardigan, is hands down the easiest and my favorite Designer Stitch pattern so far! It only took 1 morning to make and I’m in love.
Design & Fabric Choice
The Chelsea Cardigan pattern comes with 3 length options – Hip, Mid Thigh and High Calf length. I decided that I wanted to make the high calf length option, but I’ve already got my eye on the mid thigh view. I made a straight size 5 with no alterations at all. This pattern is very forgiving since the fabric requirement is anything with a high stretch.
Fabric suggestions:
- Sweater Knits
- 2 x 2 Rib Knits or equivalent
- Stretch Lace
- Stretch Mesh
- Wool and Wool types
Knits with Spandex mix in composition of
- Bamboo and Bamboo types
- Cotton and cotton types
- Wool and wool types
- Poly mixes
- Rayon mixes
- Wool and Wool Types
Since the South Florida winters tend to be warm, I did not have any sweater knit in my fabric stash. I went to JOANN Fabric and found this yummy Varsity Club Ribbed Knit Fabric in Navy which you can purchase here. I love the white specks of color it has and it’s blue, which is my favorite color. This fabric is so soft and the perfect weight for a Florida winter.
Construction Tips
Sewing up this cardigan was actually very simple, once you understand what needle and stitch to use. The pattern instructions are very detailed and explain to use a jersey needle because the needle has a rounded tip which pushes through the knit fabric without ruining your fabric fibers. The instructions also give you different stitch options to use during construction. I decided to use my serger to make my cardigan. This was the very first time I ever used my serger to completely sew a garment together. Using the serger made sewing up my cardigan that much quicker.
I have a confession to make. I usually follow the pattern instructions and I didn’t this time. Once you sew on part of the collar the instructions want you to hand sew the collar closed so that the stitches will not be visible. Well, I don’t really hand sew. I’m horrible at it and whenever a pattern calls for hand sewing, I find a way around it. Well, I pressed and pinned my collar in place and I top stitched it closed and no one is the wiser. I used a twin needle and it actually gives it a very nice professional finish. I also used the twin needle for the front part of the cardigan.
Designer Stitch Patterns just released the Chelsea Cardigan and as with all Designer Stitch Pattern releases, it’s on SALE for a limited time! You can purchase your pattern here. If you’re on the fence about getting this pattern, you can check out my sew friend over on Calcedonia Sewing where she does a great review here.
What do you think about my Chelsea Cardigan? I hope you love it as much as I do. I plan on making it in a mid hip length next. Make sure you let me know if you end up making this pattern. I would love to see your version. OH man, I almost forgot! Did I mention that it has pockets?!!!
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