The Brunswick Pullover by Hey June Handmade

If you see me this cold season, there's a good chance I will be wearing a Brunswick Pullover, the newest pattern from Hey June Handmade!

The Brunswick Pullover is a dolman sleeved pullover with a relaxed, oversized fit. View A has a hood, button (or snap) plackets on the side seams, and a zippered sleeve pocket. View B has a cowl and a kangaroo pocket, though the extras on the views are interchangeable! The zippered pocket and button plackets are excellent opportunities to use your pretty woven scraps! I was pleasantly surprised to find that my phone doesn't constantly fall out of the kangaroo pocket because of how Adrianna drafted the sides! (disclaimer- it's probably not cartwheel proof but my phone didn't fall out once during the course of my normal day picking stuff off the floor, running errands, etc). The Brunswick Pullover has a slightly high low hem or a slightly cropped option, like the pink one in the listing.

The Brunswick Pullover comes in sizes 2-22 and calls for sweatshirting like fabrics . Like all of Adrianna's patterns the instructions are clear and the text and computer images guide you to a professional finish. The pattern can be printed in layers so you only need to print the size(s) you need. There is also a table to print the pages you need and interfacing pattern pieces. Pattern pieces include notches and markings to line everything up just right.

According to the chart I fell between a size 12 and 14. This purple one is a size 14 and the intended fit. When I was sewing it (especially after sewing items for my little girls) it looked big but somehow when it's on it doesn't look like I'm wearing something that's too big, just oversized. I used anti pill plush fleece from Joann for both of these pullovers. It is much nicer than the regular anti pill fleece. I actually didn't even realize it existed until getting the fabric for the beak of Lisbon's penguin suit. Then I used it for Ansley's costume and it's held up well so I figured it was worth a try. So the purple is a size 14 with the subtle high low hem, kangaroo pocket from view B and the hood from view A. I omitted the grommets because I don't have any in The Stash. Do you have a favorite source? Here are a bunch of pics so you can see what the hood looks like up and down and with my hair in the way and out of the way.

(after sewing these versions, the sleeves were shortened about an inch for the final and the cowl was widened about an inch for the front piece and the back piece)

















I was pleasantly surprised the neck sits at just the right place to be snuggly and warm with the cowl and hoodie but doesn't make me feel claustrophobic. I had a job after college that required wearing a tie and it drove me crazy. And the job wasn't in my not marketable with only a bachelor's field, human biology. Anyway the cowl neck and hoodie are fantastic. The cowl looks different depending on the fabric used. Mine looks more structured than some of the other testers' versions, so keep that in mind when you select your fabric and options.

This grey is a size 10 with the cowl and snap placket options, also in anti pill plush fleece. I thought it would be an interesting comparison to use the same fabric with different sizes. (I am in the middle of sewing a size 12 still since I lost a few sewing days to headaches.) I also love the fit of this grey one too! The plackets are such a great detail! (I'm also wearing my brycebridge jeans (combo of the bryce cargos and sandbridge skirt) in these pics and they are holding up well.











Which combo(s) will you sew first? There is so much inspiration in the testers' post and I am loving the ones in the listing too! There's also a sale code to save 20% until November 26, 2018 on the landing page of Hey June Handmade and in Adrianna's instagram. And here's my (aff link if you'd like- no additional cost to you).

Thanks for stopping by!!

The DIA Sweater and Tunic by Misusu Patterns

Hi! Today I'm sharing my DIA sweaters by Elles of Misusu Patterns. I can't remember when I first stumbled upon the DIA sweater pattern but at the time it only came in small child sizes. I loved the pieced diamond and was so sad it didn't come in my size or my oldest's size. Fast forward several months and Elles announced she was expanding to larger children's sizes and women's sizes! I couldn't apply fast enough even though I was already involved with other pattern tests and blog posts and have a massive list of items I want to sew. (Tell me I'm not alone!). I was elated to be picked to test!!

The lovely DIA sweater and tunic pattern releases on Friday, November 16th. (I will update and post a direct link here when it's live!)

This was my first Misusu pattern. I was impressed with the thoroughness of the instructions and professional finishing techniques. I love the attention Elles gives to drafting and the patterns include text and computerized diagrams of how to lengthen/shorten/blend/perform an FBA. The pattern pieces themselves include seam allowances and notches to line everything up properly. The women's pattern comes in sizes AA-JJ and the children's pattern comes in sizes 80-168 and include body measurements and finished garment measurements in metric (centimeters) and imperial (inches). The patterns can be printed in layers. The women's includes a straight hemmed sweater, a high low sweater, and tunic length as well as multiple sleeve lengths. The children's includes the straight hemmed sweater, high low sweater, and tunic with multiple sleeve lengths and a puffed sleeve option. There is a basic front option, a pieced diamond option, and a solid diamond option which is great for precious scraps or certain prints/designs that you might not want to break up.

I chose to sew the high low sweater and long sleeve for all of us. I really enjoyed piecing the diamonds together and the logical way the front piece of the sweater is pieced together. I haven't really done piecing before and I was surprised how much I liked it! The fabric I used for all of these (except the white tester) is a fleece backed athletic fabric from the Loungeletics line at Joanns. I was disappointed to learn it is no longer available because I really wanted a grey and a blue DIA.

This white version is sewn in sweatshirting, leftover from Lisbon's Halloween costume. I used ribbing for the bands, which I hadn't ever done before. It was super easy and result is nice. If I could find more ribbing that coordinated with fabric I would probably use it more often! I loved that there are separate neckband pieces for ribbing vs other knits. There are separate pattern pieces for the different hem bands too! I accidentally used the wrong one for this white basic front sweater but it doesn't really show in pics. I sewed size EE. I am between sizes EE and FF. I think the fit on this is just right! I love the high low and I have styled it with leggings (like in these pics), and a pencil skirt, and jeans. It's a super versatile piece in my wardrobe.













This purple version is a size FF and the bottom band width has been changed to be slightly smaller in the final version of the pattern. I feel like this is a little too big on me (especially the back) but it's perfectly comfy and great for Thanksgiving and lounging and layering over clothes. The next one I sew will likely be an EE with an FBA.



















Ansley picked the fabric colors and layout for hers. I think she was also wishing I had more of the grey and blue in The Stash. This is test version 1 and a size 146. She is a little short for the drafted height but I didn't realize it until I tried it on her. Oops. Her chest is a tiny bit small for size 146 but her waist and hips are right at size 146. I don't think it looks too big on her but I had to ask her to stop hiding her hands in the cuffs when we took these pictures.









Lisbon's is test version 2 and, if I'm not mistaken, is pretty much the final version. (*during testing it's expected that there will be slight tweaks to the fit or instructions as testers sew up their versions and as the designer gets to see what it looks like on different bodies. I like to make it clear which versions I share though and if they differ from the final versions of the patterns so customers know what to expect). I sewed a size 116 for her and she is pretty much between size 110 and 116. I think hers is perfect! It fits well and she loves it!











And we took lots of silly pictures!





























































I want to sew the non pieced diamond in flip sequins next for the girls. I've never sewn sequins before so this will be interesting! Which one will you sew first?

Thanks for stopping by!