Hello Confident Friends!

I literally just finished my second garment, the Anegada Sweatshirt from Halfmoon Altier.  I am riding that finished project high and decided to get this post out while I’m still feeling confident. :)

I have been eyeing RTW quilted sweatshirts for a while.  They really take the sweatshirt up a notch and even seem acceptable for business casual, in some instances.  So when I saw this material at Joanns, it felt like fate. I purchased it with this pattern in mind, though admittedly i was worried that it wouldn’t drape nicely enough.

The material does make a very nice looking garment and looks from the outside just the way I’d hoped it would.  However, I’m not sure I would choose it again because it’s not cozy on the inside like you want a sweatshirt to be.  I’m hoping that it doesn’t cause me to sweat because it’s obviously not a natural fiber. I’m not wild about the drape but feel that it’s passable.  Because I didn’t care for the way the inside of the fabric looked, I chose to turn my neck and back lines under and stitch them into place rather than turn them out and leave them raw as the pattern called for.  Does that count as a hack????

At any rate, I did not have any trouble with the pattern or the material.  (Okay, I did sew the first cuff to the inside of the garment instead of the outside, but I consider that a “par for the course” issue.  I have to sew wrong sides together at least once a project.) This is the first shirt I have ever made, and I’m actually super happy with how it turned out!  I am planning to wear it to work tomorrow. So that officially makes this the first me-made that I will wear out of the house!!

What I learned:

• Basic shirt construction, including how to insert a sleeve (I believe this pattern makes it easier than most, so this was a good one to try it on)

I am anticipating getting lots of mileage out of this pattern.  I look forward to trying view B, but first, it’s time to sew some pajamas! Stay tuned to see how I do with the Fifi PJs by Tilly and the Buttons.