I’ve been basically obsessively fangirling over Thread Theory patterns since the first ones came out. I love their styling, their presentation, the whole vibe. Plus, Canadian! To the point where I actually re-purchased some patterns I already have in PDF when the paper versions came out. What I haven’t done, though, is make any yet. How terrible. I’m perfectly happy to hoard thrift store patterns til the cows come home, but if I’m going to pay indie prices, I should really be using them.
Ever since I first got the Newcastle cardigan, like two years ago? I’ve wanted to make a version for my father. If only because I thought he might wear it and I know my husband won’t. The hold up was the fabric—nothing suitably classy ever seemed to present itself.
Well, I said before that this was a good fall for sweater knits* at my local Fabricland—one of them that came in was this gorgeous speckled thing that looks knitted on the outside but fleecy on the inside. A little bell went off inside my head that this was THE ONE. And just in time for my Dad’s 70th birthday, too.
Since it was a rather pricy fabric, I had hoped to do it as a shop project, but a colleague yoinked the men’s cardigan slot so I had to resign myself to waiting for a sale and hoping the bolt didn’t sell out in that time.
It didn’t, quite , and eventually the required yardage made it home with me.
Once I pulled out the pattern again I remembered the cool contrast yoke option and really wanted to play around with it. A round of stash diving eventually turned up several meters of this olive green, slightly stretchy textured faux suede. It’s that odd olive colour that looks green under fluorescents and almost brown in regular light. But it was basically perfect, and a gift from another colleague who was de stashing last year. Win!
green faux suede also goes well with my costume gas-mask piece. Win! 😉
Working with this pattern was really a pleasure. I loved the drafting (lots of notches) which made things like setting the sleeves in flat super easy. (As per instructions! They actually instruct you to set in the sleeves flat!) They call for lots of knit interfacing, and I was happy to add it in wherever it was called for. Plus some knit fusetape a few other places. :)I made about a mile of bias tape with my faux-suede and bound the inside of the facing and also the top of the hem. Which is super yummy and I then got no pictures of. 😝
pressing the button band. you can see the knit fusetape I added, too.
I throughly enjoyed the pattern and the construction, but I didn’t get a lot of good pictures.
Buttonhole samples
The biggest worry, with such a gift, is of course the fit. I made the XL, and since the reviews indicated the sleeves were long, I didn’t add to them as per the usual family adjustment. I think they will be ok, though.
Though if they’re not, I will never know. My father will never complain, and he’s the sort that he’ll probably wear whatever I make, at least when I come over to visit. Right now, the only thing missing is elbow patches… I’ll add them at some point when they’re required, I suppose.
* I feel the need to add a caveat here—Fabricland got a much bigger variety with some interesting fabrics. The fibres and overall quality are very run of the mill—lots of polyester, a tiny bit of acrylic. My white sweater is already pilling like crazy. If you want genuinely gorgeous sweater knit, go drool over the O! Jolly shop or something.
Tanit-Isis Sews 
Very nice.
Thank you!!!
This is so gorgeously made! I love it. And thanks for the info about Thread Theory. How have I never heard of that?
They mostly do fairly trendy menswear—which is great because no one makes patterns along those lines, but less great because none of the men in my life are very trendy. 😉
I love your ‘break room at work’ photo! Cause that’s what it looks like (tiny microwave perched on the old fridge), you got your hand on your hip and taking the photo with the other because hey, it’s a mirror! At work!
Love those buttons.
That’s exactly what it is! Sadly for some reason that’s the best shot of the finished cardigan I got. Darned presents. 😉
I’ve always loved this pattern too! Your version looks great on you AND your dad – maybe you need to make yourself one??? 😉
I’m not even a guy and I want this cardigan for myself*!! Great job, and I’m sure your dad is appropriately thrilled, even if he doesn’t show it on the outside. 😉 *sigh* Men…
*I’m only slightly joking about making one of these for myself…
It’s pretty nice—if I didn’t have such a hate-on for the dropped shoulder look I might have to make myself one…
I love this cardigan and I am sure your dad does too. And Oh My!!! I had to peek and drool at the Oh! Jolly! web site. I am not fond of the polyester knits (althou I do sew with and wear them). The prices on the other site remind me why. But, OMG!!! Wouldn’t it be nice.
It would be nice, wouldn’t it? Well, we can dream… 😉
Great cardi! I bet your dad will love it.
It looks like your family had a very Happy Holidays. Best wishes for the new year 🙂
Thank you! It was a very satisfactory holiday… Only problem is the going-back-to-work-tomorrow part… 😛
Very nice! It is better than RTW!
Thank you! 🙂 hopefully it’s not quite like anything else he has. 😉
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