Kapow! There goes another project on my nippy weather sewing plans list. I've just made the MIY Collection Brightside shrug, and I've got these pics to prove it!
Pattern:
I'm always on the look out for a cardigan-type pattern that can be made in knit fabric so that I'm not wholly reliant on charity shops for my knitwear selection. I've recently started teaching classes at the MIY Workshop, so I've had the chance to get up close and personal with her product range (she has lots of lovely samples hanging up around the studio) and fell pretty hard for this simple shrug pattern. It's basically what I wish I'd been making when I made these reversible bolero shrugs (here and here) a few years back. Those ones felt a bit formal somehow, and they saw very little wear before I finally sent them to the charity shop. The Brightside shrug, however, feels way more comfortable and relaxed.
The pattern itself is a very manageable three pieces: main body, neckband and cuffs. Even though I took care with the construction rather than rushing it together, and topstitched the seam allowances down, it still barely took an evening to put together. If you're in the market for a beginner-friendly/speedy cardi type pattern, this could be the one! It's available as a paper pattern as well as a PDF. Plus, if you're not sure about what type of fabric it'd work best in, or you struggle with sourcing knits, Wendy has put together some awesome kits that include the pattern, a sufficient quantity of fabulous fabric to make it in and matching thread. Those kits would make a wonderful gift for a friend or relly that is getting into sewing clothes.
BTW, I made the size M for this shrug. The fit is fine, but next time I think I'll make a size L for a slightly looser, cosier feel.
Fabric:
Maybe I was channelling Wendy's style when I went for a grey double knit for this project! Grey is a major element of her colour palette. Actually, the options in my stash were pretty limited, but luckily this gorgeously soft fabric would have been what I'd hoped to source if I went shopping for something suitable. It's been lurking in my stash for about four years, and I have no idea what the fibre content is because I got it second hand. In fact, I think it must have been a sample piece from a fabric or garment manufacturer because it has a perfect circle cut out of it, probably to add to a sample card somewhere.
It would have been nice to have made this shrug in a super jazzy contrast fabric, and I'll certainly keep my eyes open for a suitable piece in red, jade, mustard or maybe even coral (or leopard or stripes) but I'm sure this grey version will fit right into my wardrobe and go with lots of outfits.
Thoughts:
Although I work for MIY Workshop and MIY Collection are currently sponsors of this blog, I genuinely would have considered buying this shrug pattern anyway if I had discovered it in through different circumstances. Its speed of construction was a bonus, but what I really love about it is that it is really wearable. I'm just not interested in spending any sewing time on making stuff that won't see many, many wears, preferable for a number of years.
Cost:
Pattern: £0 (I was given a copy to review, however it can be purchased as a paper pattern for £15, PDF pattern for £9 and as a kit with fabric and thread for £45)
Fabric: £0 (a stash lurker that I remember very little about the origin of counts as £0 round here!)
Total: £0
My favourite total cost for a project!
