This is the last of the 4 Jacksons I made at the same time a year ago. I do have more planned, though, so I hope you’re not sick of this pattern yet!
I don’t know if I have much more to say about this pattern to be honest. It’s the same as all of the other versions, size 10 with no cuffs and hem bands, with a straightened hem.
The fabric was from Fabric Godmother and is reversible. I decided to go for the spotty side, because I didn’t want to make 2 striped tops at the same time (alongside the first Jackson I made), but I’m not sure this was the right choice now, looking back. I obviously won’t unpick the whole thing and sew it the other way around, though!
I really do like the fit of these Jacksons. I’ve got some jerseys I’m going to use for some short and long sleeved versions, and I’m going to make them all the same as these ones (and of course the short sleeved version I also made last year).
As I’ve mentioned a lot on here, my love for Helen’s Closet’s patterns is still going strong! This is defo going to become my go to knit top pattern I think. Do you have a go to tee pattern?
Another day, another Jackson sweatshirt. I’m playing mega catch-up with my sewing from pretty much the last year – I want to get better at posting consistently. Though I do it for a while, then ghost my blog for like 4 months at a time usually!
Anyway, onto my latest make to make it to the blog (which I made ages ago!).
This is another Helen’s Closet Jackson sweatshirt, made to the same size and with the same adjustments as my first version, and my whale version. Namely I made the size 10, straightened the hem and added some (unnecessary) length to the sleeves because I didn’t want the hem bands or cuffs.
I managed to mostly match the horizontal stripes on the side seams – they’re not totally straight so I couldn’t match both directions.
The fabric is some fleece-backed sweatshirting from Hey Sew Sister, if memory serves. As soon as I saw it, I had to buy it – it’s the perfect shade of mustard imho.
The Jackson has definitely become my go-to jersey top pattern. I like the oversized vibe I’ve got by going up 3 sizes from my measurements. I’ve got one more to share that I made last year, and a bunch more planned. Sorry not sorry. I’m sure if you’ve read my blog for a while, when I find a pattern I like, I stick to it (*coughs* Archer, Kalle, Dawn).
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you may know that I love whales. I sewed a whale to the back of my patchwork denim jacket. So when I saw this fabric on Hey Sew Sister, I had to snap it up straight away!
I made a bunch of Jacksons at the same time, but it’s taken a while for me to get around to blogging them all. I of course love Helen’s Closet, and this is definitely my new go-to pattern for knits. I’ve already shared my mustard striped one, and my navy striped tee version, but this might be my favourite – not that I’m biased because of the fabric!
I didn’t make any additional changes beyond what I did for my first version (they’re all the same size). I made the size 10, which is 3 sizes larger than my measurements. I love the fit and it especially works well in this sweatshirting fabric as it doesn’t have great stretch recovery (and it goes a bit white when it’s stretched).
I just frickin’ love the fabric! It has all different kinds of whales on, some in black and some in white. Obviously let me know if you see any other great whale fabric! Ideally in a brighter colour – that would be my only criticism.
I happen to have recently watched The Extraordinary Attorney Woo on Netflix and she loves whales, which is very pleasing! If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it. I can’t wait until the next series, but it won’t be until next year, sob!
I am typing this on a day it has poured down with rain all day in Oxford, so what better time to share one of my Summer makes! To be fair I have a bunch more I haven’t shared yet, but who cares about blogs being seasonably appropriate?!
This is a Helen’s Closet double bill – the Gilbert Shirt and the Arden Pants (shorts hack). I’ve made so many Arden pants at this point that I don’t even need the instructions. I always make the size 6 and these shorts were made from the same hacked version of the pattern as all of the other pairs I made slightly earlier in the year.
I made the Gilbert Shirt in the size 8, as with my other version, which is 2 sizes bigger than my measurements, to give the same over-sized fit. I do really love this pattern and definitely want to make some more for next Summer.
The fabric was the left-over linen from my backless suit. I had planned to make a pair of shorts from the same pattern as the trousers but didn’t get around to that. I had juuuust enough fabric to squeeze out both the shirt and the shorts – but the shirt couldn’t have any pockets and the inside yoke is made from a scrap of the pink linen I used for the other shorts. But it was a real scrap-buster! I really love the colour of the linen (which was from a shop in Abingdon) but to be honest the linen is a little thick for really hot weather – I did wear it on my Italian holiday when it was 35 degrees+ and I was a little sweaty. But to be fair I was sweating no matter what!
I really like wearing a matchy-matchy co-ord set. And of course, I could wear the garments with other things for a different vibe – and to get more wear out of both items. I think I might need to be on the lookout for some fun prints for a more ‘out there’ set for next Summer. Though next Summer feels a long way away from rainy, cold, dark Oxford!
I experimented with a french tuck, a half tuck, and not tucked in at all and I like it all the ways! But maybe the french tuck looks least good as the fabric is a little bulky to look nice?
Have you worn or made a summer co-ord set? I loved it on the Sewing Bee when they had to make a set – I’d not really heard of a co-ord set before that to be honest. And now I’m hooked!
I am going on holiday to Thailand next month so this might get one more outing this year!
I can’t quite believe it has taken me so long to make a Helen’s Closet Gilbert Shirt/Top! Because a) I love her patterns and b) I love making (and wearing shirts). She had the pattern on sale last month (I think) and I finally bought it and I’m so glad I did! I’ve made 2 so far and will probably be on the lookout for good summery cottony fabrics to make more for next Summer (or this year, you never know!?).
I made the size 8, which is 2 sizes bigger than my measurements put me on the size chart because I wanted a loose, slouchy fit. I maybe could have narrowed the shoulders slightly, but I think it’s just because this fabric is such a stiff cotton they stand a little proud of my actual shoulders!
I also removed the darts because I didn’t want it to have a ‘feminine’ fit. Helen has 2 different methods for doing this on her blog or instagram (I can’t remember which, sorry!). I did the easy method of making the size seam straight and taking the depth of the dart off the hem. I made sure the 2 side seams matched and fiddled around until it worked. I’m sure the ‘proper’ method would have had better, more accurate results but I wanted to make one asap!
The fabric is some very thick, quite stiff cotton, which my ex brother and sister in law bought me years ago. I always kept it in my stash, thinking ‘I’m sure the right project will come along eventually’ and I’m so glad I kept hold of it now as I’m not sure there’s a more perfect pattern than the Gilbert!
I’m not sure how much fabric there was – maybe 2 metres but it was very narrow so once I’d cut everything out, there were pretty much only some big-ish scraps. But I did have enough to cut out a matching, disguised pocket! I’m not by any means a pattern matching expert (understatement of the century!) but I do enjoy an invisible pocket when I have an obvious print going on!
As with all of Helen’s Closet’s patterns, the instructions (and drafting) are second to none. It’s my first time making a new pattern in a while and I had no problems. I’ve made a few pairs of Carolyn Pyjamas in my time and I think the construction for the Gilbert is better – though it does have the advantage of yokes, which help to enclose all the seams. I would definitely recommend this pattern if you’re looking for a foray into shirt making, but without some of the tricky details like cuffs and the collar/collar stand kind of collar. This would be a good way to build up your confidence, if you’re scared of full on shirt-making – though I think everyone can make a shirt. As with everything, it’s just one step after another. Straight lines and the occasional curved line. Easy!
Do you have any recommendations of anywhere to get some fun cotton prints? Or I also think this would look great in a slightly more drapey fabric even! I also think it would look great worn open over a vest/tee! The possibilities are endless!
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