I have been inspired by a few bloggers to make this Sewhouse 7 Toaster sweater, but when I saw Hélène’s, with the pockets, I was smitten and had to get sewing straight away.
I made version 2, and scraped it out of a tiny bit of fleece that I bought to make a small person tracksuit when Tom was a baby!
The advantage of using fabric this old is that it is 100% cotton, which is quite scarce now.
Hélène noted that the top is very short, and I would have lengthened it, except I didn’t have enough fabric. As it was I had to cut the sleeves in half and join them. I disguised the join with a bit of reverse coverstitching, and so that it wouldn’t look too obvious, I made a little design feature by using three lines of coverstitching on the right arm, and single on the left.
Hélène added pockets to hers, so in an act of shameless copying I decided that I wanted pockets too. Then I started fossicking for fabric to use (I didn’t have enough blue fleece) and found this navy blue strip left over from one of Mark’s rugby tops. I then got totally creative by folding it over and creating two pockets from the one strip of fabric. One is easy to use, as above, and the other is a little more awkward, but is fabulous for my phone.
I am beginning to think that 2017 might be the year of creative pockets as I’m on a roll, having created two :).
I did get a little boastful on Instagram about my coverstitching as I pretty much mastered going round the corners on the hem, which I’m trying to show here. I’m standing strangely as I just noticed a cobweb high up on the wall and got distracted! But look at those corners!!
The obligatory back view.
The verdict: This is a really nice pattern, which went together really well. It only took a couple of hours to make, with most of my time being taken up with fussing around over the pocket and the coverstitching. I am not wholly convinced about the neckline. It is caught down at the shoulder seams, with the remainder of it floating free, which means that, as I am not a careful dresser, it can look a bit wrinkled instead of being a nice smooth funnel neck, as per the one on the pattern. I made this a couple of weeks ago, thinking that I wouldn’t be able to wear it for a few months, but the weather went completely pear shaped today, and it’s currently sitting on 16°C, which is freezing, in fact I just heard that it’s the coldest February day on record,so I popped the top on and I’ve been as warm as toast. It is really comfortable and quietly smart for a sweatshirt style top, and I’ve decided that I really quite like the short length. Version 1 is on my list, when I’ve found the right fabric in my stash.
Love the stitching detail on this. How do you do the coverstitching around the sleeves with a serger? Do you do it flat then then sew the sleeve?
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Thank you, and yes, I coverstitched the sleeves flat and then sewed them up. I had to ensure that the coverstitching would meet at the seams, which is the only slightly tricky bit.
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This toaster sweater really looks fantastic on you. You are now a coverstitching pro, Sue! I had the same thoughts about the neckline, but finally it is quite stable and I like its Audrey-Hepburnesque vibe. Can’t wait to see your version 1. Why don’t we make it together (on each side of the planet) this week-end and post it on IG next Monday? Are you game? xx
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Oh nice idea!! Then we can wear together for my visit!!
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I love the pocket. That’s a neat idea. I’ve been curious what type of coverstitch machine you have, since you’ve been doing so much reverse coverstitching. I finally got one (Brother 2340CV) and I’m not sure the stitch quality on mine is consistent enough to use it for reverse coverstitching.
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I have a Bernina L220 and a Babylock Evolution. I tend to now leave the Babylock set up for overlooking and use the bernina for cs. It does spit the dummy from time to time though.
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This looks lovely Sue! I really love all your contrasting stitching. You’ve really mastered that coverstitch!
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Getting there!
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Fabulous work with those corners using the coverstitch. Beautiful colour on you and those pockets are so creative.
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Thank you Christine. I hardly ever wore blue until a couple of years ago and now I am a complete convert
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You’ve done a great job making this your own with the custom pockets and coverstitching. Just wondering, are your doors really small or are you a giant in real life?
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Lol! Small doors!!!
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Awwww, come on, spill the beans, how did you get those coverstitched corners so perfect?! Terrific jumper mate – what the heck is happening to your weather over there?
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Our weather! Raining for the next couple of days ☔️ good for sewing though!!
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Ps I am just considering a tutorial on the cs
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Love this version! Any tips on coverstitching those vents? Love the pocket too!
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I might do a little tutorial on the corners and then I won’t forget either!!
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Yes please! I attempted to do it with mine but ended up having to unpick it all as it was a mess!
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Have you mastered unpicking? I might add that to the tutorial. It’s been a bit delayed as I’m doing some pattern testing with a short timeline, but it’s coming!
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It’s lovely. Great decorative features.
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Thank you so much! 😊
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Such a clever pocket idea! You kept the design minimalist and definitely added interest and practicality!
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Thank you, I knew it would get busy with the cover stitching and I didn’t want regular pockets so had to get creative!
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You are a cover stitch master! And I love those pockets
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Getting better with the cover stitch, and I’m pleased with my pocket design.
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This is gorgeous. Love the cover stitching and pockets.
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Thank you Tammy, the pockets are so simple, but I do rather like them.
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Great top. I love that neckline for winter casual wear.
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It’s a really nice top for cooler weather. It would be good in a more fluid fabric too.
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Great personal version of the Toaster sweater. The reverse coverstitch has again proven that is a great decorative stitch. Looking forward to the tutorial on doing the corners on the coverlock.
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Thank you Sonja, I now look for patterns that lend themselves to coverstitching. A bit pathetic really…
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Cover stitch cornering envy going on here! Yes please to a tutorial! I’ve only had mine a few months, and didn’t even know that corners was possible. 😃
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thank you, and yes, I promise to do it next week!
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That pocket is fabulous Sue and I am in awe of your coverstitching. I look forward to your tutorial.
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Gah, I hope I remember how to do it – better practice!
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Another creative pockiet! Fabulous. By the way, what is “fossicking”?
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Thank you. “Fossicking” means rummaging or searching.
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Love the pockets and the cover stitching hiding the join. It all looks like the designer (you) meant it to be!
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Haha, I need to admit that it evolved as I went along!
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Ingenious! Love the way you fudged the sleeves. Never would have guessed that it wasn’t a design element. And what clever pockets! The contrast pocket and stitching just makes it!
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Thank you, I felt it needed a lift.
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Great use of a small amount of fabric and your coverstitching around the corners is very impressive.
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Thanks Sharon, I am really working on my coverstitching technique.
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