Since being named by Pattern Review as one of the best patterns of 2016, the Itch to Stitch Lisbon Cardigan pops up everywhere and I’ve made a couple myself. So imagine my joy when I turned up to my patternmaking class and Sarah suggested that we hack the pattern!
The inspiration was this IVKO shawl collar jacket.
We immediately set about toiling the redesign using some really loose ribbed knit from Textile Traders, which isn’t nearly as interesting as the original fabric, but which would provide a POC (proof of concept*).
The pattern was reworked with a v-neck and the shawl collar was created with a large rectangle.
The lovely thing about this cardi is that the neck can be fastened high on the neck for cold weather, opened up slightly, or opened completely. 
We had to reinforce the edges with braid as the fabric is really flimsy. I was going to put snaps down the front, but when I tested them on a sample piece of fabric, they pulled straight through, even with the braid strengthening the fabric. I have therefore used press studs. I am wondering whether a separating zip would work with heavier fabric to make it a bit more jacket like?
As this was a toile, I don’t think Sarah expected me to adopt it, but I immediately wanted it.
It is a perfect trans-seasonal cardigan and I can’t wait to make another one. I am now commencing a world wide search for the perfect knit fabric. Styled here with my original ill-fitting, but still worn frequently, Jamie Jeans, a yellow bamboo knit tee (unblogged) and Natural Comfort mesh shoes.
In other news I am going to participate in Me Made May 2017. This will be my fourth year doing this challenge. My pledge this year is “I, Sue (fadanista.com, @suestoney) sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May ’17. For the duration of May 2017 I will only wear clothes made by me”. I have to say that I only wear clothes made by me all year round, so I don’t expect this to be too onerous! I would like to add no repeats but I shall be travelling so will probably be posting identical outfits on many days.
* I just need to tell you a funny story about POC. When I was working I dealt with IT companies – a lot! I used to get very exercised by their use of acronyms and frequently lost the will to live during their presentations. Anyway, one day I sat through about 20 minutes of a long discussion about a “POC” , and finally asked the question “so tell me, what the devil is a POC”. I got a look. I returned the look. Then the salesman told me that at his last presentation someone had asked the same question and when told “proof of concept”, returned with, “funny, I thought it meant piece of crap!”. I always wish that had been my line!