The latest Fibremood magazine, Edition 35, has been released and some of the patterns have been organised into families, where one pattern can be made a few different ways, which is such an interesting initiative.

The Thalia comes with a crossover front, but it’s family member, the Tiany, doesn’t. The similarities between the two patterns are obvious, but Thalia has a little more design interest.

I made the Thalia, size medium although it has negative ease and I was a bit worried it would be too tight.

I made one from scraps but it just didn’t work, I’m assuming because the fabric didn’t have enough stretch, so it went into the scrap bin and I got out some quite stretchy fabric. It did show me that the medium was a good fit though.

There are a few things to be aware of up front. Only use a stretch stitch, especially on the twist section; anything else will end in tears – ask me how I know.

On this first one I did a lot of unpicking as the twist just didn’t sit properly. I couldn’t sew it down the sides the way it’s meant to be sewn as it distorted the fabric, so I gathered it into the sides and they do now sit flat, although the twist part is a bit more bunched up than it should be. My right thumb is sitting where that side of the twist should sit and the left side of the twist should almost reach the hem.

When I put this top on I have to stretch the twist section to make it sure it’s sitting properly and not pulling the armholes out of alignment.

I also had to match the stripes, including the ones on the twist, as they sat on top of the basic tank underneath and needed to line up.

The back is really nice. It makes me look as though I have a waist, especially in this interestingly striped fabric.

I also made the Perry pattern, which is a standalone pattern, with no other family members. It has an elastic waist and is therefore really comfortable. I would have called these tracksuit pants, especially with the stripe down the side, but having made them, I think they are a bit classier than a tracksuit.

They are quite wide and I was concerned that the fit would be too baggy. I made a size 4 as I used knit fabric with a tiny bit of stretch and they are perfect, but if I use a woven for the next pair I will probably go up to a size 6.

The back isn’t too bad, a bit loose but I think they are meant to be so. I do wonder about the drag lines in the right photo but they might be caused by my hands in the pockets as the photo on the left doesn’t have them.

I wasn’t going to apply the side stripe but then I kept seeing trousers in shop windows with the stripe and felt it would be a lost opportunity to not do it.

I didn’t have sufficient ribbon for the stripes, so used black cotton tape of assorted widths and then put some braid on there to try and make them look intentional. Sometimes using what you have leads to some creative thinking!

I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t sure I loved the top whilst I was making it but once I had finished, I was happier, but wanted to make another one. I had the view that if I went up a size for the twist piece the whole thing would fit better and I wanted to test that view.

I used a couple of scraps in different colourways – these are left over from making the Fibremood Harper. This is a fairly stretchy French terry, which is quite heavy. It does work a bit better and I will certainly have a warm chest in the summer! I made the twist section in a size L as I didn’t have sufficient fabric for a bigger size, but I think an XL would be better as I still have a slight pulling on the armhole, and also have to arrange the twist section when I first put the top on, although I do wonder if that’s just the nature of the pattern. You wouldn’t want the twist to be too big as it could sag most unattractively I think.

I did manage to join the twist to the proper part of the sides, so I’m pleased about that as it sits much better.

I had to piece part of the top and Murphy’s law dictated that it wasn’t hidden underneath, but sat right on top and I wasn’t happy with the join.

I had a few thoughts on how I could disguise the join but in the end I went for distraction and added a heart. I am sewing on hearts as part of an initiative to highlight women’s heart health and is being coordinated by Ronda from @Anakiequilter.

And of course more pattern matching was required, including with the twist.

I really like both tops with the Perry trousers, but this one I do prefer because the fit is better, although I like the fabric of the other one more. Sigh!

The back isn’t quite as interesting on the second one, although I do still look as though I have a waist, so that’s a win.

The obligatory seated shot.

I’m rather pleased with these three pieces and can’t wait for some warmer weather so I can wear them.

My end of post treat is Miss G playing with some sock snowmen we made, and the blankets she made from raiding my scrap bin.

Miss E playing with her babies. The blankets are made from a gorgeous cat print fabric included in a big parcel of patterns sent to me by Sally @baylissblanche. Please note Miss G breezing past with fabric scissors and some of my fabric. Intervention was required!