Simplicity 2603 - The Cardi

Over on Sewing Guild, there is a 3-month seasonal wardrobe plan. Fall's plan (which the host calls dull) is:

1. 1 jacket - neutral
2. 1 bottom - dark neutral
3. 2 under-layer tops - ideally, one in a print combining colors & one in a contrast neutral
4. 2 over-layer tops - one colored & one neutral
5. possibly one more bottom (if you have the time and inclination)

Okay, so let's go shopping in my closet. Isn't that what all the style people tell you to do?

Bottoms: 2 denim skirts, 1 long, dark brown skirt, 1 long, sand colored skirt, and 1 long, black skirt.

Under-layers: 5 white, long sleeve t-shirts, 1 white tank top, 1 black tank top, 1 brown tank top.

Tops: 2 white cardigans, 1 black cardigan, 1 lilac cardigan.

Anyone else since a theme here? And a serious lack of creativity?

Okay, so I've already discussed my love for cardigans over jackets. With that in mind, rather than make a jacket in a neutral, I've made the first piece in my new Fall wardrobe. It's Simplicity 2603, in the cream knit in from this photo. 

I have loved every version of this cardigan that I've seen - whether the wearer is petite or plus-size. I think that it will truly be versatile piece for me. I would have liked to make view B, however seeing the length of the cardigan on Khaliah Ali (pictured on Simplicity's plus-size version - S2598) convinced my not to. Ms. Ali is a tall lady - much taller than me. The cardigan she's wearing goes down to her knees - which means that it would probably reach my ankles. Can we just say no?

I also think this would be a good first piece as I already have a brown skirt and a brown tank that can be worn with it. Instant new outfit by making just one item!

Construction notes:

I'm making a straight XL for this without a FBA. The fronts may not hang as far down as they should, but I couldn't see the need for a FBA on something like this.

The alterations that I made to the pattern were to shorten the front & back (at the waistline) by 2" and to also add 1.5" to the sleeve bicep area for my larger than average biceps. Am I the only person that can't stand negative ease in a knit shirt sleeve? I wish that I had either added another 1.5" to the length or taken off 1.5". The sleeve length hits me in a kind of awkward spot. Maybe it's what's called bracelet length?

The center back neck is gathered and this is held in place by a 5" strip of 1/4" elastic that is supposed to be stretched the length of the center back neckline. Somehow, Simplicity thinks it's possible for that 5" strip to stretch 12". That's just not happening in my world. I can see it now, I'm wearing the cardigan, the elastic snaps and suddenly, it's Ray Stevens' Mississippi Squirrel Revival.

Instead, I sewed the seam, serged the edge for a clean finish, folded the seam to one side and top-stitched 3/8" from the seam; creating a casing for the elastic.

When sewing the shoulder seams, I applied a strip of clear elastic to keep the shoulders from stretching.

I added a very lightweight fusible interfacing up to the fold of the sleeve hem. I read about that somewhere. Can't remember why it was recommended and I'll see how it works with this.

I did a narrow rolled hem around all the edges of the cardigan. It's got 2 thumbs up from the girls - and a huge grin from me. I really like it. I love it.

I hope to get a good photo this evening before church.