As we're living through an Austerity Chic cycle, I'm breaking the rules and going with an exaggerated design from the Issey Miyake 1980's vault. I just wanna sew something fun.
And this was a fun project. As I was piecing it together I was getting excited to see how the final look would turn out. I haven't felt this kind of excitement over an pattern in years. I will admit that the cozy softness of the wrong side of the fabric help with the anticipation of having something cozy to wear.
Issey Miyake was a genius when it came to pattern making. This is a well drafted pattern, quite simple and unexpected in its design. Just two big circles, a hole to poke your head through and some openings for sleeves and the hem band. But my goodness, this is so comfortable. There will certainly be another hitting the cutting table if I can find a suitable fabric. The design calls for moderate stretch knits.
Fabric suggestions listed on the pattern envelope were cotton interlock, jersey and rabbit hair jersey. I made this in a sweatshirt fleece that has been in the stash for decades. Even though it was not on the suggested list, it worked out well. The fabric was pretreated with a tumble through the washing machine and dryer before hitting the cutting tables.
Sewing IS Political
This is a Canadian 🍁made and the first tariffed sewing project. The stretchy sweatshirt fleece fabric was purchased from Marshall Fabrics, a Canadian fabric outlet. The fabric has been in the stash for over a decade, prior to the Trumpian era. But back in July, I broke away from the austerity chic trend and splurged when I found this vintage and out-of-print pattern online in my size. I was shocked at the additional amount I had to pay on top of a pricey shipping fee to receive the package from the post office. It was an elbows down purchase so I take the blame here. Tariffs hurt and since then and especially since the de minimis exemption has been removed in August from small parcels I won't even entertain the thought of a pattern from a U.S. Etsy or Ebay seller. It's just too expensive. Chalk this up to an expensive lesson that I won't soon forget as I'm back on the boycott. The fabric scissors used to cut the fabric are from Merchant and Mills, an U.K. company and were purchased from The Workroom, a Canadian fabric outlet. The label is KATM, an Australian company. The threads are Gütermann threads, a German company and are labelled as made in Mexico. The threads were purchased at Fabricland, a Canadian fabric outlet.
Project details
Seams: Knit (lightening bolt) stitch
Seam finish: Serged
Fabric: 2.1 metres
Pattern: Vintage and OOP Vogue 2334, circa 1989.
Label: "2025" sewing label
Additional Tools & Supplies: Cutting table, paper scissors, fabric scissors, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, Janome 4120 QDC sewing machine, walking foot, Janome AirThread 2000D serger, threads, thread clippers, measuring tape, measuring gauge, iron and ironing board.
Stand strong, elbows up and keep sewing.
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