Tilly And The Buttons Stella Hoodie/Zippy

Just like the rest of the sewing world, I was all over Tilly And The Buttons Stretch book when it was recently released.  My favourite patterns are the Frankie T-shirt - I've already made one, and have more planned - and also the Freya top/dress. 

 

But I surprised myself by also loving the Stella Hoodie.  Of course, me being me, I couldn't leave the pattern as it was, and hacked it into a Zippy (this is what my sister calls a hoodie with a zip!). 

 

This was really easy to do, all I did was to add a 15mm seam allowance to the centre front, and cut it out as two pieces instead of one piece on the fold.  I added a separating zip, and that was that!

 

 

 

 

It meant that the hood/neckline seam was more exposed, so I trimmed it down, and covered it with some twill tape.  I didn't do the hood tie because I didn't have anything to use for it.

I blinking love this hood!  It's good and big, and is perfect for keeping the rain off my glasses going in and out of the gym. 

The pockets are the Stella pattern pockets, and as with the centre front, I added a 15mm seam allowance to the cut on the fold edge, and cut it out as two pieces. 

 

It looks like I've sewn this on with a twin needle, but I didn't.  I had initially sewed them on with the stitching line further from the edge, but decided they would look better with two rows of stitches, so just stitched another row nearer the edge. 

I also added a band at the hem.  To do this, I measured the body pieces hem, and took off the side seam seam allowances.  Then cut out a rectangle this length and 18 cm deep.  The top of the band was then overlocked to the bottom of the body, and I also overlocked the bottom of the band.  Then I folded it back on itself to the inside, and twin-needled it in place.

I did the same thing with the cuffs, and ended up having to use my Elna Supermatic to sew the two rows of stitches to keep the cuff in place, as the little cuffs won't fit around the arm of my modern machine.

All the seams were sewn on my overlocker, including the hood, and as usual Tilly's instructions are brilliant.  I shortened the sleeves a bit, but made the body the length on the pattern, plus the band.

This awesome cat fabric is some fleece backed sweatshirt fabric from ebay, which is lovely and soft.  It was 165cm wide, and I got 2 metres, so had enough left to cut two rectangles for blankets for my cats!  

Have a great weekend,

Lynne