A Vermont State of Mind….

I’ve heard amazing things about fall in Vermont, and though I’ve never been, the Vermont Cardigan from New Horizons Designs has been calling my name as the perfect way to usher in the cooler weather and stay cozy while the kids make forts out of the neighbors’ leaf piles (if you’re my neighbor, and you’re reading this, I’m really sorry! I’ll make the little buggers scoop them back together when they’re done).

This pattern actually comes with a dozen (or more…I avoid math when I can, so don’t take my estimates literally here) variations for a variety of different looks. For my “Fall in Vermont” inspiration, I went with the banded, tunic length view with the hood, belt, and long cuffs, using a reverse print french terry from Pretty Posh Prints.

I lined the hood in a faux fur from JoAnns, which was originally intended to be a blanket backing for my son, but was just too soft to waste on a bedspread. He was a little annoyed, but I plan to make it up to him with a cozy hoodie of his own soon! The fur had a nasty tendency to shed everywhere, and a deep clean of my serger and breathing mask were necessary, but it was worth it because its soooo soft!

I used a contrast wool knit for the front band, and all was going well until I tried my nearly-finished cardigan on at 12AM….while wearing my pajamas. Do yourself a favor, and don’t try this one on with PJs! I stared in horror at what appeared to be a very lovely bathrobe, wondering how on earth I was going to make it wearable. I pinned it up and down, took the waist belt on and off, and finally decided to call it a night.

The next morning, I threw on my usual jeans and a tee, and trudged back to my sewing room to try it on, and guess what? I really liked it! In the light of day, with decent clothing, it seemed MUCH more stylish than it had in the middle of the night (which is usually the only time I have to sew- who needs sleep?). With the addition of a necklace and a little hair and makeup styling, I fell in LOVE with my new cardy, and wore it the entire day at work after the photoshoot!

I just love the big pockets for warming up my hands or storing my phone, and the cuffs are a perfect fit, which is hard to find since my wrists are ten-year-old tiny.

I deliberated for a while about what closures to use, but the thought of putting in a dozen buttonholes on a knit was too much for my sleep deprived brain, so I found these cool toggles at JoAnns and decided to put just one right at the waist, for a little quick and easy shaping. I’ve never used toggles before and I love how they look- but next time I’ll definitely make my own using this tutorial. The JoAnns brand don’t seem really sturdy- they’re fine for this cardy but wouldn’t hold up to a children’s garment or a heavier jacket.

What about you, have you ever made something you were afraid looked too much like pajamas? Were you able to redeem it? Share it with me below so we can laugh together! Don’t forget that you can follow me on Facebook or Subscribe to my Blog so you can get the inspiration delivered (almost) daily to your inbox or facebook feed!

Pattern: New Horizons Vermont Cardigan If you’re new to sewing, there’s even a sewalong on the New Horizons Blog to walk you through the construction step-by-step!

Fabric: Pretty Posh Prints

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