I have had significant success over the years with Crafty Mamas Patterns.  They are all for knits – and I’m a huge fan of knit garments – and are cut in ways that skim the areas I prefer to be skimmed.  They’re also very versatile – most come with a variety of sleeve and neckline options.

This one is The Triangle Dress. The website describes it as follows: The Triangle Dress/Tunik is a wardrobe staple- a pattern you will use over and over again. Designed with real figures in mind- The Triangle Dress is a flattering A line dress/tunik/top, with lots of options!

The Triangle Dress is ladies sizes xs- xxxl which also makes it a great patterns for tweens. With several raglan sleeve options- , full length, ¾, cap or short; this clever pattern will take you all through the year. Your Triangle Dress can be made with a funky hood, or with round neck. There are optional side seam pockets or a nifty kangaroo style front pocket. The yoke section in the upper bodice allows for clever play and colour blocking.

With an ever so slightly hi low hem, The Triangle dress look fabulous made full length as a dress or as a tunik length over leggings.

I sewed this in straight size Large, which is the 12-14. My measurements are slightly larger than this, but after checking the flat pattern I was fairly confident that the Large would be okay, especially because it had plenty of waist and belly room (always my issue when sewing dresses).

I decided to highlight the yoke seam by inserting a strip of coloured elastic a bit like piping, then topstitching it in place. This pattern gives the opportunity for lots of colour blocking with the yoke and raglan sleeves. Maybe another time! I scooped the front neckline about an inch lower than the pattern before finishing it with a band and machine topstitching with a twin needle.

Vliesofix double sided fusible tape was used to hold the hemline in place before stitching with the twin needle. I find the tape works really well on shaped hemlines like this one. It really stops things from shifting around. Sometimes it can make hemlines feel a little bit stiff, but it was fine on this fabric.

I am pleased with the fit at the back neckline and upper back, made no changes in that area. I did alter the sleeves quite a bit, taking a total of around two and a half inches from the wrist circumference and shortening them a couple of inches as well. This was done after the fact – I sewed them up and tried on the dress, then turned it inside out and remarked the sleeve seamline with a line that angled from the underarm to a narrower wrist opening, and stitched along that. This gave me plenty of upper arm room and a sleeker appearance through the lower arm.

The fabric is an incredibly soft printed ponte from EK Fashion Fabrics in Sydney Road, Brunswick. Such a terrific find! On the same day I bought wool blend knit from Super Cheap Fabrics, just a few doors down from EK Fashion Fabrics, and used it to make a coordinating Scarf Neck Cardi.

I have sewn this cardi for my daughters in the past, but hadn’t made the adult version.  I’ll definitely be sewing it again.  It’s very easy to make and comfortable to wear.  From the website:  An open-front layering cardigan made with lightweight knit, featuring form-fitting princess seams, a draping scarf neck, and an irregular bottom hem. Half sleeve or full length sleeve options.

This cardigan is very easy to sew, great for beginners, and takes no time with a serger. Instructions are included to sew this together with neat french seams if you are using a regular sewing machine instead.

Sizes include S, M, L, XL and XXL. Sizing should be fairly accurate to what you normally wear. Includes sizing chart.

I’m not certain if I sewed a Medium or a Large in this cardi, but I’m guessing a large.  My knit was very soft, and I think it has given a looser fit than it would have otherwise.  All construction was on the overlocker, and it comes together very quickly.  The princess seams in the front and side seam shaping keep it from being too baggy.

You do need to think carefully about the centre back neck seam. I have made a few garments with that seam and it can end up being exposed in the finished garment, depending on how the collar is worn. If the collar is worn folded back, it works out better to sew the centre back neck seam wrong sides together, so that it looks neater after folding. A flat fell seam works very well here too, or even a french seam. I overlocked the seam wrong sides together thinking that the scarf neck collar would be folded back in wearing, but notice from photos that it actually tends to just gather and does expose the stitching. Next time I sew this in something super soft I’ll do that centre back neckline right sides together (although might not in a more stable knit).

I hemmed the edges by machine after turning once to the inside, and used a zig-zag that ran right along the inside raw edge. It looks quite neat. You could also used an rolled hem. I like the scarf effect of the neckline and the irregular front hem – this free pattern gets a massive tick from me!