This might be the first garment that I have sewn from pattern company DIBY Club.  DIBY stands for ‘do it better yourself’, rather than buying it from a shop.  They sell patterns for men, women and children, as well as offering classes and some sewing supplies.  There are quite a few free patterns on the website as well.  Patterns all come with layers for ease of printing, come in sizes 00 – 36, and have comprehensive instructions that include adjustment guides.

I chose the Mae poncho sweater as my first DIBY Club pattern. And I think that it’s terrific! Obviously, it’s super roomy, so fitting wasn’t a big issue. I think that I sewed the size 12, but would need to pull out the pattern to confirm that.

From the pattern website: The Mae Poncho Sweater is a chic way to keep warm and cozy! The women’s sewing pattern is made with all of your favorite fall options and includes an option to add belt openings for women who enjoy showing off a contoured shape will staying comfortable.

PATTERN OPTIONS

• Necklines: Crew // Hood // Oversized Cowl
• Fit: Open Sides // Closed Sides with Cuffs
• Optional Belt Openings for Body Contour

SUITABLE FOR

• Experienced beginner sewists and beyond
• Sweater knits with 2-way stretch

As you can see, I chose to sew the option with the oversized cowl neckline, and closed sides with long cuffs/sleeves. The cuffs are doubled with the fold forming the sleeve opening, which is a really nice finish. And being slim, they help to balance out the volume of the body.

I imagine that fabric choice makes a significant difference to the success of this garment. It really does need to drape softly. I used a polyester/elastane medium weight (180GSM) knit from Super Cheap Fabrics. It’s currently available on their website.

The cowl is self-lined, and there’s plenty of fabric to fall into generous folds. Construction of this sweater was all on the overlocker, and as you can imagine it was extremely straightforward and fast to sew. I used the sewing machine to secure a simple zig-zag hem. I have found that I can comfortably fit a thermal top underneath this for additional winter warmth, while still having the slim fit sleeves feel comfortable. I’m very pleased with how this has turned out. There’s a version on the website with a solid body and striped sleeves/cowl that really appeals to me too. This won’t be the last time I use this pattern.