This is one of those patterns where I didn’t get all the fuss until I sewed it myself.  Now I do.

The High Cuff Sweater is a pattern from The Assembly Line. It’s the first one of their patterns that I have sewn. It was well drafted, and the instructions were extremely clear. The size range is relatively limited – from XS extra small (80cm chest) to L large (104cm chest). I chose to sew size M medium, even though I measured more like the L.

The pattern is described as follows: The High Cuff Sweater is inspired by the traditional sweatshirt and features rib cuffs at the neck, sleeves, and bottom. The shaped bottom cuff is higher at back, which gives it a feminine silhouette. Suggested fabrics are light to mid-weight woven fabrics such as denim, cotton twill, lightweight canvas; tricot works well too. Cotton/elastane rib fabric for cuffs and bands.

What makes this simple pattern such a good one is the combination of a woven fabric for the body and sleeves, with a knitted rib for the neckband, sleeve cuffs and waist bands/cuffs. Although the back band is curved upwards, you can’t see that in these photos. But it does help the top to sit really nicely when it is being worn. No tugging or adjusting needed; it just stays where it should.

I took advice from Anna and did the same 1cm forward shoulder alteration, 2cm neckband lengthening, and 4cm sleeve shortening that she did. This top has bust darts, which were fortunately in the right place for me! It’s very simple to construct. I used both the sewing machine and the overlocker. The fabric is from my stash; it was already patchworked together like that, and is a combination of lightweight denims. Here’s a closer photo of the front and the back if you are inclined to create something similar yourself! The colourway is more accurate in this photo too.

I did topstitching along the shoulder seams and around the neckband in the same pale blue that the fabric manufacturers had used in their topstitching. There’s not really much more to say about this simple top, other than I’ll definitely use this pattern again. It doesn’t need a great deal of fabric for the body, and you could really go to town with contrasting rib. I had never thought that a woven windcheater style top would be handy in my wardrobe – but it is!

Worn here with rigid denim Tessuti Demi pants and Top End shoes.