Beep Beep! One Thimble!

I discovered One Thimble Digital Sewing Magazine a year and a half ago, through Misusu Patterns. Their Origami Sweater pattern was featured in Issue 18 and I just had to make one! I’ve been loving the magazine ever since.

No.1 in his Origami Sweater by Misusu Patterns from Issue 18 of One Thimble.

Two Pixel Pullovers by Jennuine Design from Issue 19 of One Thimble

Lego Storage bag inspired by the Rock Pool Catch game from Issue 20

A couple of months ago One Thimble Digital Sewing Magazine put out a call for sewists/bloggers to contribute to their Issue 22 (out tomorrow, 13th November) in the form of tutorials/hacks. I thought I’d give it a shot and applied, and here we are! Well, it would be more correct to say over there we are…

Beep Beep and Camden — No.3 in her Beep Beep Cardigan and Camden Dress. She’s looking pretty happy.

I was asked if I could write a tutorial about how to use the Made By Jack’s Mum Beep Beep Sweatshirt into a cardigan. I had made the Beep Beep Sweatshirt from Issue 19 for No.2’s 4th birthday a year and a half ago, so knowing the pattern I was only delighted to give it a go!

Beep Beep Sweatshirt Kapow x3 — No.2 in his Beep Beep birthday sweatshirt.
Fleece combined with French terry and jersey by Elvelyckan Design.

The tutorial talks through how to go about splitting the main front of the sweater, the neckband and the waistband and the adjustments needed to these parts to allow for buttons/snap closures to the front. I’m more than a little excited to have been able to contribute!!

This tutorial can be found in full here in Issue 22 of One Thimble Digital Magazine, but here are a few sneak peeks…

…draw and then cut a curved line joining this mark to the
folded corner…

…fold the 2cm facing back over, right sides together, sandwiching the ribbing. Fig 9
Pin the ribbing to the right side along the length of neckline, raw edges aligned. Pin the
centre point of the ribbing to the back centre neckline. Stretch the ribbing evenly along
the neckline pinning at the centre shoulder or at closer intervals if you like…

**…serge/sew with a zigzag stitch the seam with a using the 6mm seam allowance…**

All done!!!
Beep Beep Cardi in pink French Terry & ribbing from **Elvelyckan Design** **and yellow fleece from** **The Fabric Counter**.

For the tutorial I made No.3’s Beep Beep Cardi in a Fleece and French Terry combo. It has gotten pretty chilly here in Dublin and having the fleece for the main body of the cardigan is great for a bit of added warmth.

As I say in the tutorial, unless pattern testing, I pretty much always size up for growing room and did so here. I love my children to get as long as possible out of the clothes I make. It’s a lot of work to make any item of clothing and at the rate they grow I’ll always go up a size, two sometimes!

A girl needs pockets. The Beep Beep Sweatshirt/Cardigan has to good big side pockets. As you can never have too many pockets I added some to her dress too…

And the dress?

Because, honestly, it is all about “my beautiful dress” for No. 3 these days!

When it was released I had bought Issue 21 of One Thimble and had a plan to make the Camden Dress for No.3. I love that oversized Dolmen style on her (noticing a theme here!) and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to make it to layer up under the cardigan.

What a messer in her Camden Dress by Jilly Atlanta from Issue 21 of One Thimble. Patch pockets added – because we all need pockets! Fabric is “Luxury Cotton” from Stoff & Stil.

A simple bit of colour blocking and some contrasting buttons on the back.

Running around on a bright, chilly autumn day layered up in her fleece cardigan.

A little side project…

I had ordered an embroidery book online a few weeks previous and one evening after I had the tutorial written I took it out for a browse. “Embroidered Botanicals” by Yumiko Higuchi is a gorgeous book and, although I was pretty wrecked, I couldn’t resist sitting down to give one of the featured patterns a go. I made “King of Pigeons” and was thrilled with the result. I knew straight away that it could make a lovely embellishment on an otherwise simple dress.

I added two big patch pockets to the front of the Camden Dress and a mini pocket on top of one – with the embroidery on it. I used the same fabric (luxury cotton from Stoff and Stil) for a bit of colour blocking to the back of the dress and used some lovely off-white buttons.

Can’t be leaving No.1 out…

No.2 had his Beep Beep from last year’s birthday, No.3 now had hers so of course No.1 couldn’t be left out…

I used the exact same method for his cardigan hack, (including the sizing up!) He was initially unsure about the idea of a cardigan but the softness of the fabrics won him over and it’s one of the few sweaters he reaches for when I tell him to go up and get a jumper “It’s freezing outside!!”, then the fight starts to get him to put on a coat too…

No.1 in his cardigan. Dark grey brushed sweater and ribbing from Dress Fabrics and speckled sweater fabric from Guthrie & Ghani.

I added ribbing to the top of the side pockets of No.1’s cardigan.

What next??

I announced here on my front page and over on Instagram & Facebook that I plan on releasing PDF Patterns of my appliqué designs. So that will be preoccupying most of my sewing for the next while to come. I’ve a few collaborations on the cards and can’t wait to tell you all more!

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