New Look 6343 Jumper

Quick makes are good for the soul. You know, the kind that's only three or four bits to cut out, preferably from some leftovers and then you can whizz up with the overlocker then wear to the pub that evening.

I've had the New Look 6343 pattern in my stash for a while. I was attracted to its interesting shaped sleeves, obviously leaning towards the cropped version. I had some leftover grey jersey from Doughty's from my last Simple Sew make so decided to squeeze another jumper from it.

Key design elements for this pattern obviously include the sleeves- they are almost like raglans, but with a shoulder seam too! Best of both worlds eh?! This kinda square shaping adds a boxy element to the design which is cool if you're keeping it casual (I am, forevermore, believe me). The fabric I used lends itself to being quite boxy as it's not particularly drapey. I'd like to make another, certainly with softer sleeves, maybe in some kind of sports fabric???? What else is going on, oh yeah cropped sleeves which I love and a wide hem on sleeves and bottom which I used twin needle on.

The sleeves are fun to make but you gotta be precise. They require reinforced stitching along the seamline of the jumper, then clipping in to the marking. This clip marks the area where the 'square-y' bit of the sleeve joins the body. This is process is replicated on the back. When attaching the sleeve you ave to make sure you follow these reinforcing stitches so they don't show on the front, and also make sure you get a really sharp pivot on the corners. My pivots were.... so-so ha!

The sleeve seams are then topstiched which helps highlight the angles. The pattern suggests to topstitch the neckband too... I put it out to an instagram poll and you all agreed to topstitch the neck band. So I didn't because what do you know?! Haha! I was put off by the seam allowance being narrower around the neck than the sleeves. The distance between seam and stitching would have had to have been narrower and if I didn't get it precise it would have been VERY obvious. The neckband sits really nicely as it is so I decided not to faff.

That's it really! Only real deviation from the pattern was I decided to turn up the sleeves and hem them before sewing the underarm seam. As the hem is so wide it seemed a lot easier this way. I just had to make sure I was careful when I did sew the underarm seam that my twin stitching joined up nicely... Which it did!

Next time I think I will take quite a bit out of the lower back of the jumper, cause I'm getting a bit of a draught! There's definitely room to have a play around there.... eyes peeled!


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Location: Moore Street Sub Station, Sheffield
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