Jasper Sweater Dress IPM2017 New To Me

Why have I not sewn the Jasper dress before now? It boggles my mind that I have been missing out on this wonderful pattern!!!! Thank goodness for challenges like this that really get you thinking about using patterns in your stash that you may have forgotten about – that’s the thing with PDFs – so easy to forget they are there. As it happens, I bought this pattern during Christmas sales when Paprika was having a 25% off deal. Bargain!

I taped it up and it was forgotten as more projects were piled on top of it. With the announcement of New To Me as the challenge for week 2 – I went to search through my sewing PDFs folder. Though it is a bit unseasonal at the moment, I immediately gravitated towards the idea of sewing this up. After all – winter is coming – so you can never start prepping too early :-).

Selecting the fabric was a challenge of epic proportions; I am what you may call a weather seamstress. A weather seamstress is one who likes sewing first and foremost garments that correspond to the immediate weather situation the seamstress experiencing. Since we are in summer (it’s England so take that with a grain of salt)  – my mind is filled with intoxicatingly bright and bold floral prints; lightweight floaty drapey fabrics paired with bare arms, legs and backs. Thinking cosy knits was strongly resisted by my creative centre. I did eventually manage to dig out some fall weight knits and ended up with 2 contenders. Dithering for the good part of an hour over which to select – my third son’s answer to such dilemnas popped into into my head – both. The haze lifted and it became crystal clear how this Jasper would manifest: striped centre (medium weight ponte) bracketed with the solid textured ponte on the sides and underlined with contrast hem bands along with the collar in contrast also.

Being me, of course, there had to be a pop of colour somewhere there – flourescent orange and pink were in contention but this bright red moss crepe won (deservedly so). The button has been in my odd buttons box for years now and finally found its home.

Construction deets

I think that the instructions on this pattern are easy to follow. The trickiest part was the welt strip pocket (there is a step by step photo tutorial to help). For this reason, I would recommend really taking your time with it and reading through the instructions before sewing. The method for the welt pocket does create quite some bulk in that area. I doubt I will be using the pockets for much apart from warming my hands as personally I don’t like pockets on princess seams. I sewed a size 3 based on my bust measurements with no alterations.

I love! All that is missing is a black beret I think 🙂

Paprika Patterns – Jasper Sweater Dress

Jasper Sweater Dress

An odd lone button finally found its way home……

Jasper Sweater Dress – Welt pockets

Hem band

Will I be making it again? That’s the wrong question – it should read – how many more will  I be making?.  The answer: many.