This is my 7th outing with Helen’s Closet Blackwood Cardigan.
This time though, I made it for Miss 13 for Christmas. I’d heard lots of none too subtle hints for quite some time that she wanted one, but I wasn’t sure if it would fit.
So, without her knowing, I measured a favourite RTW cardigan of hers and compared it to the sizing chart for the Blackwood. Thankfully Helen’s inclusivity doesn’t just extend to larger sizes, but smaller ones too. Her size range is 0-30, which is pretty impressive.
I’m sure Helen didn’t have teenage girls in mind when she drafted this pattern, but I am mightily glad that her size range works for Summer.
This is a straight size 0 with minor modifications to the length only. I took 3.25″ off the body and about 2.25″ off the sleeve lengths. These slight alterations gave the slouchy look I was hoping for on her. And she loves it.
The construction is exactly the same as previous iterations.
The jersey is the same John Kaldor Cadiz cotton jersey that I used for the black Blackwood cardigans for myself and my mother-in-law. My black Blackwood has had a lot of wear over the winter months. It washes well and holds its shape perfectly when worn. It’s not a cheap fabric (£14.99/m from Minerva) but it’s a good mid-range price and excellent quality.
This is the mushroom colour-way, and is slightly less camel than I’d anticipated, but lovely none the less. It’s also a nice change from the eternal black that her group of friends seems to favour, but not enough colour that she refuses to wear it.
When Summer opened this on Christmas morning she was thrilled. Beth’s first comment was just how much she’d love one in the same colour. Thankfully, I had made one for her for Christmas too! Yep…that’s 8 Blackwood cardigans made and I’m still not done with this pattern.
Two things spring to mind. Firstly, that Helen has drafted a really excellent pattern. There’s a reason it’s so popular. Three generations of my family have this cardigan and it looks equally good on all three ages with very different body types, and it complements all our styles.
Secondly, that my little girl now fits in adult clothing patterns. Which is equal parts awesome and terrifying. It seems two minutes since she was twirling in the quilting cotton dresses that I’d made her. She’s growing up fast.
But stylish sewing patterns for her age are few and far between. They’re either too twee or too simple. She won’t wear a twirly dress now if you paid her, and wants more style than plain leggings and a t-shirt.
Blackwood fills the gap nicely for her for a slouchy cardigan layer that looks cool but is easy to wear. She’s already asked for more in black and navy!
I’m certainly getting excellent value for money out of this pattern! Kudos to Helen for a job very well done!
You are certainly getting your money’s worth out of this pattern which is the best recommendation.
Sometimes I long for those twirly dress days again too – there’s nothing like your kids growing up to make time seem to pass even quicker.
I miss twirly dresses, and the wee girl who wore them. But its lovely watching them grow into awesome (if somewhat stroppy) young women.
I am blown away by how teenaged Summer has become! It really is wild to see this transition. And seriously, this cardi looks great on everyone – all sizes, shapes, heights. I really need to make one (not that sewing can be a regular thing these days with my work set up being on the same table as the sewing would occur on). I don’t have the wherewithal right now to undo/redo the set up every weekend so I’ll have to wait till my next 2 week holiday (July at this point). Also, I completely support using good fabric. It’s what we all reach for given the choice. It’s lovely to sew with and, frankly, sewists deserve to have the best of tactile experiences, esp if they are kind enough to give away the finished object.
Honestly, she goes to bed and wakes up taller and more grown up. It’s bonkers. We’re already talking about end of school exams! It’s only two minutes, I swear, since she started at primary school!
This pattern is fabulous and such a chameleon. I’m in the same place with fabric now as I am with yarn. I’m done with stuff that doesn’t hold it’s shape and wear well. And I’m sewing more slowly these days because of all the life stuff, so don’t feel remotely guilty about upping my fabric game just a little.
I agree that setting up/taking down your sewing space is a layer of extra that you really don’t need at the moment, but roll on the vacation time. Definitely treat yourself to something luxurious and make this. You won’t regret it.