Between JCrew and Pinterest, I am starting to think I do not have a single original thought of my own lately…I am going to blame it on pregnancy brain…or mommy brain…or over-exhaustion…or maybe I am just going through a sewing growth spurt, where you are in the process of learning new things before you make your own! I think I like the last excuse best 🙂 – Lol.
This adorable little knit number is courtesy of J Crew – inspired by their Summer line up. I saw this, looked at some left over navy blue and white knit fabric I had sitting around from a baby blanket I had made, and I was in business!
Initially I tried my hand at the pom poms. But when they didn’t turn out quite the way I had planned, I turned to CINO’s ric rac flowers.
I am in love with the end result! This little cover up will not only go with us into the fall, but it will also grow with us as it fits not only my 2 year old – but somehow my 4 year old as well!
***Warning – daughter picture overload, was playing with a new camera lens!
I highly recommend working with knits. I was scared for a while to touch them, but with just a little bit of practice you will be turning out Tees like a champ. The best part? You don’t have to be worried about fraying – no serger? No problem! Just be sure to use a ball point needle, I find that to be the key.
Making this knit cover up is quite easy!
You will need the pattern piece for the hood. Burda Easy 9674 has a good hood pattern piece – or – Dana over at Made has come out with a new robe pattern that includes a hood which should work with this cover up – or – Amy at Naptime Crafters suggests using an old jacket hood for your pattern piece in her swim cover up tutorial.
1. Using a T that fits well, cut around the front and back pattern pieces, the back will be cut on the fold – whereas the front piece will be two separate pieces cut down the middle. Cut down past the bottom of the T Shirt, as you want the cover up to be longer. Cut the sleeves as well, using the T Shirt as your guide.
2. Cut the hood pattern pieces.
3. Take (1) front pattern piece, and with right sides together, sew to the back pattern piece at shoulder and side seams. Repeat for other front pattern piece.
4. You should now have this
5. With right sides together, sew the side seam of the sleeve.
6. Matching up the sleeve seam and the side shirt seem, with right sides together, sew the sleeve onto the shirt.
7. You should have this now
8. With right sides together, sew the (2) hood pieces together around the outer curve
9. Matching up the bottom hood center, with the center of the back shirt pattern piece, with right sides together, pin the hood to the shirt. Sew
10. You should now have this. We are almost in the clear
11. Using a knit ribbing, attach as you would bias tape to the outer edges all the way around the shirt. Repeat for sleeve openings.
12. Add preferred closure (snap, button, velro, etc.) and add flower decoration (or pom poms) after that!
And voila, you are done!
I know it is not the most in depth tutorial I have ever given, but with a little bit of google searching you can find more in depth descriptions as to how to cut your own pattern pieces using a shirt, as well as how to add bias edging. But for those of you that have done this before, this should give you a pretty good idea as to how I went about achieving this look.
I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of this little number around our house over the next couple of years!
Until next time, Happy Sewing!
*** Please note – I made this tutorial about a month ago, and have had it pre-planned as a post-baby tute. Since then, I have seen loads of cover ups and beach robes sprouting up all over the place – go figure :/. Originally I had a hood pattern piece that I was going to give away, but because of all of the new posts that have come around since making this, I have removed the hood pattern piece.
I do not want to be seen as someone who steals other people’s ideas. Which was not the case here! But just to protect myself, and other bloggers out there who have worked hard on exact patterns pieces that they deserve to make money on – I thought it was best to proceed this way. I hope you understand.
Plus, I still think mine is cute and original enough to continue with the remainder of the post…I hope you think so too!
I wouldn’t worry about that! Your things, even when inspired by other things are original and awesome. Good luck with your last pregnancy moments.
This coverup is very cute…and so is your model. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
super cute! we have all had an idea in our head and then all of a sudden see them pop up everywhere:) good minds think alike:) ok, a ballpoint needle huh? guess i better get one. i have been using my regular needle. that must help a ton on the bias strips a ton. oh and i have made a ton of dresses…just not blogged yet. i even made myself 3 with zippers, scretch!! seriously, i never would have tried sewing clothes if it wasnt for all of your posts and dang cute clothes. how are you feeling? i cant wait to see pics of that little munchkin:)
I think it’s super cute! and original ideas are very hard to come up with these days. love the flower addition and the no tie feature.
Very cute!
Adorable. It’s funny how it seems that creativity/ideas strike us at the same time. I’m always bummed out when I get really excited about a project only to realize that so many other crafters had inspiration strike one day before.
It’s an adorable coverup! I like the contrast of the white against the blue and that little pop of orange…it’s perfect!
I hear you on the timing issue…I had plans to put together a tutorial for the Easter Dress I made for my eldest since late Feb/early March. However, there’s a glut of paperbag skirts stitched to knit top tutorials out there now. Early bird gets the worm I suppose!
Love this!! These pictures are darling!! What kind of lens did you get? And so true about inspiration; I’m always late to the party. 🙂
This is darling! Love the color combination.
soo adorable! It’s funny how similar projects can crop up at the same time, but I wouldn’t worry about that kind of thing. Everyone is influenced by someone else, and the original inventor of the hood is long gone by now. 😉 Nothing is truly original anymore, lol!
p.s. love your ric rac flower!
This is just so stinkin cute! Making one for a vacation!
Love it!!!
No new post today?! Does that mean it’s baby time?!
I love these pictures so much. Cute coverup!
Thanks for the tutorial! I was thinking of making my kids coverups this summer, but I was holding back because terry cloth can be to warm in 100 plus degree weather. You gave me the push to make them with lighter material. Thanks!!
Hello from your newest follower and thanks for sharing the cover up tutorial. It’s so lovely!
I featured this on my my blog!
seemesew.blogspot.com
that’s too bad about the hood. imo, you are putting ads up and getting some benefit when visitors come to your site. when you put up something that’s not really what it’s advertised as it really feels like a cheat. if i can figure out the hood on my own, i probably don’t need the rest of the tutorial. 🙁 sorry if that sounds harsh. i really enjoy your website otherwise.
I am sorry you feel that way.