So comfy I just didn't want to take it off! This will be perfect for the long haul flight back to Oz I have coming up. I think I might just make another!
One thing I love to do is layer, which is ideal for living in Munich. Not only does it get really cold in the winter, but during spring, you often experience all four seasons in one day, as I am experiencing now. Therefore, having layers you can easily add or remove is always handy.
I recently realised I was missing some of those in-between layers. While I have plenty of jackets and tees, I needed more for the middle.
My style is pretty casual, with comfort as the priority. I usually wear loose-fitting jeans or linen trousers with a tee. That's why I thought a simple, relaxed-fit jumper would be perfect.
A wrap-up of this review
The makers: Matchy Matchy Sewing Club
Matchy Matchy Sewing Club was founded by self taught sewists Amy and Theresa, who turned their passion into a thriving indie pattern brand.
In January 2022, they released their first pattern, the Champagne Field Dress. Since then, they've expanded their offering to include a curated fabric selection and an impressive array of sewing patterns. But Matchy Matchy is more than just patterns and fabrics. They provide an online space where fellow sewists can connect, share ideas, and exchange invaluable tips.
What I think sets Matchy Matchy apart are their designs. They are minimal but smart. With strategically placed panel lines, their patterns give you the creative license to add your individual spin by mixing and matching colours and fabrics (also a great excuse to use up those smaller pieces of fabric you may have in your stash). Rarely will two Matchy Matchy garments be the same!
Take a look at their fabric and pattern offering on their website (linked above), or check them out on social @matchymatchysewingclub for more inspiration.
Design
The All Around Crew is a super relaxed, casual style of jumper that is all about comfort. This jumper features a deliberately wide and relaxed fit, with dropped shoulders and a slightly curved back hemline. Like the body of the jumper, the sleeves are also boxy and are intended to be rolled up.
The pattern includes two view options:
View A is cropped and hits at the natural waistline.
View B is tunic length and hits below the hips.
The pattern
Matchy Matchy's PDF sewing patterns, fabric and accessories are available via their online store, and their patterns are available from a growing number of online retailers.
Once you have purchased one of their patterns you will be emailed a link that allows you to download your PDF sewing pattern. The download usually comes as either a zip file, or as a PDF with hyperlinks.
When ordering the All Around Crew, you will be provided with access to:
A4 sewing instructions - 7 pages.
A4 print at home pattern - 45 pages.
A0 copy shop pattern - 2 pages.
The pattern includes 11 sizes ranging from XXS-6XL and is drafted for 5'5" (165 cm).
The digital download will include nested patterns* for all sizes in both the at home and copy shop pattern folders. I usually opt to have the A0 pattern pages printed at a copy shop. This allows me to receive all available sizes in one print bundle. I can then easily fold back (with a bit of clipping on the curves) the sizes I don't currently need. Therefore, if I decide to make a different size in the future, it's conveniently ready to be unfolded.
Matchy Matchy's patterns are always accompanied by minimal and clean instructions. They're not only easy to follow but also utilise clear language and diagrams, ensuring clarity throughout. Moreover, the instructions are neatly organised under subheadings, making it that little bit easier to locate specific information when needed.
Fabric and notions
This pattern is intended for knit fabrics such as french terry, sweatshirt fleece, and jersey. When choosing fabric for this project, it is worth noting that fabrics with less stretch will emphasise the boxy nature of the design, while knits with more stretch, and therefore drape, will simply highlight the relaxed fit.
The binding for the neckline can be created in self fabric. If doing so, it is recommended to use fabric that has at least 40% stretch (there is a knit stretch chart included wth the instruction book to determine the percentage of stretch in your fabric). Alternatively, you could simply opt for the more traditional rib knit.
The only other things you will need for this project are coordinating thread, and as an optional - stretch fusible web adhesive such as Heat n Bold brand 'Soft Stretch' for the hemline. I would also recommend for knit projects like this, having access to an overlocker (or serger), for a more professional finish.
For some inspiration check out #allaroundcrew to see what others have created. This is a great way to get fabric and styling inspiration.
For my version I went with an organic brushed French terry composed of 95% Bio Cotton and 5% Elastane in a really nice navy blue from Kattun Stoffe. Like most fleeces, this came in a really decent width of 160cm. I also purchased Vlieseline Stretch-fix so I could try something new and I do not regret it. I will explain later!
I don't sew with knit fabrics that often, and certainly hadn't done so in quite some time. But I thought this project would be a good one to help me get back into the groove of working with knits.
While I managed to sew up the jumper without any issues, hemming it was a different story.
I tried hemming the jumper by simply overlocking and turning up the intended 1.3 cm, finishing with a twin needle. When this didn't work, I attempted a double rolled hem to add some extra weight and prevent curling. The fabric kept rolling upwards and outwards, resulting in an unsightly edge finish.
Why does knit fabric curl at the edges?
It is quite common for some knit fabrics to curl at the edges, and it can happen for a variety of reasons:
Tension of the yarns: Different tensions of the interlocking yarns during the knitting process can cause curling.
Yarn properties: Natural fibres have varying degrees of elasticity and tension, contributing to curling.
Gauge or tightness: A tighter knit fabric may curl more than a looser knit fabric with larger stitches.
Cut edge stability: When fabric is cut, the edge loses some stabilisation, which can lead to curling. Straight cuts may curl more, while cuts made on the bias might curl less.
While this is not an exhaustive list but provides some background and hopefully an idea on why curling occurs in knit fabrics.
Stretch Fix
I'm not an expert with knit fabrics, so I might have been doing something wrong when it came to hemming my jumper. But when my first two attempts failed, I gave Stitch Fix a go, and I am so glad I did.
This adhesive interfacing is designed specifically for use with stretch fabrics. It is a means to bond two layers of fabric together while, unlike most other interfacing, it allows the fabric to maintain its stretch and flexibility. It is pretty straightforward to apply:
How to apply (specifically when hemming):
Cut the Tape: Trim the tape to the width of your hem. I cut my 3 cm tape in half to accomodate my 1.5cm hem allowance.
Position the Tape: Place the tape on the wrong side of your fabric with the glue side down and paper side up. It's fine to iron over the paper.
Fold and Press: Fold up and press your seam allowance before removing the paper. The stiff paper acts as a guide for your hem.
Allow the fabric to cool.
Peel the Paper: Once you're happy, peel back the paper to reveal the glue.
Iron in Place: Iron the fabric to sandwich the glue between the two layers.
Finish the Hem: Use your preferred method to finish the hem. This could be a single row of stitching, or the use of a twin needle.
Cutting and layout
As always, I would recommend pre-washing your fabric as per the care instructions prior to starting any cutting or sewing. For more on pre-washing your fabric, check out my article 'How to: Pre-wash your fabric'.
This shirt consists only of 4 pattern pieces for View A and B:
Front
Back
Sleeve
Neckband
The layout and cutting was fairly straightforward given the rather boxy nature of the pattern pieces. As the front and back both required cutting on the fold, instead of simply folding my fabric in half selvedge to selvedge creating one long folded edge (leaving me a long strip of fabric leftover), I chose to fold the two selvedge edges towards to centre line of my fabric creating two folded edges across the width of my fabric. This way my leftover piece of fabric became more workable for the future.
The pattern for the XXS fit perfectly within the width of my 160cm wide fabric, As you can see from the photograph I managed to snap below, there isn't a lot of fabric left over widthwise.
The instruction booklet does provide cutting layouts for 110-150cm wide fabrics if you are looking for some guidance
Note: I know I have been saying this for a little while but I hope to create a ‘How to’ for more accurately gauging the amount of fabric to buy for a pattern, as if you are like me, you tend to find yourself with an annoying strip of fabric left over that just gets added to your stash. These tips will require you to have the pattern first. Stay tuned!
Fabric preparation
Once your fabric is cut out and ready to go, there is only a little prep work that I would recommend prior to commencing sewing this shirt that may just make the sewing process that little bit smoother:
Ensure you have transferred all pattern markings and notches onto your fabric. In particular, ensure you have marked the positioning of the patch pockets and front button and button holes. This can be easily done with pins, or a chalk pencil.
Prepress the neck bind: I much prefer to have my bindings cut, pressed and ready to go so I always make these up ahead of time. I also find
Pre-press the hem: I always find pre-pressing the hem allowance while the pieces are flat makes the hem process much easier.
Sewing
This jumper pattern is described as a 'Beginner' project, and I definitely agree. While this pattern will have you practicing sewing many seams using either your sewing machine or overlocker, the main technique it focuses on is creating and inserting a neck binding.
To be honest, it's a pretty simple and straightforward sew, and it comes together quickly!
Therefore, if you are after a quick and easy sew, this is a great pattern, especially for beginners who aren't familiar with working with stretch or fleece fabrics.
Changes I made while sewing:
I stitched my seams at 1 cm on the sewing machine using a large straight stitch before overlocking at the intended 1.3 cm for a neater finish. My fleece had some stretch, and the overlocking stitch allowed for more give at the seams.
For the hem, I chose to simply overlock and turn up, using Stitch Fix to hold it in place before twin needling over the top. The reverse of twin needling has a zigzag stitch, providing more flexibility than a straight stitch. I increased my hem allowance to 1.5 cm due to the width of my Stitch Fix tape, which was 3 cm, allowing me to cut it in half.
As my fabric wasn't too thick and bulky, I decided to use self-fabric for the neck binding, and it sat and looked nicely.
The fit
My measurements:
Bust: 79cm
Waist: 62.5cm
Hips: 89cm
Height: 155cm
The relaxed and oversized design of this jumper, with its dropped shoulders, and roomy sleeves definitely make this pattern more forgiving when it comes to fit than other styles.
I am usually a size 6 or XS depending on the garment, therefore, I made the the size XXS.
I had no real fit issues, finding the jumper to be roomy suitably oversized (scroll through images below) as it is intended to be. It really is the perfect garment for layering.
I have loved pairing mine with a simple long length contrasting tee underneath, which highlights the slightly curved, high/low stitched hem.
This jumper is so comfy. when I first put it on I didn't want to take it off. With an upcoming long-haul flight back home to Oz, this jumper is going to be perfect. I think I might just make another one!
Personal reflection
What I loved: Everything! The oversized boxy design, my super soft fabric choice, the ease of assembly, the length (especially being a little longer at the back, which is not always easy to find), and it's a great project to get back into working with knits. I am definitely making another!
What I didn't love: The fabric curling, but this turned out well in the end as I was able to try something new with Stitch Fix, which I will definitely be adding to my sewing kit.
What I would do differently next time: Nothing! And there will definitely be a next time!
Glossary
Nested patterns*: Refers to patterns that feature multiple sizes layered (or nested) within each other. You may see the different sizes colour coded, or more commonly indicated with different patterned lines (e.g. dashed). These differentiated lines make it easy to identify, and therefore cut or trace the desired size. When working with a PDF pattern, there will often be an option to select the size you would like printed, turning off (or making invisible) any unnecessary layers.
Please get in touch or leave me a comment. I would love to know if I have inspired you to check out the All Around Crew pattern from Matchy Matchy Sewing Club.
Thanks for reading.
Emma xx
This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions contained on this site are my own. Unless stated otherwise, I am not affiliated with any brands, products, or organisations mentioned, and do not receive any sponsorship, payment, or other compensation for any of the content on this site.
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