Merchant & Mills Sidney Sweatshirt

I went to the M&M shop in Rye and tried on a size 14 (I'd usually be18) and it is plenty big for me. Another time I might size down even more as boxy and big aren't that flattering if you are bigger on me, l feel.
I used M&M's blush jaquard cotton, and used the lines to make central placing on front, back and sleeves. I'm still undecided about the thready inside but not going to line it at this point. I love the fabric though and the machine seemed to love it too - buttery. I look forward to it wearing in and belonging.
I used M&M matching ribbing, one ribbing piece for the bottom edge rather than the two in the instructions said. It was 1m long and stretched it to fit - they say it stretches to 1.5 of it's length. I quite wanted it to gather in a bit.
It was an easy make. I've never used ribbing before or done much zigzag overlock (easily used a whole guterman on this project), but that worked well. I put the collar on the wrong way so the garment has ended up with an unintentional quirk. An intentional quirk is the one patch pocket (for a hanky or fitbit) I guessed the placing at, matching the jaquard. It could have gone one square over, and I could have done two, and thought about putting one on the arm. When I wear it I want to put my hands in inseam pockets, so I might do that another time, and would make it a bit longer, no bottom rib.
I wish I hadn't printed the pages for cutting the ribbing as there is guidance in the notes about the length that you need. Minor re-use of other side of paper issue. Slightly annoying in the general instructions that it says the seam allowance is 1.5cm but in the pattern itself it says 1cm. Lead to some unpicking. Anyway, participants in yoga classes inspected and approved it!

I’ve made two of these so far and friends are commissioning me to make for them too. I made my first one up in a lovely thick fleece backed organic cotton sweat fabric from Ray Stitch. They had some matching rib. Take it down at least one size from your usual if not two. It is definitely boxy in shape and a dream to put together. I didn’t bother with the lower rib as it didn’t look right so I did a hem and double top stitched which looks just right with the generally square shape. I made the rib a little tighter round the wrist and neck for my second one. Again it depends on the look you want. I’d highly recommend. My overlocker gave me a lovely finish to the seams but a zigzag will do just as well.