Casey Sweater Review

Having spent the last couple of months doing DIY and getting the shop ready for opening, sewing definitely took a back seat. However, when we got our new delivery of jerseys in last week, I was completely inspired to start making again!

I fell in love with the Casey top that Andrea, the face behind Experimental Space Patterns, wore to the shop launch party and vowed that it would be my next make. I thought that the two aptly named Casey French Terry fabrics would work so well together to allow the contrast details to really pop!

I used the navy version as the main fabric and the coral for the inside of the cowl, the pocket linings, the welt, the hem band and the long cuffs.

Unlike your run of the mill sweater pattern, the Casey has lots of stunning details. This does mean that cutting out and construction will be trickier, but it is definitely worth it!

I would also recommend sewing the majority of this top using a regular sewing machine, and only using an overlocker to neaten the edges if necessary.

I sewed mine using my the automatic setting for a medium weight stretch fabric on my Husqvarna Viking Opal 690Q* and it sewed like a dream! Normally I would go straight to overlocking the whole thing as I love the speed and stretch. I was, however, really pleased with the stretch stitch – no sign of popping and really easy to use.

I finished the seams using my Huskylock S15*, so that they were all nice and neat on the inside.

I did make a couple of mistakes during construction. Firstly, I didn’t read the cutting guide properly so cut the inside cowl the wrong way around. It wasn’t a massive issue but it just meant I needed to recut it!

I found the instructions for the welt pockets a little tricky at first. I usually sew welts a different way so this had me scratching my head for a while – that will teach me not to sew when I am tired! Once I had read it through and properly concentrated, it all came together well.

The buttonholes were an absolute breeze – you have to sew four in total. You must remember to interface them on the reverse, as buttonholes can be really tricky in jersey. Also check to see if your machine has a dedicated stretch buttonhole stitch. If it does, it is a game changer! Again, the automated settings on the Opal make it so easy to tell the machine what you are trying to achieve and then it just does it for you! Bliss!

I matched the stripes on the side seams and sleeve seams but apart from that, I just let them fall where they may. It would have been nice to match the stripes all the way down the sleeve between the two fabrics but I am not actually sure this would have been logistically possible!

I really love the deep contrast cuffs – it makes the top really snug and cosy. I may even add thumbholes if I make it again!

The fit is spot on and it is a really cosy top to wear, but all the details make it super stylish too!

I would definitely recommend this pattern to an intermediate sewer who wants to take a step up from basic t-shirts and sweatshirts.

* For full disclosure, I work in partnership as a brand ambassador for Husqvarna Viking. My machines were gifted to me by Husqvarna Viking, however, all opinions remain my own.