Project Run and Play

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Colour blocked Chromium Hoodie: Janelle Davis

Today, one of our ambassadors, Janelle, is showing us how she color blocked the Chromium Hoodie. This project would be great for using up scraps or just adding personality to your project!

Colour blocked Chromium Hoodie

Hi. Janelle here again on the project run and play blog. Today I’m showing you how I hacked the Chromium hoodie to make this colour blocked version. This is pattern hacking 101. Super easy.

Before I started I blended the pattern pieces for 6 width and 10 height. She is a size 5 chest width and between 9 and 10 for height, but we are mid summer here so I sized up. I held the pattern pieces up to my daughter to determine the length of both the hoodie and the sleeve. I used the cut line for the vented hem for size 6, so we are somewhere between cropped and full length. I also used the size 6 line for the sleeve piece to allow for thumbhole cuffs.

I drew a line parallel to the CB/CF from the point where the neckline meets the shoulder to the hem. I measured along this line from 1cm down from the top to 1cm up from the bottom. (To allow for seam allowance.) I divided this measurement by 3. I drew lines perpendicular to CB/CF at these 3 points on the line and cut the pattern along those lines. I highlighted the pattern pieces, along my cut lines, to remind me to add seam allowance there when cutting the fabric.

Using the top piece, I measure down the sleeve from the underarm point the same amount. I drew a line here perpendicular to the sleeve fold line. The next line on the sleeve was the same length down as the line on the front/back piece.

I cut out the pattern pieces, adding seam allowance (with my quilting ruler) along the highlighted bits.

I layed out the pieces to make sure I sewed them together correctly.

I sewed the front pieces, the back pieces, and the sleeve pieces together.

I pressed and topstitched these seams to remove the waviness, as my overlocker was being a bit funky, and to help them sit nice and flat.

I then followed most of the pattern directions. When sewing the sleeve and side seams, I pinned at the seam lines I made to help line them up.

I made and attached thumbhole cuffs. My daughter loves thumbhole cuffs, and requests them on most hoodies. I haven’t explained here how I made them, as I just used pieces from another pattern. But I’ve made them 5 different ways and I tend to interchange them, just eyeballing the length of the sleeve.

I used a “normal” waistband as I didn’t have enough fabric for the vented hem. I totally made up the length and width based on how little fabric I had left. I like the vented hem, and might use that next time. Although I liked the cropped length too, so maybe I’ll do that instead. Or both!

Make sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive a $3 off coupon that is good for the month of January. Be sure to share your makes in the Project Run and Play Fans FB group or tag us on IG: @projectrunandplay.

Friday, January 14, 2022

Call Ajaire: Chromium Cropped Hoodie

Today we have Ajaire from Call Ajaire sharing some of her favorite Chromium Cropped Hoodies. This pattern was released with our Watercolor Beach Collection. It is such a wonderful wardrobe staple and I think after this post, you will see why.

Here's Ajaire:

I'm so excited to share one of my favorite DbCA patterns with you guys today! The Chromium Cropped Hoodie was developed years ago as just the right layering piece for my oldest daughter. She loved wearing sleeveless dresses ALL YEAR and a sweatshirt to throw on top was what we needed for the colder months.

This one was made about three years ago and it's worn here exactly as designed. You'll notice that this view doesn't even have a hood haha! Chromium was given a new life one Halloween when Bean wanted to be a cat. I added a hood with ears and thus the cropped hoodie took shape. When it was brought in as a part of the Watercolor Beach collection I added a few more options that we've been loving more and more as the years go by.

This is the full length view in a cotton lycra that I made when she needed a last minute (last second?) shirt to wear for a holiday dress down day at school. I love how quickly this top comes together and in a C/L it feels like a slightly oversized t-shirt, which is exactly the vibe she's into these days.

I also made both of my girls some fun, chunky sweatshirts for a casual Christmas look before the holidays. For these I used a thicker luxe fleece and again chose the full length view. I sized Kitty's up for length only here (then folded up the sleeves), because I'm hoping she can get two year's worth of wear from it. The fleece stretches great so I didn't alter the width or size up since she's relatively petite around the chest/waist and I didn't want her swimming in it. Chromium was designed for minimal stretch fabrics so the fit worked out great.

For my most recent Chromium Cropped Hoodie, I again left off the hood and went back to the roots. This Cuddle Lamb© fabric is sooooo soft and Bean couldn't wait to try it on. I made a size 11 to hopefully keep this one fitting for awhile on this rapidly growing tween, so it's a little wide and long on her right now. She loves it just the same and paired with the new Prancer Pull-On Jeans, this cropped sweatshirt is all the rage in our house right now.

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Chromium Cropped Hoodie Fabric Comparison

Today we have a fabric comparison for the Chromium Cropped Hoodie pattern. We've seen this fun pattern made up quite a few different fabrics for a good reason: it's such a great pattern with tons of different options!

The fabric recommendations for the Chromium Cropped Hoodie are knits with at least 20% stretch, but not to exceed 75% stretch. Some options are stretch fleece, sweatshirting, ponte de roma, or french terry.

For the purpose of this fabric comparison post, I wanted to see how the Chromium sewed up if I pushed the envelope a little on the recommended fabrics. So I tried a very thick fabric with a small amount of stretch and a very thin fabric with tons of stretch.

Let's talk about that adorable Chromium made from Sherpa Fleece first. It is very thick, and has some stretch, but is quite challenging to work with. Obviously worth the effort as illustrated by the happy smile!

My thoughts on sewing with a thicker and less stretchy than recommended fabric: be sure to go up a size. (Moment of truth: I did this because I was too lazy to print out his size and since I was already making one for his sister in the next size up, my laziness worked out in my favor!) It is still just a little tight getting it over his head, due to the thickness and lack of stretch. To solve this, the neckline could be widened and cut lower in front. Another thing, I skipped the topstitching everywhere except the neckline to deal with the extra thick piles of the sherpa fabric.

And now my thoughts on sewing with a thinner and more stretch fabric than recommended: think about going down in size unless you are going for a slouchy look. My daughter is right at the top of this size, so again it worked out in my favor. You can see that the funnel neck on this Chromium does not stand up as intended, but it's not a horrible look either. She will be wearing this one for quite a while as it's big enough and she loves it!

Here are quite a few more examples of Chromium's sewn up in fun fabrics: