How to draft and sew a classic cardigan? You can do it!

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Pep talk starts at about 26:00 you don't want to miss it!

[@karenboyd6293]

I always make a semi- test garment with inexpensive but acceptable fabric. If it works out, I will end up with two and if it doesn't, I can fix the problems before cutting into the good fabric.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

@@karenboyd6293 Absolutely! I love your approach! Sometimes if I do have a fabric that I fell out of love with, but it is still good - I will use it as a test garment fabric and then if all is great, I can wear that garment at home or while doing other things, like garden. I love your thoughts and comments, thank you Karen!

[@versinaviani7988]

I love your show. I'm 89 years old and still sewing and you are the best I've seen. Keep going love. Never stop doing what you love.

[@kathleenwilliams1988]

You have no idea how much I appreciate this! I have lymphedema in my arms due to surgery I had years ago. My arms-at times- look like Popeye the Sailor Man! I’m learning to sew so that I will have clothing that will fit me. I’m learning so much from your videos so thank you very much👍

[@mariepeterson7250]

This is such a well done video, you teach how to draft in a manner that is very easy to follow. Thank you very much for this. I'm going to draft a cardigan.

[@debm460]

I wish I had found you at the beginning! I have all these patterns I’ve purchased over the years. There were no sewing resources four years ago or larger patterns. Glad that has changed. Learning a lot from you. I’ve actually had the test garment work out and the good fabric flop 😂

[@teslord1852]

You make pattern making so much easier to understand. it’s the one thing my Nan never got to teach me. Thank you xxx

[@elenatelechea4864]

You are an excellent teacher. I really appreciate the energy you put into your videos. Thanks from Argentina.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Wow, all the way from Argentina! I remember we learned about Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, in history lessons in school, and I thought it was very neat! Thank you for watching, makes me happy when people get the courage to learn, do, sew and be creative!

[@sandrapisarski6597]

I so agree! She is wonderful!

[@KikeGrace]

Thank you so much Alisa ❤ from Nigeria

[@michellecoon6619]

of course, I watched it through to the end, twice!!!! I really like it!

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you, ma'am!

[@Nevertoosweet2eat]

I Love your videos I've learned so much the only thing I haven't learned is how you talk so so fast and breadth at the same time. That is remarkable. Keep up your great work and seeing ideas. Lots of fun.

[@deeleach8300]

I am staring at my fabric....afraid to cut. Thanks for the pep talk and inspiration. You are so great! Thank you. I love playing around with you.

[@944gemma]

I just think you are such a treasure. I definitely need to run your pep talk on a regular basis. Thank you so much for all your precious informative teaching videos.

[@analuisamom]

It was one of your best classes..... I liked how you drafted the front.....100% Alisa

[@louiselovescrafting6802]

After the Christmas rush is over, I will give this a try! My grandmother sewed most of our clothes when we were children and she would made a test item first in muslin. Another trick she would was have us put the garment on inside out so she could mark the adjustments with pins. Everything she made lasted longer than store bought clothes and fit so much better! Thanks for all of your videos…you are just great at explaining and sharing your love of sewing!🪡❤️

[@helenharding1397]

Thank you Alyssa, I needed that refresher demonstration ❤

[@mecraftytoo]

Wow so fabulous, you made it look so easy, and I actually understood everything. Thank you for sharing your great talent.

[@sharonwarbler6550]

I'm fortunate in that I've found an online shop here in the UK that has cheap material, so cheap that I only use 'test garment' material to make anything. I'm also a very odd shape and only just learning how to sew clothes. Thanks for your guidance Alisa, I feel empowered.

[@lcarrera3142]

You just blew my mind with that hem!!

[@brendadouglas9833]

'Awesome' is the best word I can think of to express my feeling of your abilities. Thank you so much for sharing all this knowledge. The cardigan looks so nice.

[@jacquelinevanzanten9264]

You have not only given me so much inspiration, but to alot more people than you know. From the bottom of my heart I want to say Thank you. I get so excited looking at your videos. So easy to follow and so educational. Jacqui - South Africa.

[@marybrown9207]

Beautiful !! I haven't jumped on the draft bandwagon yet, however you've got me using different sleeves on my existing favourite sleeves, thank you, I really appreciate that. I sure wish I had you way back when I was sewing for my kids. Glad I found you now, I watch every time I'm in my sewing room.

[@trudyberry3267]

Such a great, easy to follow, detailed tutorial. Very helpful, thank you.

[@mmay4121]

Thank you so much for your pattern drafting, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. My aunt used to make patterns and tailored jackets. My grandmother made shirts for my dad out of Robin Hood flour sacks when they lived on the prairie in Saskatchewan before they returned to England, giving up the farm, in the 1930s

[@rikkib7636]

Love this cardigan Alisa:) I definitely prefer this more fitted, open-front style.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Giiiirl, yes! It gives a bit of a dressier look, I think, depending on how you style it :) but so many possibilities with this super simple "cardigan shell".

[@christinemayo9884]

Thank you for sharing. You are an excellent teacher you stop and explain the process and WHY you make the adjustments as you go. Step at a time. Thank you.

[@judybraden1553]

WOW! Keep up the good work!

[@dianadivadiamond]

Im so in love with this cardigan. Alisha, I enjoyed every inch of this tutorial. Long but precise too. ❤❤❤❤❤❤👍👍👍👍

[@indreklein]

beautiful garment and very useful and detailed tutorial!

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you so much! There is also Members Extra for it with a ton of useful information! :)

[@velrinepalmer9982]

Detailed demonstration. Patient teacher. Much emphasis expressed in helping your audience to understand through repetition. You have a gift and shares it whole heartedly. Much learned and appreciated. Will be making the pattern and sewing this Cardigan soon. Thanks! Keep up the good work Alesia.👍😃

[@dianakidd5688]

Yep, you did it again: Another fantastic video!!! Thank you for yet again inspiring us all to sew beautiful garments, easily.

[@deanalovessewn6117]

Hi Alisa!! Great tutorial on making this cardigan.. Love the fit of this one.. Can’t wait to make this…. 💜💜💜🧵🧵🧵

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you! 😊

[@lolabennion4382]

What a wonderful teacher you are… you fit my experience and refresh my knowledge and show me more and different ways to be more effective… God bless!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@hollycricchio2749]

You are a wonderful teacher, Thank you

[@TwospotzArtAndCraft]

As a person who is built like a fighting valkyrie, I don't use inches in Sweden and am LOT curvier and bigger, this was a wild guessingame and winging it on the pattern... ;-D Can't wait to make it complete. So thanks for sharing how to make a sleeve top etc. This was soooo helpful!

[@googooplay3777]

I just love how you teach. Your best sewing tip. “ do a savage line” so smart because you expressed the way that line will effect the garment! I new that the armcye was different front to back but no one said why. ❤😊

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

So glad it is helping you! I have a very good video about drafting a basic sleeve - that one will give you even more clarity on the topic of sleeve and things will become very straight forward!

[@caroldoolam2310]

Thank you very much for this tutorial.

[@kathrynboles6027]

Alisa, I just drafted my cardigan pattern and I am so looking forward to making it -- several times!! I bought some lightweight knits for just this purpose early in the fall, and have been hoping you would do something like this. Everything I draft with you has fit perfect so far. I live in Idaho, and most of the early winter and early spring, we don't need heavy coats. Just a nice sweater to go over our top. I am making mine mid-thigh and making a Bishop sleeve, and I can't wait to see how it turns out. Because I have been sewing for over 60 years, I never learned to make a test garment, but I did learn how to alter things that didn't fit quite right. Anyway, since your patterns always fit me PERFECT, I haven't used a test garment on them either. I'll let you know how my first one turns out. Can I send a photo on this platform, or do I need to go to facebook or some other platform? Sincerely, Kathy B.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Whaaaaaaat? You drafted one already??? Your are on FIRE :) That's awesome, thank you for sharing. We must be on the same wave length since I am also planning to make one with bishop sleeve, it such a cozy sleeve that dresses up an outfit instantly. I am with you - knowing how to fix fit issues is also a great skill. Yes, send me a picture to my email or on IG, I would LOVE to see it! My email is [e-mail]

[@zenanadancewear]

Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. I very much enjoy your drafting videos, and feel like I learn something new each time.

[@virashnijagroop9094]

Hi Alisa. I just love love your tutorials! I am so excited to try out the cardigan this weekend!!!! Cant wait!!! Thank you :)

[@vickismallwood2082]

I love this cardigan you give the confidence to make my very own. Thank you so much.

[@kayeclough1658]

This is exactly what I need, just an extra bit of warmth in spring & autumn (fall). Thank you for showing your easy to follow method, that will fit any size. I'm in my 70s & when I was @ school, we had drafting lessons, but had to copy a small sized sample. The process was long & I had no idea how to make it fit me, as I was a plus size. So I found the class next to useless. I wish I had learnt your method back then, it would have given me greater confidence. Thank you.

[@jennychan1496]

Thank you for inspiring me to sew a cardigan. Thank you for the great video. Really learn a lot from all your videos. Mostly you encourage me not to be afraid to drafr and sew my own clothes

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Awesome! I am glad it gives you a bit of courage and I am here to tell you that you can totally do it! :)

[@jennychan1496]

Thank you . Wish I could show you my cardigan

[@kimberleyjane2338]

Alisa: " But I decided to change my mind" So cute! You are hilarious!

[@belieftransformation]

Great instructions; thanks for sharing!

[@helenwhitfield8322]

Wow I Thank the Lord I found your channel You are a very amazing teacher instructor and your tutorials are very inspiring and helpful also informative I actually learned how to draft patterns from your tutorials thank you for sharing 👏😊🫶🏾

[@ginangan8892]

Love your idea test garment

[@miaschu8175]

How clever!

[@eleanorvanpelt5695]

I am so excited to make this jacket this summer. Thank you so much for all your tips and tricks to complete the project!!

[@nightnurse49]

You are an Excellent teacher, keep up the great work, much love from Trinidad.

[@lana7422]

Thank you so much...just what I needed. And so simple to draft with your excellent instructions. I use rolls of white paper bought from Walmart. I think they are 18" wide and last forever. I use painter's tape to hold in place while using. I use expanding manila file folders, the kind that is closed on the ends to hold my folded patterns. I have some skirt and simple bodice patterns that I have drafted and used lots of times. But with the ones you are teaching us to do, I am expanding my library. I love love love doing my own drafting and the sewing produces garments that fit. THANKS!!!

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Whaaaaaat? White paper from Wal-mart? - I will check for it next time. This tissue paper is great, but.... when I use markers for videos, so that people can see better, it bleeds through paper, so then the next day I scrub my mat, and the cycle repeats every weeks. So definitely will take a look - thank you for a suggestion! My pleasure, so happy to see that you enjoy sewing just as much as I do. By the way, you can use a bodice block to draft this pattern, just add ease, make a drop shoulder and all of the little adjustments - saves time :)

[@lana7422]

@@ThoughtfulCreativity Thank you for the suggestion. You are so creative. Thanks for your inspiration.

[@morrisdancer11]

When I subscribed it was because I found your methods and instructions perfect but: I'm 80yrs.and look for more (easy) ways to sew what I need. I have drafted patterns but can't anymore. This cardigan is exactly what I need as a light summer cover. Any lightweight cardigan ideas from (ready made) garments would be so helpful for me. thanks everyone.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Vera, take a t-shirt from a closet - copy it and go from there, it doesn't get easier than that. Copying sewing pattern off of ready made garment isn't always the easiest way - you will spend more time straightening out the garment than actually drafting it from scratch.

[@elenatelechea4864]

Yes. It is one of our buildings with the highest heritage value in Buenos Aires. By the way, I am an architect and very fond of sewing. Thanks Alisa.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Wow, architecture is so interesting! Where I am from (back in Europe)you can find so many interesting architecture styles within one street/block, as the cities are so old. New buildings next to old - very interesting dynamic. It must be quite interesting to approach sewing having a background in architecture!

[@PKeefe]

You are clear and concise with your instruction. The success to clothing looking it’s best it to have it fit well. You are a master at tailoring to fit. Bravo.

[@jennysspace3635]

Thank you so much for this tutorial,i just finished drafting mine,my only issue is getting knit fabrics where i live....i will stitch mine as soon as i lay my hands on jersey/knit fabrics... wish me luck...😊.Thank you for all you do....❤️😘

[@karenboyd6293]

I always appreciate that you provide a way to make a pattern that actually fits the body of the wearer. I must comment that many women do not have sholders that slop as far as you have drawn. So for those of you that plan to make this, please look at your shoulders to decide the slope you need.

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Karen, this is a drop shoulder cardigan, therefore that's the reason why the shoulder line is longer and has a slope like this. And of course - you can vary the shoulder slope as you like. I take average amounts, so that people don't have to measure shoulder slope as that is the measurement that is often take wrong anyway.

[@eileenrhoades3343]

Thank you for your easy-going presentations and clear visuals. I struggle spatially, but I might give one of your tutorials a try. You cheer on the somewhat timid sewist.

[@liletteautrey8481]

Very nicely done and I love the fabric . Thank you for sharing

[@vanessamaiato3894]

Are you amazing or what. You make it look so easy. Brilliant hem trick, just what I was looking for. Keep them coming 😊

[@margaretbenaim2970]

thank you Alisa for your very easy tutorials. my first time ever drafting my own pattern and I am so happy with my finished garment I love this cardigan pattern

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Great job, I read your other comment and was so happy for you!

[@queenelcene638]

ThankYou ❤ I shared with my daughter. Love your videos and enthusiasm

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@MrsGump]

This is bloody FASCINATING!! It's amazing how easy yet complicated it is. Damn i love this channel 💖

[@tineejohnston9737]

Elise my dear you are genius ❤️❤️❤️ thank you for doing these been thinking of what to do, with my floral material I found at the store, I’m so excited when I saw it 😇😎🥰

[@KarlaCastillo-cq3hs]

Thank you Alice I’m new to your channel I appreciate you sharing your pattern making techniques 📏✂️🖊🔎🪡

[@MsAuraMatic]

Love your tutorials. I am making this cardigan next. Will definetely do a test garment first with my Walmart $2 fabric.

[@bridgetndlovu4650]

I haven't finished watching the video ..but this is beautiful..love it💖💖i will finish watching it later

[@liletteautrey8481]

Very nice , very clean and prof job

[@mihaelabossoukpe8569]

So nice! Thank you for all the details.

[@calmblueocean1177]

aaahh to be 20s again and be a size to fit off the rack. (Love the crop tops you thrift-fit that just don’t suit my bod.) Looking past this, you have such inspiring content. Keep up the great work!

[@Penguinandpear]

I agree. A practice garment will save sanity (and fabric)!

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

YES!!!!!!!!! :D

[@michellepark778]

gorgeous fabric, fantastic pattern

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you! 😊

[@sewaldodiy]

Wow this is so beautiful and I can't wait to make my own!

[@tashamc5228]

Your tutorials are awesome and on point

[@dianneunderwood8456]

Lovely job on the cardigan. I have been learning to draft patterns from the basic torso bodice (that I also recently tried). Thank you for taking the time to show that part of the process for those of us interested in the pattern making process. Have a few items on my list to sew and after seeing this one the list just got longer - haha.

[@marianlanouette4768]

Love this cardigan. Thank you.

[@tracyfrost]

Thanks for the great tips

[@sheilastamps853]

Love your teaching! Thank you and really love you cardigan

[@imsewblessed1578]

It’s a really cute cardigan. 👌🏼😊

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you! A really good basic one too, so you can build upon it with various additions (p.s. - one version is coming soon) :)

[@131dyana]

Thank you for being so informative.

[@sharonkerrscottkerr1250]

Really appreciate your skills. Thanks for sharing

[@InAgatasCottage]

Brilliant video. Thanks you for it. Love your fabric choices

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you! 😊

[@faithwalker5196]

Beautiful

[@karenmcneil7546]

Love a cardigan and I love yours!

[@georgycolson9671]

I absolutely love it!

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you!!

[@saritavishwakarma9038]

Your Explanation are superb😍👌 mam , I love your teaching and experience ❤🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@magdalenakuhn8781]

Thank you very much for the new pattern. I love your Videos. Great 🤩🤩🤩🤩🧵🧵🧵🧵

[@rosannecosta2646]

Fabulous!!

[@mrgarner4796]

Beautiful 💕!!

[@peggymclane1673]

YOU ARE MY HEROE!!! 😍😍😍😍❤❤❤👏👏👏👏

[@auntieann3000]

Oh I'm so glad you released this! I just made my daughter a lined cardigan from a pattern but I used woven stabilizer & it didn't wash up very well. 😟 I need to add pockets for her but I will use this method for her next one. Thank you!!!!

[@dianakidd5688]

Next time if you use a Tricot Stabilizer (which is made for knits) you will be happier with the flexible, but stable results.

[@shelleythomas4251]

I always do a test. Make the markings on my patterns. As for the good fabric I sew cautiously.

[@susantrevino4053]

impressive 😊

[@romangebretsadik3641]

Thanks dear I learn a lot 🙏🙏🙏

[@leneprior1044]

THank look forward to trying day after Christmas 2021

[@cfox9992]

Beautiful!

[@ritajanemiller]

You are amazing. Thank you!

[@اللهمصليعلىمحمد-ع5ب]

love it very pretty

[@joffson]

Yeees perfect 😍 just what I need! Sewing is so fun and I’m learning a lot from you Alisa🤩

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

I'm so glad!

[@giftedmokaba942]

Thankyou thank you 🌻💐❤️

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

My pleasure!

[@bedajh]

Instant like!

[@ThoughtfulCreativity]

Thank you so much!

[@carriecassidy2400]

I love your channel! I have to ask: Where do you get your fabric? It is so beautiful project after project.