Riding the Roller coaster, and saying goodbye to Hancock Fabrics

We are only 4 months in, and 2016 has already bee a roller coaster for me.  In November of 2015, I was so excited to score a position to blog for 'The Stitch' starting in 2016.  The Stitch has been Hancock Fabrics' blog to reach the sewing community, and I had great visions of what I might be able to do with them.  I received my first box and got started on two projects - the first I posted here at PR, the Big Bow Poncho, and the second project I sent over to The Stitch to be published at the beginning of Feb.  Only, that didn't happen, on Feb second Hancock Fabric filed chapter 11 and The Stitch blogging program shut down until the company could get back on its feet.  I sat back expecting the news any day that this store I grew up with was bouncing back and going to be bigger and better than ever.  Instead, last week, the company was sold for liquidation and is gone for good.

So I post this post as we say good by to Hancock and pray that American Fabric stores at large can dig in and hold on!!!

-------------------------------------------------------

Loving fabric just comes with the territory of being a person who sews, right.  I love all types of fabric from beautifully patterned quilting cottons to deeply saturated wools.  Right now, I'm a bit obsessed with plaid, fitting since it is on trend.  This pink wool blend plaid leapt off the pages of the Hancock website and into my shopping cart (Plaid Rose and Cream wool blend polyester fabric).  While this fabric is sold out on the website, you may just find some in your local store, and there are lots of other plaid options on the site to choose from.

With fabric in hand, I knew I wanted to make a shirt... but not just a traditional button up, I needed something more cozy for these cold winter days.  I needed a Snuggle Shirt - and you need one too!

It is so warm and cozy and easy to wrap up in to keep warm. 

Materials Needed:

• 2-3 yards of woven fabric (wool, wool blends, cotton, and flannel would all work great)
• Marking tool (pencil, chalk, disappearing ink pen)
• Straight Edge ruler
• Thread
• Straight stitch sewing machine
• Button Up Shirt Pattern: I used the Button Up Shirt from Winter Wear Designs

Tutorial:

• Cut your pattern pieces for the back and sleeves as described in your pattern.
• Take the front piece and trace the shoulder, armscye, and front side seam.
• Measure the curve of the back neck pattern piece.
  
• Take that measurement and draw a line straight up from the inside edge of the shoulder seam you traced.
  
  
  
  
• Now measure 10 inches straight out fromt he center from of your pattern to the edge of your fabric (this creates the scarf neck).  If you are working with a wool blend or other fabric with a nice frayed selvage, you will align the end of the 10 inch measurement with the selvage.
  
• Take your straight edge and line it up with the bottom of your side seam.  Measure straight across and make a mark.  Measure 4 inches down from that mark and make another mark.  Line up your straight edge from the bottom mark to the original side seam and draw a diagonal line.  
• 
  
  
  
  
  
• Cut your piece out - you need 2 mirrored pieces, I like to fold my fabric in half and cut once.
  
• Assemble according to your pattern instructions up to the collar.
• Pin and sew the top edges of the scarf neck together (this is the 10 inch section).  I sew this seam with a french seam so that there are no raw edges when you see the inside of the scarf neck.
  
  
  
  
•  Now take the neck of the scarf neck (this is the part you measured the length of your back neck for), and match it to the back neck edge, right sides together.  Sew together.  My pattern has a double back yolk (main and lining), so I sewed to the  main first.  Then I turned the lining under 1/4 inch and top stitch it in place.  YAY, no unfinished edges!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Hem your cardigan , wear it and love it!