Starting Cosy - Southbank Sweater

Happy New Year!

Hopping onto the blog today with a new to me pattern, in the form of the Nina Lee - Southbank Sweater.

I had resisted this pattern so long - I figured it was basically just a long jumper, so why not just lengthen a jumper. Which I did, and that was perfectly fine. 

 Buttttt something about the Southbank just kept niggling away at me. There are so many rave reviews about this pattern so I decided I'd just see for myself how good it really was.

Turns out - great! Worth the hype. (Although reviewing these photos it's not the most 'flattering' make but it's certainly comfy and well drafted).

For a  kick off, one of my favourite patterns (the Kew Dress) is by Nina Lee and fits really well so I thought that was a good start. 

Yes, it's just a long jumper but there's something about the cut and the fit that just elevates it in that Nina Lee way.

I cut a size 18 top grading to 20 at the hip and this seemed absolutely fine. No alterations made. I like that it's not tightly fitted but neither is it completely shapeless and baggy. The Goldilocks Zone of fit.

My fabric choice was this amazing galaxy print sweatshirt knit from Lilly & Mimi - I had never bought from them before and was pleasantly surprised to find some different prints unavailable elsewhere. This sweatshirt knit is so thick and cosy!!


As the knit is very thick I did worry about the stretch factor however this was not a problem. I just used ribbing for the cuffs.

The turtle neck on this is a nice size aswell as it doesn't strangle you or get in the way. Warm without being annoying. 

I  must have liked this version as about 2 days later I stash busted and used this amazing leopard sweatshirt from Truro Fabrics to make another. The perfect work from home outfit! Leggings and a Southbank - comfy and fairly put together should you have to go out.


There's not a lot else to say about this other than the pattern pieces go together really well, everything is where it should be. The whole thing you can whip up in about an hour and a half. I would definitely use ribbing for the cuffs where you have a less stretchy fabric though and save yourself some wrestling. 

All in all, I'm quite happy to have jumped aboard the Southbank bandwagon!

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