Pattern Review: My Image M1003

When my sister came home from Europe for the holidays, she brought back a stack of new sewing magazines, with the (at the time) full set of My Image among them.  I am excited by a number of the patterns in the My Image magazines, but decided that the first thing I wanted to sew up would be the long cardigan - style M1003

MI-M1003 from the Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Issue

I didn't really have any cardigan style tops, and I thought this would be a great basic style.  I decided to use this as the "anything from my sewing plans" item from my year-long sewing challenge, since a cardigan top seems like it should be one of the wardrobe staples.  Though I am a bit annoyed with myself for mismatched shoulder seams, I am fairly pleased with my results:

This picture is closer to the real color of the fabric

Back is just one big piece

Love the pockets, cuffs, and buttons!

And here is my official review:

Pattern description:  Long cardigan style top with pockets.

Pattern sizing:  My Image sizes 36-44.  The sizing doesn't exactly correspond to Burda sizes, but it seems like most people choose their Burda size and get decent results.  So I made a size 40, grading out to a size 42 at the lower back.  There was plenty of ease, so if I wanted a tighter fit I could probably go to a smaller size in the future, though I actually really like the relaxed fit - it is very cozy.

Were the instructions easy to follow?  Ummm, no.  Not so much.  Actually, I found the translation to be rather useless, so I made the entire thing without the instructions.  And I usually don't have too many problems with the Burda instructions, so that gives a hint on how useless these instructions were.  Basically I made the pockets and attached them to the front, sewed the cuff bands on to the sleeve hems, and sewed the facing bands together at the shoulder and front seams.  Then I sewed the front to back at the shoulders, set the sleeve in flat, sewed the sleeve and side as one long seam, and attached the facing to the front opening.  And then I made a hem and attached the buttons.  Really, it was very very simple and fast.

Did it look like the photo/drawing when you were done with it?  Yes, I think so.  I made mine about an inch shorter than in the photos, but overall it looked quite similar.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  Well, I like the long style, the pockets, and the bands to finish off the sleeve cuffs.  This pattern includes buttons, but not buttonholes, which is a bit odd.  I would have added buttonholes, but my sewing machine hated my fabric (though my serger loved it...), so I decided to leave them of as well.  I didn't like the instructions, but I did like that this was so easy to put together that I didn't need them.  I was a bit vexed at myself because I put the front facing on a bit crooked (I was a bit rushed at the end and didn't notice until after I had finished with the serger), but the pattern itself is actually drafted quite nicely, and if I had been more careful it would have been a perfectly finished project.

Fabric used:  Poly/cotton ribbed knit.  I found it in a bargain bin, so I didn't realize it was only 45" wide!  It was a bit of a puzzel getting all the pieces to fit into 2 yards (the pattern calls for 2 yards of 60" fabric) but at least I didn't produce a lot of waste!  I had to have an extra seam on the back collar piece to get all of my pieces to fit, and my sewing machine really hated this stuff, but otherwise I think it looks pretty nice.

Pattern alterations or design changed you made:  None, really.  Other than adding a seam to the back facing because of fabric limitations.

Would you sew it again?  Would you recommend it to others?  Yes, I think I would sew this again!  I really like the style, and I want to make one that is finished perfectly.  If I can find a warm wooly knit I would love to make another cardigan.  I would also highly recommend this pattern, but only to someone who isn't entirely dependent on the instructions.

Conclusion:  Great pattern!  Love the fit and style, very comfortable.  Very easy to sew together, and it would look great on a lot of different body shapes.  This was my first My Image pattern, but now I really want to try some of their other styles.  Highly recommended.