Halla Soho Top + Simply By Ti Fabric

I’m in desperate need of more sweaters in my wardrobe, so when I selected this white and mint French Terry from Simply By Ti, it was with the intent to make a hoodie for me. I had a number of patterns to decide between. What I really wanted to make was a hoodie with a zipper, but the pattern I was considering called for a zipper that was longer than the one in my stash. So then I considered making the women’s Filou, but that would require printing + adding seam allowances and I just wasn’t in the mood to do that!

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I was pretty sure Hallå* had a hoodie pattern, but when I took a look through their website, I couldn’t see one. So, I scrolled through the Facebook group and low and behold, there it was! Camouflaged as a cowl neck top.

This year I’m also participating in the 52 Week Sewing Challenge, and the 2018 RTW Fast (that’s “ready to wear” AKA store bought clothing). This is my Week 1 entry for the 52 Week Challenge – “sew something warm”!

About the Pattern

The Soho Top by Hallå Patterns* is a raglan style top with:

• Long or Short Sleeve Crewneck
• Long or Short Sleeve Cowl Neck
• Slash Front Crew Neck or Cowl Neck
• Cross Front Hood
• Star Pockets
• Kangaroo Pocket (by request, pattern piece only)
• Thumb Hole Cuffs (tutorial and pattern piece available in Hallå Facebook group)
• With or without lower hem banding

The pattern is rated beginner to advanced, depending on which options you go with. The sizes are layered so you only need to print the one(s) you need. The sizes range between 30″-51″ bust, 22-43″ waist, and 32-55″ hip. Each pattern piece has a ruler on it to help you work out exactly where the pattern will hit  your bust, waist and hip so you can easily determine whether you want a looser or tighter fit. I wanted mine to be on the looser side, so I went with a 2/4 bust and waist and then graded to a 6/8 hip. Always remember when sewing, size is JUST a number! Making what will actually fit you, even if it’s a number that scares you, will be the most flattering.

In terms of construction, the instructions were pretty straight forward. Since I’ve made a lot of tops and hoodies, I didn’t have to refer to them very often and mostly just gave them a cursory glance.

Kangaroo Pocket Tutorial

There is no tutorial for the kangaroo pocket, but it’s not hard to do. To do it, start by taking your pocket piece and attaching the bands (cut size is listed on the pattern piece). I also put some knit stay tape along the pocket opening edge. Attach the bands, press, and top stitch. Press top of pocket under 1/4″ (I used a glue stick to hold it in place). Spray back of pocket piece with Quilt Basting Spray* and attach to center bottom of front bodice. Top stitch along top of pocket edge. Construct top as per instructions, being sure to catch all the pocket layers in the hem band seam.

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I did do a couple of things that I wasn’t happy with though: first, since I now have a grommet press and intend to put grommets in ALL THE THINGS, I had planned to add them into the hoodie. To do this, I had to put the grommet assembly and backing fabric into my hoodie BEFORE sewing the hoodie on. I also needed to put a channel into the hoodie for the drawstring to run through (unless I opted for a faux drawstring instead).

So, I cut everything out on the first day, and sewed all up until the part where I had to put the grommets on the hood and add the hood to the top.

Then I went to bed.

And then the next night, I went to my sewing machine and serged that hood onto my top.

Of course, after it was all nicely finished and pressed, I realized I had forgotten to add my grommets.

I considered taking it apart and re-doing it but my heart just wasn’t in it.

Grommet-less hoodie it would be!

My second possible fail on this was something I didn’t realize until after it was all finished. I decided to try the cuffs with thumbhole. I wanted to use white for the cuff, but didn’t have enough fabric left to do that, so went with the mint instead. Once I tried it on, I just wasn’t quite feeling the thumbhole cuffs and I couldn’t work out why. And then it hit me. They look super reminiscent of my cleaning gloves! I considered A) taking them off and going with a shorter white cuff (I think I have enough for that), or B) cutting them down to a regular size cuff in the green. Or  C) (and what I will probably end up doing because laziness is my middle name), just wearing as is but tucking them under so they are shorter. And then not utilizing the thumbhole cuff unless it is super dooper cold and I’ve forgotten my gloves. (Let me know what you would do in the comments!)

Overall, the Halla Soho Top* is a very versatile pattern and a great wardrobe builder to have in your collection!

About the Fabric

Simply By Ti’s Stretch French Terry has a lovely feel to it and is so nice and cozy. I was able to make this hoodie with 1 yard of white and 1 yard of mint, and just a little bit leftover. (My daughter’s AG doll might get some lovin’ soon!)

Simply By Ti Stretch French Terry has 65% horizontal stretch, 25% vertical stretch and is perfect for sweatshirts, joggers/lounge pants and tops. It’s available in 7 colors PLUS a handful of GLITTER French Terry’s.

Fabric ships quickly from Cheyenne, WY and if you sign up for the Simply By Ti newsletter and join the Simply By Ti Facebook group, you’ll stay in the know for all the amazing sales they have! Every Thursday, Ti (pronounced “Tee”) hosts FREE 15 minute sewing classes on the Simply By Ti Facebook Page where you can ask questions and see samples of new fabric (and vote on future ones!).

 

  

I’m a VIP Blogger for Halla Patterns and received this pattern complimentary in exchange for review.
I’m a Simply By Ti Ambassador and received this fabric complimentary in exchange for review and promotion.
Opinions, as always, are 100% my own!