DIY off-the-shoulder knit

The Holidays are here and for me that means DIYing festive projects. I'm loving Holiday inspired fabrics like this metallic knit. It's versatile to worn as an off-the-shoulder for a party or casual as a cowl/draped neckline for the day. 

I created the pattern from scratch, no need for a pdf pattern and piecing it all together. It's actually very simple to make your own patterns. For me, it's easier to use silhouettes from existing garments and alter them to fit my design aesthetic. For this pattern I used a dolman fit sweatshirt and altered the neckline. 

Supplies:

• 2 yards fabric (Preferably knit because of the stretch and drape)
• Brother Sewing Machine
• garment to trace or pattern 
• general sewing supplies
• Tailors Chalk

Draft a pattern using a top you want as the fit. I just used a basic sweater shirt. I use tailors chalk and trace around the silhouette right onto the fabric giving 1/2 inch for seam allowance. The fabric I used had a 4 way stretch so it was just about efficiently placing it on the fabric.

 Same for sleeves.

You will also need a piece that measures 16 inches in width and the width of your shoulder to shoulder x 2 for the cowl neck piece. 

Now you should have 2 front/back pieces, a large cowl strip, and 2 sleeves. 

Sew bodice shoulder and side seams right sides together.

Add the sleeves...

Sew the sleeve seam right sides together.

 Cut the collar to make sure it fits off the shoulder.  I had to keep checking so make sure this is right. Mine measured about 23 inches with a little curve. Not too small or it will be a turtleneck and not too loose it's falling off.

Now for the collar:

Measure a strip of fabric that is the length wrapped around your shoulders, min was about 23 inches. Width should be 16 inches since you will be folding it in half.

Mark the middle of the front and back on the neckline.

-Find the middle of the cowl piece by folding in half and marking with with chalk or pin. 

-Attach the middle of the cowl piece to the middle of the front neckline. You will attach the right side of the cowl to the wrong side of the collar as shown in the photo sequence.

 -Sew 1/4in. seam starting front middle to back middle and repeating on the other side. 

It should look like this when pulled up right.

 Sew up back seam of cowl right sides together.

Finish bottom hems of sleeves and bodice or add a band hem like I did here.