Sooooo…. I did something crazy! (shocking right?) This pattern is made for wovens, but I couldn’t get the idea of a sweatshirt fleece York Pinafore out of my head.
The York Pinafore by Helen’s Closet is a super cute, comfy, and versatile pattern. I’m a sucker for anything pinafore/bib/dungaree/overalls/etc. so of course I had to make this pattern.
It has multiple variations – two hemlines , two pocket options, & two necklines to chose from. I did the shorter hem with the higher neckline. Although after taking photos I think I might go back and scoop out the front neckline a bit more. I did raise the underarms by about 3″ originally thinking I may wear it on it’s own. What exact sort of weather it would have to be for me to wear a tank dress made out of sweatshirt fleece with nothing underneath it is your guess as much as mine.
Now we gotta talk about this ridiculous unique fabric choice. I put this pattern next up in my list, so I was brainstorming fabrics in my stash that would work (true to #theyearofslowsewing fashion). I had plenty of medium weight wovens that would of worked. Denim was a strong contender… still could be one of those in the future. But it was super cold, and I have a roll of heavy black sweatshirt fleece that I just couldn’t get off my mind. I emailed Helen to see if she thought that was crazy and she said to go for it!
So here we are! I’m actually quite pleased with how it turned out. It’s so cozy and comfortable. The weight of the fleece helps it keep its structure. I of course had to go with the kangaroo pocket to shoutout to the classic sweatshirt. I’d probably need to wear a slip under it if I wanted to wear it with tights to keep the friction down. It looks super cute with both woven and knit tops underneath. DEFINITELY secret pajama action here.
There were a few things I had to change when sewing this in a knit. All of the construction seams were done on my serger. I then serged all the raw edges and used my twin needle to just turn & stitch the seam allowances to the inside. I did the same for the hem, instead of double turning I just serged and turned once, giving myself a 1″ hem for a little more stability. From what I remember, I did shorten the length a bit but I don’t remember how much. (sorry y’all!)
Get a closer look at the insides:
SKIP TO THE END?
Pattern: Helen’s Closet York Pinafore
Fabric: Black sweatshirt fleece from stash
Notions: Thread
Difficulty: Super Easy!
Adjustments: Raised underarms 3″, serged and topstitched edges & hem with twin needle
Finishes: Serged seams
Time: Less than 2 hours
Sew it again? Yes… I think I need a woven one now too! I think it would be fun to do one in a bright color or a wacky print like the one Helen just made for their Spoonflower meet up!
Happy Sewing y’all!
Wear it with jeans. So cute.
Omg I didn’t even think of that!!
Hi Amy,
I recently bought a Juki, like your “Jenny”, and I cannot get my Presser-foot to be activated by the pedal. If I try to press lightly on the pedal, the thread cutter is activated.
Is there an adjustment I have to make. or, is there a part I can purchase to make the Auto-lifter work?
Hi Steve! Congrats on the new Juki! I’m not sure how to troubleshoot that issue. My presser foot raises just when I barely tap back on my heel, the backstitch activates when I fully press down on my heel. I would maybe check with the dealer where you bought it. Or if you purchased second-hand, look for a repair place nearby. May even find a solution in a google search or on youtube!