The Itch to Stitch Cape Cod Capelet + Hygge Sewing

Hi friends! I have been enjoying a lighter sewing season and sticking to quick and satisfying projects. Have you heard of the term “hygge?” It pretty much sums up how I have spent the last month, and I have tried my hardest to stick to projects that fall into my current lifestyle of slowing down, resting, and enjoying my hobby – as a hobby. 🙂 If you haven’t heard of the term yet, I will chat a bit about that in the midst of my quick review of this pattern.

The Pattern

The Cape Cod Capelet* is the newest pattern from Itch to Stitch. It has a raglan style sleeve that is elbow length, a floppy or scrunchy cowl (depending on your fabric), and a beautiful hi low hem silhouette. The pattern comes in sizes XXS to XL, which covers busts ranging from 32.5 to 46 inches. I found the pattern really easy to put together, and I just love how flattering it looks when worn.

I was a pattern tester for the Cape Cod, and the final version of the pattern has two inches added to the front, so it will have more belly coverage than mine. The capelet can be worn layered for extra warmth or can be worn individually as a shirt. My husband absolutely loved how it looked when worn not layered! In addition to wearing my capelet with jeans or my athletic tights, I also think it would be really great over a fitted dress. It’s the definition of comfort while still looking put together.

The Fabric

The pattern is designed for knit fabrics, and depending on the fabric you choose, you can have a different look. The more drapey and fluid your fabric is, the more it will hug and flow against your body and the more the cowl will flop. The more structured your fabric is, the more structured your capelet will be and the more your cowl will stand up. I used a fabric that is more in between. It is a rayon, polyester, and spandex french terry that I picked up at Knitpop* last year! You can see how my cowl just scrunches on itself but doesn’t quite flop over the way it would in a really fluid sweater knit. 

I think the pattern is really beginner friendly. The most time consuming part is doing the hem (if you can even use the word time consuming on such a quick project). Here you can see the length of hemming you need to do.

I think I need to make another one in a chunky fabric.

Hygge

Have you heard of the term hygge before? You can read more on it here and here. The gist of it is cozy. It is a certain atmosphere that you create in your home or lifestyle that is defined by cozy, simple, and grateful. So, instead of being frustrated by the colder, rainier, and shorter days, I am spending extra time with a cup of hot tea and a good book. Instead of spending countless hours working on projects that sacrifice sleep, I am spending more time resting and tucking in before midnight each night. Instead of surfing endlessly on Facebook, I am spending more time with my family.

I am really a Type A personality at heart. I thrive on lists, schedules, deadlines, goals, and structure. However, as a mother, I can constantly feel like a failure in terms of my self imposed ideals. Thinking about terms such as hygge and living in a way that can bring more comfort to spaces that before were rigid allows my children and myself more space for JOY.

Don’t worry, I am not rudderless altogether. I still have my lists and goals, I am just working on more grace and self-monitoring. If I notice myself feeling extended, I am pausing and finding ways to feel more comfortable as opposed to pushing myself to exhaustion. The exciting thing is that I am still doing the same amount in my life, but I am enjoying it a heck of a lot more. What is so exciting about living the life where you have met your goals, but you didn’t enjoy any of the process on the way?

So, what does this have to do with sewing? A lot actually. I am trying to bring more mindfulness to my passion. I have focused most of my fall sewing on making clothes that bring comfort and that are quick projects. I also found out a few weeks ago that my library has a free audiobook app, so I have been plowing through the Outlander series while I sew. It is so good ya’ll!

I also had to take a few photos by this butterfly mural. Isn’t it beautiful?

Thanks for stopping by today! I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

*Disclosures

I received this pattern for free as part of the testing process so that I could give the designer feedback about the pattern. Also, this post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

XO