Introducing the Bimaa Sweater

Tuesday a week ago was a very interesting day.  I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Sarah from EmmylouBeeDoo and LouBeeClothing asking me if I would be interested in testing out a new pattern--The Bimaa Sweater!  My friend, Andrea, from The Train to Crazy, had recommended that she contact me as a pattern tester!  I'm so glad she did.

Sarah has been blogging for a few years, and I have seen some of her projects on link up parties before, so I knew she was talented and had some great ideas.  However, I was a little hesitant to agree to test out her pattern because it is made out of knit.  Now, if you are a regular follower of my blog, then you know I don't sew with knit--at all!  Nope, I don't think I have a single post that includes a knit item.  That is, until now!

After chatting back and forth with Sarah and being up front with her about my fears of sewing with knit, I finally decided to give it a go and test her pattern.  She convinced me by letting me know that the Bimaa Sweater Pattern does not require the use of a regular sewing machine and can be made entirely with a serger!  She even sent me a link to a post of hers that had tips on how to adjust my Brother 1034D serger settings to sew knit fabrics.  

Now, to clarify, the Bimaa Sweater does not have any finished hems (the sleeves are cuffed and the bottom has a waistband), and that is why I was able to just use my serger to sew it together.  If you only have a regular sewing machine, you can certainly make this top with it by using a stretch stitch or zigzag stitch.  A serger is not required, but it definitely made it easy for me!

Since I don't sew with knits, I didn't have any knit fabric on hand.  I ran into Wal-mart where I picked up this 4-way stretch knit fabric for a $1.50 a yard!  Yep!  You read that right!  A $1.50 a yard.  Normally, I would never buy fabric from Wal-mart, but I had to turn this pattern test around pretty quickly and didn't have the time to go to Joann's.  Surprisingly, I'm very pleased with this Wal-mart knit.  It's a nice medium weight knit that feels soft and has just the right amount of stretch.

The Bimaa Sweater is such a fun look for little ones.  It has that slightly grown up feel to it without it being too mature.  Ella loves wearing this top and told my husband that I made her a Moma top!

I guess she thinks it looks like something I would wear, and I would if it came in my size.  I might just have to look into purchasing the Renfrew Top pattern to make myself a similar cowl neck top!

The Bimaa Sweater pattern comes in sizes 12 month to 5T.  I made the one Ella is wearing using roughly 1 1/4 yards to make the size 5T, and I was very pleased with the fit.  She'll definitely be able to wear this one again come fall.

I love patterns that give me more bang for the buck, and the Bimaa Sweater Pattern does not disappoint!  The Bimaa offers two different neck finishes--the cowl neck and a shawl collar--and either can be made out of pretty much any type of 4-way stretch knit! Plus, the shawl collar would look adorable sewn in a fun knit print for a boy!

Now I just need to pick up a few more pieces of 4-way stretch knit so I can make Ella a version or two using the shawl collar!  The cowl neck version only took me roughly an hour to make, including the time it took me to cut out and piece the pdf pattern pieces together.  The construction of this top is very straightforward, and Sarah made sure the pattern instructions were a cinch to follow with great photos and step-by-step details.

I'm definitely not as scared of knit as I was a week ago!  I know I'm just a novice knit sewer and still have a lot to learn, but sometimes it just takes the right project to help you overcome your fears!  And I not only learned something new to add to my sewing repertoire, but I made a new sewing friend in the process!

Please visit Sarah's blog, EmmylouBeeDoo, for lots of other inspiring projects and free tutorials, and be sure to stop by her Etsy shop, LouBeeClothing, to purchase the Bimaa Sweater Pattern.  While you are there, pick up her Hosh Pants Pattern for little ones, too.  I think they would look great with the Bimaa Sweater!

I can't wait to see what Sarah will be designing next!

Wow!  My Bimaa Sweater was featured at the following blogs.  Thanks so much!