Well, Selfish readers, you’re in for a treat today because Selfish has a prezzie for you! That’s right, it’s another freebie pattern to download, and all I ask in return is that you sign your soul over to me in the comments. Sweet deal, right? Today’s pattern is for a wacky outerwear garment inspired by the Kate Spade Victoria faux fur pullover. (You can read about my own version in my last post.)
The Selfish Seamstress pattern is size XS, but should be quite easy for someone with intermediate skills to modify it for larger sizes by adding the desired amount of additional width at the center of each piece (back, front, sleeve, and collar.) It has a straight, roomy silhouette, raglan 3/4 length sleeves (or actually maybe more like 2/3) with a dart at the top of the shoulder, and a wide funnel collar that can be folded over if desired. It is also fully lined. The Selfish version does not include the front kangaroo pocket of the original Kate Spade, but it should be easy to add if desired.
IMPORTANT TIPS:
- I highly recommend that you read up on how to cut and sew faux fur if you have never done so before. There are many resources available online. I put together a tutorial on BurdaStyle a few years ago that may be of use.
- Note that the seam allowances are included in the pattern, and that they are 3/8″ (1 cm), NOT the standard 5/8″ on most Big 4 patterns.
- The construction on this garment is extremely easy (just 4 pattern pieces!) but I have NOT INCLUDED INSTRUCTIONS. I therefore recommend this for advanced beginners or intermediates.
- Pay attention to the direction of the pile on the fur. For my own version, I have the pile on the body and collar running sideways (necessary for the direction of the stripes) and on the sleeves the pile runs towards the back (i.e. if you had your arms folded across your chest the fur on the forearms would be running downwards.)
- MAKE A MUSLIN AND TRY IT ON FOR FIT. You will be sad if your expensive faux fur garment does not fit. And yes, it’s a roomy pattern, but most faux fur does not stretch and the garment needs to be big enough that you can pull it on and off over your head, unless you plan to add a closure of some sort. (I don’t recommend sewing a zipper to the fur as the pile is likely to catch in the teeth unless you have some sort of buffer between the zipper and the fur.)
For my version, I used:
- About 1.5 yards of faux fur, 60″ wide
- About 1.25 yards of silk twill for the lining, 45″ wide
You can find good quality faux fur on Etsy, including Tissavel, and this brown faux mink with channels that looks from the picture a lot like the original Kate Spade fur (note: I have never purchased this and cannot vouch for its quality or texture). Gorgeous Fabrics and Emma One Sock often have nice quality faux fur as well. I got mine on eBay but it’s now sold out. You could stick with basic brown to be true to the original, but I could also see this garment working in a bunch of colors and textures, like a shaggy gray or cream Mongolian lamb (fun!), a silky black mink (classic!), a dusky gray-blue (edgy!), or leopard (trendy!) I mean, it’s a fur shirt. Don’t take it too seriously :)
Ok, so, for those of you who are drooling over the notion of having your very own fluffy-chic Kate Spade Victoria-esque pullover, snag it now or head over to my Downloads page for this and other free patterns! It prints onto 18 sheets of US Letter or A4 paper that you’ll have to tape together. And again, I request payment in the form of souls, so please transfer ownership of them to me in the comments. Happy sewing and come back and show me what you make!
IMPORTANT: This work is my creation and my intellectual property, protected under a Creative Commons license. You may not use it for any commercial purposes, claim it as your own, or resell it (I’m looking at you, Geraldine/Lorriange.)
The Selfish Seamstress Kate Spade-Inspired Fur Pullover Sewing Pattern by The Selfish Seamstress is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
53 comments
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February 27, 2013 at 9:20 am
Claire (aka Seemane)
Thanks for sharing this Elaine :)
February 27, 2013 at 9:50 am
Ana
Anyone who spells Lorraine with a ‘g’ has got to be dodgy.
February 27, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Testosterone
Hugs to you!
February 27, 2013 at 5:25 pm
selfishseamstress
Well, that’s pretty weird.
February 27, 2013 at 9:58 am
sallie
Holy crap I would wear this in a heartbeat! Impractical fashion and all! Because looking badass totally outweighs everything. Thank you for sharing!!
February 27, 2013 at 10:11 am
Gjeometry
Ooooh, very rich looking!
February 27, 2013 at 10:35 am
LizO66
Elaine, sharing your pattern is ALARMINGLY UNSELFISH OF YOU!! I cannot thank you enough. How does it feel to own my soul?? ; )
February 27, 2013 at 10:41 am
selfishseamstress
Finally! A soul! Thank you! Geez, it’s like pulling teeth here, people. I thought this endeavor was never going to pay off. Seriously high quality soul you signed over, LizO66. Good swap. Enjoy the pattern and happy sewing!
February 27, 2013 at 10:35 am
Sarah
My soul is already claimed, do you accept first borns?
February 27, 2013 at 10:44 am
selfishseamstress
Hmmm… it’s tempting. On one hand it sounds like a pretty fair deal, but on the other… the skeptic in me can’t help but wonder if you’re just looking for an excuse to unload a kid.
But I like you, Sarah. You know why? Because at some point in your life prior to today, you wanted something so much that you already bargained your soul away. You sound like my kind of person. Go ahead and take the pattern anyway- this one’s on me. Happy sewing!
February 27, 2013 at 10:39 am
carmencitabs
Very very cool, where is the dotted line so I can spill blood on it?
February 27, 2013 at 5:26 pm
selfishseamstress
Zoiks! No blood near my precious faux fur please :) You can just leave your soul in a ziploc baggie.
February 27, 2013 at 11:32 am
Kathleen
I didn’t know I needed a fur top until you made one-must be part of your quest for world domination and all that. I think fur would make me look like a bear; this might be helpful for self-defense purposes. But I think it would also be lovely in silk velvet.
February 27, 2013 at 5:27 pm
selfishseamstress
Silk velvet sounds nice- just be sure to muslin, as this is a pretty oversized fit, and you don’t want to wear a velvet trash bag :) Good luck!
February 27, 2013 at 1:44 pm
ebonyh
What a great pattern! I was just cruising etsy in search of a vintage fur vest, maybe I’ll make this instead.
February 27, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Becky
Oh, you can have my soul, but I warn you that it will get you into all kinds of hot mess. Take it at your own risk, and thanks for the pattern. Glad to see you back blogging and sharing your expertise, even at its price.
February 27, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Robyn
My soul in exchange for your pattern = steal of the afternoon (for me.) I have been dying to unload this thing called soul and anticipate being so much lighter without it. Light enough to don fakey fur in central California, I imagine. Thank you! PS – No returns, OK?
February 27, 2013 at 5:00 pm
sew2pro
After your Kate Knockoff review, I admit I was longing for a top like this to be made mine, and easily. But now you’ve selflessly placed my wish within reach, I’m having doubts. I think my OH will leave me. He’s already half convinced I’m a loon who talks to cats and is dead set on turning us to “furries”….
Oh, dammit. Soon as I find the right fur!
February 27, 2013 at 5:29 pm
selfishseamstress
I talk to cats too. I see no issue whatsoever with this. The conversation is usually pretty good too :)
February 27, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Alex in California
Love the lining. Try it on inside out.
February 27, 2013 at 7:09 pm
sewsable
I’ve had the fur sitting in my stash for some years (hope there’s enough, I’m not XS sizing). I’m afraid I can’t offer you my soul, my cats are jealously guarding it, but you can definitely have my thanks!
March 4, 2013 at 2:21 pm
JENNIFER
Oh Selfish, I’m so happy your back from you loooong vacation :). I truly missed reading all of your insults ;0) of course that is being said with Lots of Love to you!!!!
March 4, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Katherine
Ok, soul sold. But now I have to figure out how to make that damned pocket!!!
Any ideas?????
March 5, 2013 at 11:00 pm
kathyh
Fur is a really weird thing in the Pacific Northwest with our moderate temps (Read: NO SNOW) and the ever present 50 nouns to describe rain (some double as verbs).
I was super excited to see two examples of furry garments at the SewExpo party in Puyallup over the weekend. I almost took photos for you.
March 7, 2013 at 3:49 pm
Valerie
NOt giving you my soul, copied the download when you weren’t looking …mohwahahahahahah
March 25, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Some sites that make me smile
[…] toootally funny. Meanwhile she’s sharing free patterns and awesome garments she’s made. The Kate Spade faux fur pullover knockoff is her latest (hilarious) freebie. Another one that gives me sideaches from […]
March 26, 2013 at 3:13 pm
runciblespoon
Now that you have a few souls in the bag, maybe I could offer a nice cup of tea, instead? Or some scones.
Love the pattern. I want to stroke it….
May 2, 2013 at 6:57 pm
Zoe
I’d have no use for something like this, and if I did make it I’m sure my cat would destroy it but it looks so cool and fluffy..
May 21, 2013 at 6:50 pm
Sheila
OMG! I have wanted one of these for a whole year. Thank you, my soul is yours!
June 10, 2013 at 4:07 am
Bronwyn Ure
Thanks for the great pattern, although I am unlikely to ever make it as I live in Bangkok…. Anyway, I wanted to give you my vote of support as I am so happy you are back and blogging again. (From a fellow seamstress who also made her wedding dress- another reason to only ever get married once!)
June 19, 2013 at 5:38 pm
HELLo
Hi there selfishseamstress! when will you e
be back in business with the blog!? :) I miss your meanness and sarcasm
hope you are well!
July 19, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Elizabeth
Okay, so last night I was watching project runway and there is a commercial in which a young lady of Asian decent is discussing a sewing project and her caucasian significant other says, “so why don’t you go try on that invisible dress” and the young lady replies something, can’t even remember but, “Dan” – I think someone is ripping you off! Like really making commercials referencing you.
July 25, 2013 at 6:23 pm
Ocyla
Soul handed over!! I made this pattern with some cuddly minky ‘rabbit’ faux fur, and you were kidding about hard to get out of and ridiculous in very way. But I had to have one, HAD TO! :) Thanks again!
August 10, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Marianne
Just found your blog, rather enjoying the read. Think I could do this piece- thanks for sharing!
September 23, 2013 at 2:52 pm
ameresaffron
I am going to try this….. thanks for the inspiration
October 15, 2013 at 8:45 am
Janet
Many thanks Its just what i am looking for. x
January 7, 2014 at 2:38 pm
My Friend, the Thrift Store (Part 1) | Pattern and Branch
[…] or other small items. I even found a large faux fur coat that I hope to transform into a pullover a la The Selfish Seamstress (hopefully I’ll be able to show you the finished product as a success […]
February 18, 2014 at 11:23 pm
Melanie B
You are my newest Hero. I’ve just discovered you but between the alterations of the Burda twist front dress and this, it’s clear your skills must be worshipped. Thank you!
May 9, 2014 at 7:40 pm
Sasha
Totally love this and you look totally gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your fab tips. Cheers, Sasha :)
May 12, 2014 at 10:06 am
yeshlekhaesh
Dear Selfish – where are you????? I ask only for the purely selfish reason that your absence is impacting my blog reading pleasure..please come back!!!
May 24, 2014 at 3:48 pm
rita
Dear Selfish – where are you?????
July 12, 2014 at 1:16 am
Phoebe
Dear Selfish,
I thought you would be amused/horrified to know I have knit 5 envy scarfs for friends, and am working on the 6th. Fingerling weight and a delicious silk wool mix. Thanks for the pattern!
November 3, 2014 at 9:16 am
Ronja
I miss you and just so you know I still check your blog every month just in case you update!! <3 Hope things are going well!
December 29, 2014 at 1:32 am
Trudy Callan
Hope you are doing well. Please let us know you are all right when you get a chance.
January 29, 2015 at 10:13 am
patsijean
Just a note to let you know that I still check once and a while to see if there are new posts from you. Your blog is way too fun not to be missed.
February 10, 2015 at 5:47 am
sara ali
i just discovered your blog and wanted to thank you for sharing this post. i think about this fur shirt every waking moment… does it have magical powers? i must have it! and you have made this possible. thank you, thank you!
February 17, 2015 at 2:15 am
Jac
Hi Selfish
Hope all is well in your world. I check back often to see if you have posted anything new, for my selfish amusement.
Hope to see something new soon.
Selfish Reader.
March 14, 2015 at 8:30 pm
Beth fink
I miss your posts, and hope you are well.
March 22, 2015 at 9:23 pm
Liz
You look lovely, but that ain’t for me my dear! I probably weigh 3 times what you do. I find negative comments get removed from blogs PDQ.Yet you know, as a scientist, that it is all part of the process. Negative comments are as valid as positive.
How I hate vintage flowery dresses,on other blogs, you have style of your own.
May 28, 2015 at 2:35 am
Nedoux
Dear Elaine,
Yours was one of the first sewing blogs I found when I started to sew.
I still sometimes check to see if you’ve put up a new post.
I hope you are fine?
Thank you so much for inspiring me :-)
July 19, 2015 at 5:28 pm
Jila
I am new here and to sewing. I highly enjoyed this page. Thank you for sharing what you know.
August 6, 2015 at 11:52 pm
Therese
We miss you!
September 10, 2015 at 6:29 am
koolchicken
I love how your husband asked if that was you in the promo image. When I showed people the photos of my wedding gown everyone said the same thing to me. Despite the fact that I’m a brunette and the model very clearly had red hair, she also had hips… I sometimes think though, that when people see an image of something that’s just completely “you” in terms of style, they overlook the obvious (like the models face). So clearly, you were meant to have this jacket!
And thank you for the pattern. I’m 5’10”, so by no means an X-Small. But I plan to enlarge it. I’d have to alter anything anyways, I’m a funny shape. Although, given that I’m a rectangle, and this is a rectangle, adding a few inches here and there doesn’t really seem like an alteration.