Super comfy Agnes Top

January feels like such a long month right? Christmas seems like a distant memory, you’ve polished off the last of the festive chocolates, payday isn’t for another few weeks and it’s pretty cold and wet outside.

The interwebs are full of ‘blue Monday’ posts and articles that claim the 16^th of January is the most depressing day of the year and there is that burden of feeling like you need to keep up those new year resolutions looming.

Well, I think there is a simple remedy that can make you feel better – sewing! January is the perfect excuse to stay inside with your PJ’s on, listen to music, drink lots of tea and sew sew sew!

So on that note, this week I’m posting a series of makes of blue things that will hopefully give you some inspiration to SEW and banish any January blues you might have.

Show me what your making this week too – even if its not blue – by posting a pic in the comments section below or tagging your makes with #sewbluejanuary on Instagram, or by posting a pic on the Facebook page.

My first make is my new 'secret PJ top' using this lush Art Gallery blue and white striped jersey and the Tilly and the Buttons Agnes top pattern.

This make is awesome for two reasons

- the agnes is really quick and easy to make (if your new to jersey, Tilly has so much support on her blog as well as an online course)

- and Art Gallery jersey is literally the bees knees of medium weight jersey fabric! It’s so soft, washes amazingly well, not too thick, not to thin and is just generally awesome to sew and work with!

I made the long sleeve version and left out the rouched bit at the centre front to keep it really simple. I’ve got quite a few Agnes tops now so I fancied a bit of variation.

I’m pretty pleased with my pattern matching too. I ended up cutting the hem slightly longer and just following the line of the pattern on the fabric to make sure it would match up front to back.

For the sleeves I followed the notches and where they lay on the pattern to try and match up the stripes across the sleeve head. It’s a bit trickier to get this right as the sleeve head seam is so curved but I’m pretty close. I would recommend cutting out the sleeves on a single layer as well if you want to be particular about your pattern matching.

After putting the neckband in and wearing it for a day, I ended up re-doing it to make it smaller. I just felt it was gaping a bit and I’m sure if its maybe due to how stretchy the fabric is maybe? I’ve not had it on the other Agness’ I’ve made.

So I just unpicked it and made it just over an inch shorter so that I would have to stretch it more to make it fit the neck opening. I’m really glad I did, I think it sits much better now.

If you fancy this blue make for yourself the Art Gallery is at a great price as part of our SALE exclusive range (it's £14.50 a meter, art gallery jersey typically comes in at over £18 a meter).

I’ll be back on Wednesday with another blue make, but in the meantime remember to share your January makes with me! #sewbluejanuary