Black Wrap Cardigan - Appliqued, Embroidered, and Beaded

I'm back! For a limited time only! I'll be writing a couple of posts about what I made for Christmas presents, and then we will see again if I can keep posting regularly. 

For the first of the Christmas present posts, we'll start with the one I have teased on Instagram a few times: 

🖤black on black on black 🖤 (last minute gift making) #embroidery #sewing

A photo posted by Taft Weber-Kilpack (@taftisseamstress) on Dec 24, 2016 at 11:58pm PST

✈️ Confessions of a traveling seamstress: I haven't quite finished my mom's Christmas present 🎁

A photo posted by Taft Weber-Kilpack (@taftisseamstress) on Jan 3, 2017 at 6:30pm PST

I wanted to make my mom a piece of clothing with lots of hand-sewn details (a la Alabama Chanin, forever my aspiration). After a thrift shopping excursion where she couldn't find a black sweater, I decided that's what I would make, focusing the detail on the back so she could dress the piece up for work or wear it more casually.

I debated using contrasting colors for the applique and beading, but decided that a monochrome scheme would work best. I like that there is incredible detail, but it remains subtle and is still a versatile piece.

I found the wrap cardigan pattern here, from the blog Nap Time Creations. It only comes in one size, but luckily that size was perfect!

The fabric is from Fabric Outlet, and the beads are from Fabric Outlet and Britex Fabrics.

My favorite part about the pattern is the interesting shoulder seaming. I think it's what makes the cardigan fit so well. It's like a raglan sleeve, but there is another seam across the arm just below the shoulder...is there a specific name for that?

The model here is my friend, Catherine.

I started by stitching down all the rolls of fabric, and then all the leaf shapes. Then I used bugle beads to create a border around all of the lines, and to highlight the whipstitching around the leaf shapes. Finally, I stitched smaller beads between each stitch holding the rolls down.

And that's it! I will see you in two weeks with more Christmas presents!
-Taft