Sew: Three Vintage Retro Shrugs/Boleros {FREE pattern from So Sew Easy!}

I am obsessed with shrugs/boleros/ballet sleeves, whatever they call themselves! These vintage images just make want to sew up hundreds of shrugs Why shrugs, you ask?

• Versatility – when you are going to the effort to sew your own wardrobe, you want each garment to work hard. A shrug can turn a sleeveless or short sleeved garment into something more covered up/warmer. 

• Complexity – they add more detail to a ‘jeans & tee’ outfit and can really add a good pop of colour or pattern without dominating. If you watch old movies you’ll see lots of matching skirts & shrugs that look so wonderfully matchy without overdoing it.

• Silhouette – they’re so wonderfully vintage and give you a flattering and interesting neckline.

• Size – they’re small so you can roll them up in your handbag in case you get chilly!

I found this great free pattern from So Sew Easy and promptly made three shrugs! The instructions are great, the pattern is simple and with only 3 seams, it’s a quick sew. Deby, who made the pattern, left most of her edges raw on her version. I’m usually pretty cool with raw edges but I wanted a nice finish on these. Deby suggested turning a small hem but I felt like that would be a pain with all the curves. Also, since shrugs tend to flap open on me, I knew that you would see the wrong side of them hem, which was bound to be messy because of easing the curves. I thought on it for a while and came up with two options: trim and fold over elastic (FOE). 

A pom pom trimmed shrug is terribly vintage! So obviously I tried that first. The neck/back edges don’t really need to stretch so a non stretch trim was fine. I made up the shrug as per the pattern and hemmed the sleeves. Starting from an underarm seam, I laid the trim over the raw edge and stitched it down with a regular stitch, using my zipper foot. I kept going until I met the beginning and cut off the excess trim. The braid on pom pom trim frays like crazy, so I added some fray check and it was done!