Traditionally and historically, I have never been a Hoodie wearer, including the time of my life when teens rock the sporty looks. When I was a teen, I was always dressed in my own me-made dresses and skirts. This has continued through the decades and I have to say, this is the first pull on hoodie I’ve ever made!
The Page Hoodie from Chalk & Notch has features that attracted me to the style: the raglan sleeves, the grommets, the slim sleeves option and the fact that there was an option with casing at the hem. You can see all the options below. View A is very cropped and its a style that wont suit my proportions, so I chose view B that is slightly longer. I also prefer the casing to the band.
My Fabric choice
I couldn’t really pick the warm, cozy, fleece backed sweat-shirting. Firstly, because these fabrics are not readily sold here. Secondly, I wanted my choice to have a print I could dress up and down. I doubt I can dress up traditional sweat-shirting. My style involves skirts and heels on the daily and I really wanted my first hoodie to blend into what I prefer to wear.
Heavy active wear fabric is my perfect choice. It’s wicking, won’t make me too hot here in Brazil, the fabric is opaque and the print is all my style. This is composed of 90% Poly, 10% elastane and is 16oz/yard weight.
Sizing
The pattern is available in sizes 0-24 US, there is a A/B bust cup and C/D bust cup option. The body measurements go up to a 52″ bust and 43″ waist. For this style, the hips aren’t important as the style is cropped.
My body measurements put in in a straight size 14, but with the C/D cup option, I would have 8″ of positive ease at the bust. Whilst I understand its part of the design for it to have a relaxed fit, I’d rather have a tad less ease. I chose to make a straight size 12 with the C/D cup and then I will have 6.5″ of positive ease at the bust.
The size charts are detailed and provide finished lengths of the sleeves and for the hem of both versions. For my size, the finished length from the nape of the neck to the hem (View B) at the back is only 20″. I know this length is very short for my height (5ft 8″) and proportions (short torso and longer legs). I used the shorten and lengthen line to add 2″.
Construction
The process is straight forward and what I’d expect from a style like this. I appreciate the lined hood and the way it’s put together and how the casing comes to be.
The aspect I never enjoy is sewing a deep hem on a curved shape. The hem is folded up by 3/8″ and then again by 1″ to create a hem and casing for the drawstring at the same time. I did an extra guide stitch at 3/8″ to facilitate precision and carefully measured, pinned and hand basted the double folded hem. I used a twin needle to sew the hem. A straight stitch does not look good with my fabric. The curve of course does not conform well, but because the hem will be pulled tighter with the draw-sting, this issue will be camouflaged.
If this style didn’t have a drawstring and was more fitted, I would have drafted a hem facing instead for the curve of the shape.
I chose to put grommets on the hood and hem, for the first time ever. Because my fabric is white on the wrong side, this was seen through the grommets and I was not happy with that. I cut tiny squares of the main fabric and hand sewed them inside to cover the area that would be seen.
To see the process of the hoodie being sewn, including what I just mentioned, you can see my video review below.
The video on my channel is a collaboration with my friend Kiera, who runs the YouTube channel Island Sewcialist. She has her own blog and you can follow her profile on Instagram here. I love what she’s done with her version and you can see someone else’s perspective on the same pattern. Check out her video below 🙂
My Page Hoodie
I love this fabric, the weight of the fabric feels amazing on. I made the “cording” with green rayon fabric. It was the only matching textile on hand. I cut two long pieces cut on grain, that are 2″ wide. I used my 25mm bias tape maker to achieve the double fold and then stitched the “cord” lengthwise. I will probably replace this at some point when I can source something else for the draw-string. See the features next in the photos.
Wearing it my my fave me-made jeans
I paired the Page hoodie with my recently made Eddystone Jeans (Itch to Stitch). These are the best fitting jeans I’ve made so far (See VIDEO HERE and Blog post HERE). They and are perfect for a more casual look, BUT, for the outfit to be me, I never skip heels of some type. In this case, navy espadrilles wedge sandals from Tommy Hilfiger. I reserve sneakers for exercise only. This is my version of a casual outfit.
Wearing my hoodie with a pencil skirt and heels
I envisioned this simple outfit when I chose the fabric for the Page Hoodie. I made this brown stretch bengaline pencil skirt from my custom skirt block a few years ago. It has a faux button placket on the front and tan buttons. On the back there are top stitched panels. Underneath, where no one can see, it a COMFY yoga waistband for the secret PJ feel. This skirt is perfect for this hoodie and I paired these two items with my brown leather peep toe block heel sandals. I love this look and would even go to church dressed in my hoodie!
Of course, all my me-made denim skirts will be goo here too, and with other casual heeled sandals I could achieve a dressed down look too, that is a step above the jeans look.
I will be definitely be making View B again, probably with the short sleeves and the slim sleeves again. The full sleeves are not for me. View A is also not my style because of the banded hem and cropped look. The pattern has all these options and it’s always nice to pick and choose the features with will work for our style, body type and proportions. I am very happy!
DISCLAIMER: I purchased my own pattern and fabric for this version. The links to the Page Hoodie are NOT affiliate links. However, the links to the Eddystone Jeans are. If you click on this affiliate link, at no cost to you, I receive a small commission that helps finance my sewing, blog and Youtube channel.
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Categories: Pattern Reviews, Sewing techniques
Hi Karina, just watched your hoodie video and you mentioned another method of sewing a rounded hemline to avoid puckers. Would you be able to show how this is done? I would love to make this pattern up and would like to use the alternative method you mentioned. Thank you.
I’d just draft a facing for the bottom. Draw the same shape the bottom has. Fold it up and that would be the casing also. This one is ok with folding it up because the drawstring pulls it in, but I did hand baste for accuracy around the curve.