This top is a result of chance: I wasn’t thinking, “I need to sew a turtleneck,” but when I happened upon this chartreuse rayon-wool knit at Fabricland, A) I had to buy it because it was chartreuse; and B) a turtleneck is what it demanded to become.
I used the Paola Turtleneck Tee pattern from Named Clothing (although I actually purchased the PDF from the Oliver + S shop here). Chartreuse really isn’t my best colour but it’s one of my FAVOURITE colours, so I’m defiantly* wearing it around my face and everyone, including me, will just have to suck it up, lol.
The fabric is very lightweight. Like, NO chance I’ll be wearing a bra without some serious molded foam between my nipples and the rest of the world! But despite how lightweight it is, it really is nice and warm! Wool is like that, y’all. Miracle fibre.
But because it’s so lightweight, the original turtleneck was way too slouchy — as you can see in the photo below, it was puddling around my neck rather than hugging it.
So I ripped it out, cut a second neckband and doubled them up together, and cut away about 1.5 inches from the circumference of the turtleneck. This made it narrower and gave it enough body to be able to stand up the way I like it around my neck.
I don’t know about this outfit. I’m not feeling the pants, y’know?
The Paola pattern is designed to have a fairly short hem — I added about 2 inches to the length and I’m very glad I did.
Here’s a bit of a roundup of turtleneck patterns in case you’re feeling the cold yourself. Click on any photo to go check out the pattern.
But stop the presses! Here is a super-versatile pattern from Victory Patterns: the Frances pattern which includes options for a crop-top, a hip-length top, AND a dress, with a lot of great neckline options including a turtleneck. Alas, this holy-grail-pattern was released just days after I had made my Paola, otherwise I would have been ALL OVER this. Actually, I think I will probably still be all over this sometime soon. Who can resist a pattern with so many built-in options?
Of course, you can always whip up a turtleneck based on any crew-neck T-shirt pattern you might already have in your stash. There are plenty of tutorials out there for doing this, but here’s one by Rachel from Maker Style that you might enjoy.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
— Lori
*Yes, I definitely meant to use this particular word. Definitely. If I had a nickel for every time one of my students claimed in a paper that something was “defiantly” doing/being something, I’d be able to buy each of you a nice Christmas present. Alas, as there is no monetary compensation for suffering the debilitating effects of Repetitive Auto Corrected Defiantly Syndrome, you will have to settle for a simple, heartfelt wish for all the best of the holiday season to you from me!
Frivolous At Last 
Love both the turtleneck and defiantly! Your* awesome 😂
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Thanks, Naomi! Though its a shame that my skin colour does not show off the turtleneck to it’s best advantage. 😉 (Two more nickels)
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I love the way the doubled-up collar turned out–I’d have never guessed the original neck piece was so floppy!
As to chartreuse, I am in that boat with you: it doesn’t look good on me, but I love it and can’t quit it. 😀 (Although for the record, I don’t think it looks bad on you at all!) And I have a whole stack of wool knits but haven’t used any yet. Soon!!
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Thanks, Mads! Oooh, I’m jealous that you have a stack of wool knits! It’s all I want to sew with for winter now.
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Love chartreuse. Love it on you. Don’t think it enhances the pants though they are a great pattern and fit. A bright pink lipstick will ameliorate any chartreusyness. I definitely love rayon and wool together. Have to see if our Fabricland has that fabric.
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Thanks for the lipstick tip, Barbara! You have such an incredible eye for colour. I hope you find some at Fabricland. Funnily enough, this was the ONLY colour they had of this rayon-wool blend. It was like finding an Easter egg amongst all the poly knits.
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Thank you for introducing me to an unkown colour! Chartreuse???!!! At the beginnign of the post I thought you meant “mustard colour”, but in the “true colour” picture, it is more green than that… could it be (what we Catalans) call “pistachio colour”??? Or may be it is a new colour in my world! Anyways, it looks perfect with thos pants, and you made a great neck after all.
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Yes, pistachio is very close! (Mmmm, pistachio.) Technically I think chartreuse has a little more yellow in it than pistachio. It’s a great word, isn’t it?
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Chartreuse is the name of the yellow green colour of the elixir/liqueur made by the Carthusian Monks since 1737 and named for the place they make it. There is Green Chartreuse, the original liqueur and Yellow Chartreuse much yellower and milder in taste. The pistachios we get in Canada are a paler and greener colour – also beautiful but very different. Wikipedia has a good piece on Chartreuse. It seems to me that the colour chartreuse goes with so many other colours and zings things up. A fabulous colour.
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Gorgeous colour, gorgeous turtleneck. You look lovely in this outfit. And I love the pants! Is there a pattern for these pants?
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Hi Jacqueline. Thanks for your comment! The pants are actually from Zara, and are a comfy stretch fabric with no fastenings — just an elasticized back waist and a tie. I wish now I had bought them in black. I’m wondering if Megan Neilson’s Flint pants pattern could yield a similar result?
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Oh I do like the Flint pants pattern… thanks for posting a link to this pattern!
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Thank you for posting all those patterns for turtlenecks – I had no idea there were so many (I do have the Jalie but have yet to make it up) Love the colour of your turtleneck too! It wasn’t a colour I was drawn to when I was young but since I discovered I do suit it perfectly, it’s become one of my favourites 🙂 I have orange skin (as opposed to pink) so earth toned colours suit me best. I’m drawn to the cooler palette (still am) and like you “defiantly” wear it sometimes even though I know it’s not my choice if I don’t want my skin to look so pale and rather sallow 🙂
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Personally I think your outfit rocks. I would add some sexy shooties and you will gain a whole new perspective! Power outfit!!
Thanks for convincing me that I just have to break down and make my t-necks. I never find store bought ones I like!
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