What are the most essential pieces for a summer wardrobe? If the beach or pool is involved then for sure you’ll need three things to get you through: a bathing suit, cover-up, and a hoodie. The bathing suit is a no-brainer and of course you need something to get you to and from the beach/pool, but a hoodie is that piece you need in case the wind picks up or your day trip turns into an evening excursion. The Watercolor Beach PDF pattern collection has all three essential pieces plus some extras that make it the perfect capsule summer wardrobe collection.
We’ve covered a bathing suit (Viridian Swimsuit) and boardshorts (Cobalt Boardshorts) in this post already, so check it out if you missed all of the swim details. I was super excited when I heard the theme for this collaboration because I already had a hoodie and cover-up designed and in the works and I knew they’d be perfect for Watercolor Beach. With a few adjustments and additional options, the two patterns came to life.
First let me tell you about the hoodie. I designed the first version of the Chromium Cropped Hoodie back in 2018 for one of my Project Run & Play looks. I wanted a minimal stretch sweatshirt so I drafted one with a wide neckline. I was immediately in love with the cropped length when Bean tried the first version on for testing (green below), but ultimately decided it was too simple of a design for PR&P and modified it to have a dropped shoulder and a bunch of other cool features as in the pink version below. Ultimately I changed it up again for PR&P and so neither of these looks made it into the world in 2018. I’m still completely obsessed with that dropped shoulder tunic so I’m sure that’ll make a comeback within the next year!
For Halloween in 2018, Bean wanted to go as a black cat so I went back to the cropped sweatshirt length, added a hood and the cropped hoodie as it stands now began to take shape. I continued to make various versions of this pattern for the next two years for Bean and then last fall I made Kitty a few to wear for layering over winter – most notably this ridiculous kitty one which Bean insisted she needed and still gives us all a chuckle.
All of this plus some other fun options led to the release version of the Chromium Cropped Hoodie. Sizes newborn through 16 years (I added sizes 9, 11, 14, and 16 to my range!), two sleeve lengths, three body lengths, four necklines plus animal ears, this hoodie is the only hoodie you’ll need.
First off is this cutie 18m sized view A with bunny ears. Kitty is a little petite for the 18m size so she should be able to wear it this fall as well. I used a thick sweater knit with a cotton lycra for the hood and ear linings. This is the vented hem length which is perfect for wearing with a pair of leggings as it covers the bum.
Next is a view A with the kitty ear option in the same fabrics. It’s a size 9 with the short sleeve and cropped length.
In spite of her face here, view B with the slight funnel neck is my absolute fav and hers too. Even though this view is technically not a “hoodie,” I still consider this look a cropped hoodie haha. It looks so cool in the cropped length, but I’ve seen some boy versions in the full length that are super stylish too.
View C has a larger cowl and in this vented hem length it is just perfect over a pair of jeans or leggings. The Chromium Cropped Hoodie is designed for minimal stretch fabrics like sweatshirt fleece, but this one is made in a sturdy cotton/lycra so it has a bit of a drapier look than the three shown above.
The crew neck of view D has such a classic look and I pretty much made a million of these for the girls these past two years. Somehow I didn’t get a decent pic of either girl in any of their view D versions so you get to see this adorable video of Kitty wearing one when she was just learning to walk.
This view A with Bear ears in the full length is such a fun look. It’s made with a ponte so it’s not as sturdy as some of the heavier knits I’ve used. It feels more like a top than a hoodie and is a fantastic addition to Kitty’s spring and summer wardrobe.
The Chromium Cropped Hoodie is available is a stand alone pattern here or as a part of the Watercolor Beach capsule collection in the Project Run & Play store. This year-round pattern is a must have this summer! And check out the Ultramarine Cover-Up pattern details in this post too.
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