Pink Is the New Red...I Hope...

I finished this top today. I wanted something easy to make after I finished the hoodie-that-took-forever (I'll put the hoodie up later. I need to take some pics of that.) My fabric did not have stripes, and I really liked that aspect of the design, so I added stripes using my coverstitch machine. All of my projects lately have centered around my CS machine since it was a fabulous Christmas present from my sweetie.


The directions were fairly good and easy to understand. They suggest that you hand stitch the hem on the neck. HA! I have a perfectly good serger and CS machine. Phoooey on that idea from Burda.


The front fits well. I cut out a 14 (40). Usually I need to add 3-4" to the length of any top, but I did not here and I like it. If you're shorter, I'd recommend measuring to see where it will hit you, just so it doesn't swallow you.

The back is another fitting issue. I am going to take out the extra fabric in the back. I decided to wear the shirt for a day or two and decide if I wanted the wearing ease or not. After looking at the pictures, I should take it in...those wrinkles aren't nice.


Here are the topstitching details. I'm super happy about this part...


I like the top. Once I straighten out the fitting problem with the back, I may make another one.

Um, Still Alive...And, Need Fitting Advice

Here's a pattern I've been struggling with for a long while. I'll start with this shirt that I just made: Simplicity 4076



The front is fine. Nothing special. It fits ok. I'm not crazy about the fabric...I ordered that one online and wasn't expecting it to be so orange. From the shoulders to the navel, it's a 12 graded up to a 16 on the hips. I also added three inches to the torso. I'd say I need a little more fabric around the hips. I measured me, I followed the pattern measurements. It should work. Maybe I needed to add the inches in a different place!


The back is a huge problem. I had to take a tuck in the back neckline to keep it from gaping or falling off my shoulders. Around the small of my back, there is too much fabric...and then we go back to too little fabric around the hips. Fitting suggestions would be helpful!!!



Even though I'm not thrilled with the shirt, these pics are of the COVERSTITCHING! I got a new Babylock Coverstitch Machine for Christmas. (Ok, a little early, I know....there won't be anything under the tree for me...that's ok!)


See how pretty?!?! I actually look forward to hemming and finishing the knit edges. I am just obsessed with this machine and how I can use it next. Let me know if you have any project ideas that are intensive on the coverstitching!


In conclusion, I can wear the shirt, but I wouldn't make it again. Drat. I need a good T-shirt pattern with neckline options. Any suggestions there?

Cozy Winter Sweater Jacket

I love Vogue patterns. They're so well done in all ways. Directions, drafting, style....and this was easy too! Pattern # 8546. I presented my review here on Pattern Review.

Placket Demo

In the previous post, I talked about two dresses that I made recently. On the knit dress, I wanted a front opening. Here is a series of pictures and a little description. I'd call myself an intermediate sewer...with a gigantic streak of impatience. I find myself struggling between beautifully finished and quick and dirty. This placket seems to have a little of both qualities!


Measure the length of your placket. Here, I chose 4 inches. Note that I marked a little ways beyond the 4 inch mark. This is to give you a reference mark when we get to the end.



I stitched 1/8 of an inch away from the center line. As I got closer to the point, I made my stitches closer together and I tapered their direction to the end point (like a dart). Then, you cut down the center line that you drew.



You cut a strip of fabric double the length of your placket. plus a little bit just in case. The width depends of how wide you want your placket, or how big your buttons, snaps or velcro is. Here's how you line up your next piece...



Here are the pieces pinned together, with the binding strip on the back.



Stitch close to the previous V of stitches, being sure to taper them to the end point.

Here's where you press it so the binding piece sticks out...that amount depends on how large you want it.



Then, you stitch the binding down in the ditch.

Here's what the wrong side looks like...this is a non ravel-y knit fabric, so I chose not to finish the raw edge.


Now you can see the placket you have just created! Notice the black mark on the bottom of the placket...That's where I marked too far...and you can see it on the right side of the fabric. Be careful to keep your marks where you won't see them!


I topstitched the bottom through all layers, and the side through one layer....just like a fly front in a pair of pants. Easy, no?


Right now, I'm working on a turtle shirt for Amedeo. It's giving me some problems. Is it ok if I curse a whole lot as I'm making my child's garment? I hope so....

Okie Dokie Pink Dresses

I've been sewing like crazy lately and I am truly falling behind on blogging about the things I've been making. The seasons are starting to change, and I've already switched from summer to winter sewing. I just got a package of wool fabrics in the mail today. In my enthusiasm to get started on some cardigans, I slapped them into the washing machine (yes, on cold). Now it smells like a giant wet sheep upstairs. Anyways...let me finish telling you all about the end of the summer sewing. Here are two pink dresses...

Simplicity 3622

I've already made a red knit dress out of this pattern and it's awesomely comfy. This time, I chose a pink linen. The cross threads are orange and purple, so the fabric has a neat sheen to it with movement. I didn't have quite enough fabric, so I made it sleeveless.




Pink Dress #2...Simplicity 2863

This dress fooled me. I thought that it had actual buttons down the front. LIES! The buttons are simply sewn on the front of the dress to look as if there was an opening. Grrrr. One of the reasons I picked it was because I thought it would open in the front. So, I inserted my own placket. I'll put up my placket demo tomorrow. Even with the nasty no-button surprise, I love the pattern. It's easy and cute. The fabric is a medium weight cotton poly knit. I used the wrong side as my fashion fabric side in the hopes of preventing pilling. We'll see how this fabric holds up....I've been burned so many times by stupid, poor quality fabric. Keep your fingers crossed! If anyone knows where to go to get high quality knits....please clue me in!




Ha ha, pattern, I win this time!!!

Ok...so this isn't pink or a dress, but it is the latest thing to come off the sewing table. Burda pattern 7867.


This one should have been easy, but I managed to muck up the sleeve band. I gathered the upper sleeve only on the top of the arm instead of all the way around. Ah well, I made it work. The fabric is a very lightweight cotton and bamboo blend.



Look for the placket demo next...and hopefully some more winter stuff.

And the crazy fabric became a dress...

I chose to use the pattern 6674 from New Look. It is an ACTUAL wrap dress, not a faux wrap dress. I bought a fake one, and before I realized it wasn't a true wrap, I had already hacked apart the pattern pieces. Lesson learned...I shall read the directions BEFORE I buy the darn thing.



This dress took quite a while to make. It had bust and waist darts, plus back darts. I chose to follow the directions closely, instead of eliminating the darts because I was using knit fabric. Next time, I'd pick a pattern that was specifically for knits, instead of wovens or knits. I'd say it fits well, and that isn't a surprise since the wrap-y part makes it extraordinarily adjustable. I wouldn't use this pattern again for knits...perhaps I would for a woven. Ultimately, I'm happy with it...I can wear it all year round since the colors are so varied.



Next...two pink dresses....

Red Top

Here's a little top I made at the beginning of the summer. It seems like the fashion these days is to wear loose fitting dresses. I think they look like maternity tops, so I added a belt.



I used a cotton batiste that I bought two years ago when my mom and I went to NYC to buy fabric. I've been whittling away at my stash so I don't feel too guilty about buying MORE fabric recently. This top was relatively easy to make, but the fabric I chose was sheer, so I decided that French Seams were a good choice. Those take more time, but the end result is more durable and more beautiful! Since the top is sheer, I would need to wear a tank underneath, but it needs to be a fairly low scooped tank, since it would ruin the square neckline if you could see it.



The detail of the sleeve. The picture is with my dying camera...so it's a little blurry. Watch out if you have larger arms...I found this to be a little snug on my bicep and I'm not a muscle-y person.

Currently, I'm working on a wrap dress. Here's a preview of the fabric. I love it...maybe a little too loud, but, eh. I'm almost finished with it...and it has been way more challenging than the things I've been making lately. More pieces, more sewing, more time. Hopefully, it will be a good fit...

Summer Sewing

This summer, despite having an active toddler, I've managed to do a fair amount of sewing. I thought I might do a little show and tell, plus some pattern reviews.

Let me start with the most recent finished garment, a Simplicity 3778. Here is the pattern folder pic:

It isn't something I would typically choose to sew, but it seemed easy, and I thought it might be a good pattern to go with the fabric I had. Plus, it's breastfeeding friendly, since the top will come down in a snap.

Here is the front view. I made it in size 14. For those of you who don't know, the pattern sizes are based on actual body measurements and are different from ready to wear (RTW) sizes. I'd typically wear a 6 or 8 in RTW. That just tells me that the clothing companies have gone through reverse inflation to make people feel good. I think it's just confusing.

The directions and pattern are fairly good. I was able to follow everything very well. I changed a few things about the garment, namely, I didn't put a zipper in the back. The dress has enough ease to fit over my shoulders or hips, in addition to elastic, so I didn't think the zipper was necessary. I tried out the elastic guide to cut my elastic for the back, but had to shorten it so it would support the fabric well. I shortened it about 4 inches from the size 14 guide, and given a do-over, I'd shorten it even more.
Here's a detail of the yoke. The fabric is a medium-heavy weight linen. I took my fabric and squirted it with water. Then I mashed it up to get lots of wrinkles, and I ironed those wrinkles in! I applied a rectangle of interfacing to the back, and did some free motion stitching over the top to catch my wrinkles. I used a matching green batik for the facing. While I'm talking about fabric, I should mention that the belt I used was purchased. Without the belt, the dress makes me look like a green blob since the skirt is so full. If I were to use a lighter weight silk or rayon, I think the belt might not be as necessary.


Here is the back...I don't know what kind of bra to get...that I suppose will come later!