I managed to have a nice 3-day weekend at home with the hubby and dog and did absolutely nothing on Saturday and Sunday. Monday I had lunch with the girls and then when I got home managed to get enough motivation to make another Simplicity 4076 top. I have made one wearable version already, in the wrap-style, to wear on Mother's day and this time I made the scoop-neck version out of my leftover black/aqua chain link. It wasn't until I cut it out that I realized that Summerset already made the same top! Thank goodness we live on opposite sides of the country. I originally bought 3 yards with the intention of making a dress, but decided to make a dress out of the coral/chocolate version and make a tunic top out of the black/aqua. I ended up with just enough leftover to eek out the scoop-neck version of my new favorite t-shirt pattern. This will go fantastically with the white linen pants (or will they be capris?) I have cut out and waiting to sew.
Now I need to get off my bum and post pictures of all my latest creations!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
on the road...again
In addition to not doing much sewing, I also haven't been doing ANY blogging. Friday and Saturday before Mother's Day I made another Simplicity 3881 skirt in red/white graphic print and Simplicity 4076 in a perfectly matching red knit (this one was the crossover with the short sleeves). I wore the outfit to Mother's Day brunch with my mom and grandparents - my grandmother said I looked like something straight out of the Nieman Marcus catalog :) I'll post a photo of me in the full outfit when I am back in town for more than two days.
That was the last thing I've sewn...the next day I went to Toronto and this week I'm in Las Vegas. In the next two weeks I'll be back in Vegas and my weekends have been busy with homework and spending time with hubby and the pup (who is STILL getting bigger every day...the pup, not hubby).
Up next: some low-slung, wide-leg, drawstring pants out of a slightly off-white linen blend. I have everything in my stash, but don't remember the pattern number offhand. After this much time away from the craft, I'm in need of an instant-gratification fix. I've had much time to think and plan and I think I finally have some other projects decided as well. The list will be in a future post - again, when I'm home for more than two days.
I can't wait until this traveling slows down...then I can get some stuff done for ME!
That was the last thing I've sewn...the next day I went to Toronto and this week I'm in Las Vegas. In the next two weeks I'll be back in Vegas and my weekends have been busy with homework and spending time with hubby and the pup (who is STILL getting bigger every day...the pup, not hubby).
Up next: some low-slung, wide-leg, drawstring pants out of a slightly off-white linen blend. I have everything in my stash, but don't remember the pattern number offhand. After this much time away from the craft, I'm in need of an instant-gratification fix. I've had much time to think and plan and I think I finally have some other projects decided as well. The list will be in a future post - again, when I'm home for more than two days.
I can't wait until this traveling slows down...then I can get some stuff done for ME!
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Simplicity 4076 - take one
After having read so many wonderful reviews of the Simplicity 4076 top, and seeing as it's in my stash, I decided to give it a try. I haven't done much sewing with knits until more recently, so to get myself back in the swing of things I decided to make a muslin out of some yucky polyester interlock knit that I found for $1/yard.
For this trial run, I made view D - which is the short-sleeved scoop neck version. Based on my measurements and the fact that the knit was really stretchy, I made a size 18. There were a couple of things about this pattern (some of them have already been outlined in other PR reviews and blogs):
1. The neckline band is strange. The instructions aren't very clear about how they want this attached until you read them a few times and then actually do it. I'm going to make some changes to how this is attached the next time I make it, possibly making a new band altogether...we'll see. The band attachment as-is is something that I can live with.
2. I actually need to do a FBA on this view. I generally do not need the FBA, but in this case it's the only way to keep the pretty gathers from getting stretched out.
3. The short sleeves are just too short for me. I modified the pattern and lengthened the sleeves by almost 2" to make them a more appropriate length.
Here is the final muslin
I didn't bother hemming the sleeves or bottom as I accidentally tore a few small holes in the front band while making adjustments. The fabric was not pleasant to work with without stabilizer and I didn't start using stabilizer until it was too late. This one is a wadder but that's OK - the fabric is so yucky I probably wouldn't have worn it much anyway. I'll make one more out of this fabric to perfect the fit before I cut it out of the actual fabric. It's a quick sew and worth the effort because overall it's a nice-looking top.
For this trial run, I made view D - which is the short-sleeved scoop neck version. Based on my measurements and the fact that the knit was really stretchy, I made a size 18. There were a couple of things about this pattern (some of them have already been outlined in other PR reviews and blogs):
1. The neckline band is strange. The instructions aren't very clear about how they want this attached until you read them a few times and then actually do it. I'm going to make some changes to how this is attached the next time I make it, possibly making a new band altogether...we'll see. The band attachment as-is is something that I can live with.
2. I actually need to do a FBA on this view. I generally do not need the FBA, but in this case it's the only way to keep the pretty gathers from getting stretched out.
3. The short sleeves are just too short for me. I modified the pattern and lengthened the sleeves by almost 2" to make them a more appropriate length.
Here is the final muslin
I didn't bother hemming the sleeves or bottom as I accidentally tore a few small holes in the front band while making adjustments. The fabric was not pleasant to work with without stabilizer and I didn't start using stabilizer until it was too late. This one is a wadder but that's OK - the fabric is so yucky I probably wouldn't have worn it much anyway. I'll make one more out of this fabric to perfect the fit before I cut it out of the actual fabric. It's a quick sew and worth the effort because overall it's a nice-looking top.
Simplicity 3881 skirt
With everything but hubby's shirt complete (and hubby's shirt is just waiting for buttonholes) I was in need of some instant gratification. I have two full notebook pages worth of projects in the queue but wanted something quick and easy that I could start on Sunday and wear to work on Monday. I chose the Simplicity 3881 skirt. Read the review on PR.
This picture was taken after a FULL day of wearing.
I made view A (which is the view in the photo, only I didn't make the belt) and my skirt came out almost identical to the one in the photo (even down to the similar print!). I swear it was a coincidence that the pattern's fabric almost matched what I ended up using. I made it in a straight size 20 based on my hip measurement and decided not to lengthen it any.
The fabric I used is a cotton/lycra stretch twill with a sateen finish in a black and white leaf/bubble motif that I got at Hancock Fabrics. I was originally going to make a pair of capris from the fabric but decided to use it as a wearable muslin of sorts for this skirt. The fabric cuts and sews up beautifully. The other great thing about the pattern on this fabric is that it's not really necessary to match up the pattern because of how the design is laid out...it seemed to match up for the most part no matter how I laid out my patterns. This was a relief because I didn't really have a ton of yardage to begin with.
When I first basted the side seams together I thought the finished skirt may be a little snug in the hip area, so I sewed the side seams of the top skirt and flounce with 3/8" seams instead of the standard 5/8". I also attached the flounce to the top skirt with 3/8" seams to give me some leeway with the overall length. It turned out I could have done my 5/8" seams and been fine in the end. Something to remember for next time.
The pattern calls for twill tape to be stitched to the top edge, turned over and topstitched. I used 7/8" grosgrain ribbon instead of 1/2" twill tape (I think twill tape looks yucky anyway) and really like how stable and comfortable the waistband is - and I don't have to worry about tucking in a facing, it lies totally flat. I also did a Hong Kong finish on all of the inside seams (including the long seam that attaches the flounce at the bottom) and did my usual invisible zipper application rather than the lapped zipper the pattern called for. The instructions called for the zipper to be inserted 3/8" (I think that's the measurement, I don't have the instructions in front of me) from the finished lower edge but I don't like having the gap at the waist, so whenever I have a pattern that calls for this treatment I insert the zipper to the top and then put the hook and eye below the zipper pull. It's not only easier to get to for me (especially on dresses) but it has that extra protection to keep the zipper from inching its way too far down (which I've honestly never had happen). For the hem, I played around with using a couple different types of seam finishes and in the end opted to sew a finishing stitch around the bottom hem and turn it up 3/8" and topstitch. Anything else I tried (including a double-turned hem or anything wider than 3/8" ended up interfering with the flowy-ness of the flounce. I ended up cutting about 1/2" off the bottom of the flounce to get the final length at mid-knee (which is the ideal length on me for shorter skirts and dresses), which accounts for my 3/8" seam between the flounce and skirt and the 3/8" hem rather than 5/8". This skirt also falls more than 1" below my natural waist because of my increased side seams. I like where it falls, so when I make it again I will probably keep the waist seam the same and taper down to 5/8" at the bottom of the upper skirt.
The interesting thing about this skirt is that it calls for 2-1/8 yards for a size 18+ but then it only uses 2/3 of the full width of fabric. My fabric was 45" wide. Three of the four pieces are cut on a fold and with 45" fabric the fourth piece cannot be cut to the side of any of the folded pieces. This left me with easily 12" of fabric down the entire folded length of fabric. I'm not sure what I'll do with the leftover piece of fabric, but it's definitely enough that I could do a simple tank.
I wore the skirt to work on Monday with cute fitted black knit top and dressy beaded black flip-flops. I wish I had gotten a picture of me in it. It is definitely a flattering look for me and was comfortable and wore great (no wrinkles!). This is absolutely something I will make again.
This picture was taken after a FULL day of wearing.
I made view A (which is the view in the photo, only I didn't make the belt) and my skirt came out almost identical to the one in the photo (even down to the similar print!). I swear it was a coincidence that the pattern's fabric almost matched what I ended up using. I made it in a straight size 20 based on my hip measurement and decided not to lengthen it any.
The fabric I used is a cotton/lycra stretch twill with a sateen finish in a black and white leaf/bubble motif that I got at Hancock Fabrics. I was originally going to make a pair of capris from the fabric but decided to use it as a wearable muslin of sorts for this skirt. The fabric cuts and sews up beautifully. The other great thing about the pattern on this fabric is that it's not really necessary to match up the pattern because of how the design is laid out...it seemed to match up for the most part no matter how I laid out my patterns. This was a relief because I didn't really have a ton of yardage to begin with.
When I first basted the side seams together I thought the finished skirt may be a little snug in the hip area, so I sewed the side seams of the top skirt and flounce with 3/8" seams instead of the standard 5/8". I also attached the flounce to the top skirt with 3/8" seams to give me some leeway with the overall length. It turned out I could have done my 5/8" seams and been fine in the end. Something to remember for next time.
The pattern calls for twill tape to be stitched to the top edge, turned over and topstitched. I used 7/8" grosgrain ribbon instead of 1/2" twill tape (I think twill tape looks yucky anyway) and really like how stable and comfortable the waistband is - and I don't have to worry about tucking in a facing, it lies totally flat. I also did a Hong Kong finish on all of the inside seams (including the long seam that attaches the flounce at the bottom) and did my usual invisible zipper application rather than the lapped zipper the pattern called for. The instructions called for the zipper to be inserted 3/8" (I think that's the measurement, I don't have the instructions in front of me) from the finished lower edge but I don't like having the gap at the waist, so whenever I have a pattern that calls for this treatment I insert the zipper to the top and then put the hook and eye below the zipper pull. It's not only easier to get to for me (especially on dresses) but it has that extra protection to keep the zipper from inching its way too far down (which I've honestly never had happen). For the hem, I played around with using a couple different types of seam finishes and in the end opted to sew a finishing stitch around the bottom hem and turn it up 3/8" and topstitch. Anything else I tried (including a double-turned hem or anything wider than 3/8" ended up interfering with the flowy-ness of the flounce. I ended up cutting about 1/2" off the bottom of the flounce to get the final length at mid-knee (which is the ideal length on me for shorter skirts and dresses), which accounts for my 3/8" seam between the flounce and skirt and the 3/8" hem rather than 5/8". This skirt also falls more than 1" below my natural waist because of my increased side seams. I like where it falls, so when I make it again I will probably keep the waist seam the same and taper down to 5/8" at the bottom of the upper skirt.
The interesting thing about this skirt is that it calls for 2-1/8 yards for a size 18+ but then it only uses 2/3 of the full width of fabric. My fabric was 45" wide. Three of the four pieces are cut on a fold and with 45" fabric the fourth piece cannot be cut to the side of any of the folded pieces. This left me with easily 12" of fabric down the entire folded length of fabric. I'm not sure what I'll do with the leftover piece of fabric, but it's definitely enough that I could do a simple tank.
I wore the skirt to work on Monday with cute fitted black knit top and dressy beaded black flip-flops. I wish I had gotten a picture of me in it. It is definitely a flattering look for me and was comfortable and wore great (no wrinkles!). This is absolutely something I will make again.
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