Simplicity 8733 - Two Times

Almost end of summer and I feel the need to sew some of the garments that have been on my list since April!  Today a couple of quick knit tops

Vogue 9260 - Jumpsuit Turned Top

Sometimes things don't turn out like the picture in your head.  This top that was a jumpsuit is just that type of picture.

I bought Vogue 9260 with the intention of making myself a fun jumpsuit.  My main problem is making a size too big, I went with a Medium and should of done a small.

Navy is the Theme for Three New Tops

I tend to sew in color families, especially with knits.  I feel it saves time as I don't have to rethread the serger, sewing machine and cover stitch machine.  So today, I am sharing three navy tops.

Two Knit Shirts - Briar T-Shirt and McCall's 6964

After Me Made May, I realized I needed more knit shirts.  In need, I mean desperately need.

Julia Cardigan in Garnet

Time for take two on my Julia Cardigan, the first one was in a leopard knit.  I have been working my way through some fabric piles.  I had a pile of knits on the floor and I am happy to say that pile is almost all sewn up!  This garnet color rayon knit came from Fabric Mart a few months ago.

Grainline Studio - Hemlock Tee

Have you all downloaded the free Grainline Hemlock Tee? I have had it printed off for several months and I finally made time to sew it.   Dropped shoulders, relaxed fit and it is one size only.

Julia Cardigan

The Julia Cardigan has been on my to-do list for quite some time.  It is such a fun cardian with a nice drape and three different sleeve options.

My pattern is available to purchase and download from Indiesew

Briar T-Shirts

Fabric Mart's recent sale on knits was too good too pass up and I filled the cart up with some new knits.
This lovely stripe rayon was turned into a Briar T-Shirt

I love this fabric and the style of the shirt.  

McCall's 6844 in Chevron Sweater Knit

Over the weekend, my husband had a business trip to Napa, California and I tagged along. The days were warm but the evenings cool so I went with layers.  One of those layers was a new McCall's 6844, which I have made before in a red ponte

This time I used a Hacci Sweater Knit from Fabric Mart

which is amazing and I loved sewing it.  The weight of the fabric is perfect and I just love it.

Pumpkin Spice Dolman Shirt- Patterns for Pirates

Time for the second shirt I made from the Patterns for Pirates line.

Women's Raglan- Patterns for Pirates

Back in August, I was asked to test the
 Spirit Jacket
 for my little guy (aka grandson) and the jacket is great and his mom loves it.

Vogue 1407 - DKNY Dress

Thanks to the BMV pattern sales, I have accumulated quite a nice stash of new patterns.

 This Sunday, Hubby and I will be flying out for a 3 day business trip and dress code  is suits for the men and dresses for the women.  I needed a new dress for the occasion and went with Vogue 1407 

I found some great ponte during a sale at Fabric Mart Fabrics.  I thought about another solid besides black but that thought was quickly pushed aside.  With online shopping it is so much easier to just get black, you know it will match the other fabric.

This dress is suppose to be  lined and I ordered some lining but I did not order stretch lining.  Remember I need this dress by Sunday, this Sunday the 28th, no time to order lining.  With the limited time, I just went with an unlined dress and I will wear a slip.  That works for me and works for getting this dress completed.


I usually don't muslin knit dresses and work with the fitting as I go.

Some important things and changes with this dress:

1. I made a FBA on the dress and according to my Palmer and Pletsch book with a FBA it lowers the dart so unless you need a 1-1/2" lower dart do not move your dart.  I could of moved the dart down 1/2" but really it isn't too bad.
2. You assemble this dress in steps, attaching the right front then the left front.  I serged the right side, then basted the side seam and the back seam. This let me try on the dress and yea - no need for a zipper.
   
3. The neck binding I made a smaller by about 2-3", this helps pull the knit to the body.  I should of made the binding wider as when you stretch the binding it thins out the width.  This made it difficult to turn and stitch it down.  I find it easier to make the binding wider, and you can trim the extra.  Always nice to have the extra, right?
4. The pattern has great Center Front lines to match all the plaid.
   
5. Also, the pattern instructions have you fold the binding then stitch in place.  I like to fold my binding over the seam allowance, which I serge.  If you want wider binding just widen you seam allowance setting on your serger.

   

   A nice look with the cardigan, too
6. I did unsew the side seams and pull the lower overlap piece in.  It just was away from the body too much  I like the fit of it much better.  

Not sure what kind of face I am trying to make here!

Dixie DIY Summer Concert Tee and Indie Sews

I just love this online sewing community, new things are always happening and more resources available to us.  Take this new site,  Indie Sews, it has so much right in one spot  for us.  Yes, you can buy Indie patterns there, like the Summer Concert Tee which  I purchased and downloaded this week.    I like you can read more about the pattern, see the details and find reviews about this pattern right on one page.

McCall's 6711 -Ponte Blazer

I bought this great ponte knit from Fabric Mart a few months ago but couldn't decide what to make.  I posted a picture on Instagram and a fitted jacket was the most popular garment suggestion.  I went with McCall's 6711, made first just over a year ago in a stripe knit, which I love and wear quite often.  In fact, I wore it to a fundraiser about a month ago and as I was leaving a lady stopped me.  She told me how much she liked my outfit and how nice I looked.  I thought that was so sweet of her and I know I walked with a bit more confidence in my step.

I did not line this one but I serged the seams and finished the facing with a pink knit,which this picture shows.

I cut out all the garment pieces in a single layer, helping to match the pattern with the princess seams, side seams and sleeves.  As you can tell in the picture above the pattern is only on the right side.  This made pattern matching more difficult for me.  Does anyone have suggestions in this situation?

I had one side that matched really well, in fact I think this is the best I have ever done, so I am sharing my print matching happiness.

The other side is almost as good but not quite, the sleeves are nice and so is the side seams.  One thing that has happened with my almost empty nest and no school activities to attend, I have more patience and time in my sewing.  I spent a couple of nights cutting out this jacket.  A most unusual task for me.

With all this print matching, my fabric ran a bit short.  I cut my sleeves a short 3/4 sleeves, but had some scraps of fabrics to add a turn-up cuff to the sleeves.  This was a nice solution to add length.

Thanks all of those you commented on my Instagram photo and helped decide what this fabric would become.  I love your suggestion!

Stripe Plantain T-shirt

Deer & Doe has a free t-shirt pattern called Plantain and I downloaded it right away.  This week I finally got around to making it.  Here it is on my dressform from an instagram photo

I really like this shirt, it fits beautifully and the flare is just a nice hint of flare without being oversized.

Simplicity 2154

Okay, this doesn't look like my usual pattern, does it?

Well, I purchased it after seeing it in the Joann's Fashion Fusion Magazine


The cardigan is made from Ponte Roma from Joann's.

Description: Misses' & Miss petite 1960’s retro style blouse, skirt, jacket and knit cardigan sewing pattern. Simplicity Vintage Pattern Collection.


Sizing: 6 to 24

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? :
Not really, I used more modern fabric and my garment does not look vintage at all.

Instructions:  They were easy to follow, the cardigan is basic construction,  Simplicity's instructions were concise and to the point with nice illustrations to provide extra guidance.

Likes/Dislikes:  As I mentioned I liked the look of the cardigan in Joann's Fashion Fusion magazine (Fall/winter 2011).  Actually, I was quite shocked when I pulled the vintage inspired pattern out of the pattern drawers.  I also liked the lines of the cardigan

Fabric:  A sweater knit from Fabric Mart, I bought the last 1-1/4 yard and was just able to squeeze this cardigan out. 

Changes: The pattern recommends 1" ribbon to finish the front edge of the cardigan.  I measured the cardigan front by the pattern piece, cut the ribbon 1" longer to allow for the foldover at the top.  Then I divided the ribbon in half and matched it to the front half mark.  I put the sweater knit down on my serger plate and adjusted the differential feed to pull in more of the sweater knit.  My sweater knit had stretched some with handling.  This allowed for the fronts to match in length and my stripes to match. 

I did not make buttonholes in my cardigan.  With the scalloped design of the fabric, I thought the buttonholes would not sew out the best.  Also, I do not plan on ever buttoning this cardigan.  I did sew on buttons for effect.

One change I will do in the future is to use wider ribbon, I could only find 7/8" ribbon and after allowing for the serger allowance, I had about 1/2" of front band.  So keep this in mind when purchasing ribbon.

Conclusion:  A bit of a sleeper of a pattern but so happy I purchased it.  The fabric really makes the cardigan really special.  I have some black ponte, so another one will probably be in the future. I will get better pictures in the morning, this is what I am wearing to work tomorrow.

Cardigan with Jalie tie top.

Better view of the scallops, stripes and color of the fabric.