Complete Mini Wardrobe

Key item: Straight skirt McCall's 3830 PR review / Blog post

Knit top Simplicity 2345 PR review / Blog post

Woven top New Look 6808: PR review /  Blog post

A-line skirt Self drafted: PR review / Blog post

Last minute knit tunic Burda 7872: PR review / Blog post

Denim Skirt From Self Drafted Pattern

This is my four gored skirt from my self drafted skirt pattern from Design It Yourself Clothes, it is basically the Roise without the side patch pockets and with a center back seam. For the center front and center back seam are mock flat felled seam. For the waistband I really need to make a waistband pattern piece, I have facing pieces drafted but sometimes I like the look of a waistband and this is the second skirt I have made from this pattern with a waistband. Just using the instructions for the waistband I just get my numbers and just chalk draw it on to the fabric using the salvage as one side to use it as a finishing treatment on the inside. The fabric is a stretch denim that I got from fabric.com late last year. I still have a few yards leftover so I hope to make at least two more items from the rest. Other than that there really isn't more to this skirt. I did run into a problem just at the end of making it, just as I am making good timing on finishing it, just as I was trying on for my last try on before hemming the zipper breaks , you could call that moment a Florida Evans moment you can see in my last two pics. So that cost me an extra sewing session but is now fixed. .

PR review:

Pattern Description: This is the second variation on the basic A-line skirt. Mines is four gores with side center zip and waistband with button closing.

Pattern Sizing: Based on your own personal measurments

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? No mines is much longer and I did not add the patch pockets

Were the instructions easy to follow? I have made enough skirts that I don't need instructions, well just to find a good way to insert a center zipper.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? none

Fabric Used: very stretchy denim from fabric dot com

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: no its all your own design

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? yes and yes

Conclusion: Skirt that fits you, and designed by you. A great way to build your skills and wardrobe

Until next time, happy sewing...

Burda 7872

 This was a last minute top for my mini wardrobe. I had originally planned a cardigan and was about 95% done with it when trying it on with the rest of the wardrobe items my oldest son replied I looked pregnant with it on, now after 8 pregnancies and 9 kids that was not a look I was going for so that was in trash quick fast and in a hurry. So now I was left with less than a week and one more item to complete in order to be eligible for the contest. For two days I went back and forth with what I had in my stash and what I had time for and time was quickly running out. and at first was only looking at toppers (vest, jackets, and cardigans), nothing I had in my fabric collection was working then I remembered I needed to have 6 looks not 8 and just one more top would give me that. So within hour I had a new plan and started right away I was done in only sessions.

PR review:
Pattern Description: Burda Easy Misses top or tunic with v-neck or cowl.

Pattern Sizing: 32 to 44, I used size 40

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? No I chopped off about 5 inches in length.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes very easy, at first I thought I messed up on the cowl application, the seam is on the outside but I think its suppose to be hidden by the cowl so no raw edges show when it is hanging down, but I don't like it and will try something different IF I make this again

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I don't know if I like this or dislike this but the sleeves and bodice are cut in piece so no shoulder or sleeve seam.

Fabric Used: I used a mid weight cotton knit that I got here.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I just shortened by about 5 inches.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yeah but with a lighter weight fabric and also once I figure out another way to sew the cowl. i don't like how Burda has you do it, the seam is on the outside which I understand the seam is hidden by the cowl instead of on the inside where it can show from the cowl hanging down. I would recommend to someone who wants instant gratification.

Conclusion: A nice last minute top for my wardrobe.

 This like most patterns for knits tell you to use a double needle to sew hems but I have found a stitch on my sewing machine I like to use so far no one has asked me if I made my knit tops. For this top I made the stitch as wide as I could and used it as trim sort of as you can see to the left.

Until next time, happy sewing...

New Look 6808 In White

This is the second time I have made this top and so far it has been the most flattering top I have made for myself. I kept going back between this top and Simplicity 2599 and I think this one is more flattering but I still like the other but want to work with this one for a while. I made this first back in 2009 I think but I know I wore that top a lot more than I wear the ones made from Simplicity 2599. The fit is still not perfect but its a veery good start. The only problem I have with this top is the show through but that can be fixed with the right under garments.

PR review:
Pattern Description: Misses easy to sew with with 6 different variations and side zipper.

Pattern Sizing: 8 to 18, for myself I sewed a size 12.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Pretty much other than the sleeve change.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I had no problems with the instructions when I used them, but the lapped zipper I did my own thing.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The facings were a bit short for me, which I see a lot of other reviewers have noted also. I made this pattern once before and the facings just kept flipping out.

Fabric Used: For this top I used a Japanese cotton shirting I purchased from fabric dot com.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Well I altered this pattern about three years ago when I first made it and now I just used the worn out shirt as a muslin, the next time I may go up a size with a smaller FBA and see how that works. For this newer one I lengthened the sleeve and just left off the cuff but it is still 3/4 sleeve and added 1 inch to the neck facings

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I plan to work with pattern a lot more, I love how it looks on me and the neckline is very flattering. The fit is not perfect yet but I'm closer than I have been with any other pattern and with time and patience I think it will be a very nice TnT top pattern for me. Yes I would recommend it to others.

Conclusion: A nice and easy top pattern to sew and as you can see from the many reviews very flattering on a lot of different figures.

Until next time, happy sewing...

Easy Peasy Quick and Easy : TnT Knit Top Simplicity 2345

 Item number two done for my mini wardrobe. Very quick and easy to put together. I used a fabric I got from fabric.com a few years ago when I was learning to sew knits. I only got it because there was a large selection with a good price for practice, normally I don't buy striped fabric, but I am liking this top. This is my fourth time sewing up this pattern and I can see a few more for myself, I just love how the draped cowl helps me to show a nice necklace on my long neck.

Here is my review from patternreview.com:

Pattern Description: 
Misses'/Miss petite jacket, pants, knit top and dress with knit bodice.
Pattern Sizing: 8 to 16, for myself I used a size 12

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Nope, since I do not do sleeveless I added a sleeve using and older Simplicity pattern in my pattern collection 

Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions are very easy to follow with only 4 pattern pieces and 12 steps in the instructions I was able to get it done in two "sewing time" sessions from fabric layout to the last stitch. 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Well in my previous review I had nothing to dislike other than not having sleeves but having sewn it two more times since, the back facing is a problem for me, if your not careful you can stretch out the back neckline and have a wavy back neck. In the first two I did not have this problem, I don't know what I did wrong but I know I have to be careful of this.

Fabric Used: Three out of the four times I have used a poly lycra knit and the other a cotton knit. They are all nice I love the drape better in the polyester better. So the drapier the fabric the better

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Added sleeves from and older OOP Simplicity pattern

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes and Yes

Conclusion: A really nice knit top that is easy to sew and a great addition to your wardrobe, doesn't get and better than that.

Here it is with my key item. Next up is my self drafted skirt pattern in denim.

Until next time, happy sewing...

Peplum Top FAIL

This is where this top ENDS, just before I put in the sleeves and hem it. I would tell more of the construction of  this top but I can't , I'm just done, through, finished with this top. I had very high hopes for this top that is why it is so disappointing. The problem is that the waist is NOT flattering at all, and its my fault, that's what I get for being lazy. I only did a tissue fit and found that it was a little small in the waist so I decided not to sew the back darts to give myself more room in the back and just eased the fullness with the peplum. Well turns out I had plenty room in the waist as a matter of fact a 42 maybe too big for me, see I'm still learning to fit myself and still have not developed my eye yet for catching these things in tissue that is why I tend to tissue fit, alter and then make a muslin. Well this top made me look like I had a spare tire in the middle forget that it made me look like I had a Mack truck spare tire in the middle. Of course I did not see this until I put the invisible in and tried it on. Taking the top apart was not an option as fragile as this fabric is it would just look tortured. So I'm taking out the zip and picking myself up and  moving along and reworking my plan. I DO plan to make this top again but not now after this disaster I need a moment alone away from this pattern, I just don't want to look at it any more right now. So on the top number two which is one that was already in my plan.

Until next time, happy sewing...

Burdastyle 8/2012 Part 2

 I am not sure what my fabric is other than its  poly and is very lightweight. I am tempted to call this top Mystique since this thing is  is very shape shifty. I was able to cut out my pieces without needing to put extra tissue paper between the fabric layers. Now on to construction, I'm still not sure what the is best for this fabric, I tried using mock french seams but that did not do well with the raveling of the fabric so then I just switched to using my serger but I don't like the heaviness of the seam so I think next time if I do another fabric like this I'll just use the real thing and do real french seams.

Also I used tailors tacks to mark my darts it was the only thing I could think of to use on this fabric. I see that I need to do more research on working with sheer and lightweight fabrics.

So this is were I am now, next on to the back and the invisible zipper.

Next Up Burdastyle 8/2012-114

 Can we just say the new BurdaStyle condensed pattern sheets are just seizure inducing. Trying to find  the pattern pieces was not easy at all, but I hope to use this pattern more than once so hopefully its worth it. I'm making the long sleeve version but I am leaving off the collar. I have read through the instructions and they seem pretty straight forward, so I don't expect the run into any problems with that. My only problem will be with my fabric, I have no idea what it is other than some sort of polyester and that is a guess. It is very lightweight and frays so I'm dealing with how to finish the inside, I'm hoping to find something in my many books, if not then winging it I will be.

I did have pictures of my fabric but for some reason I was not able to upload them. So next time I'll try to have pics of the fabric and the beginning stages.

Until next time happy sewing...