I love sewing--any form of needle and thread makes me happy.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

The Denim Skirt--Simplicity 4701

This is item #6 for the Spring Wardrobe Contest.  I'm trucking right along.  At this rate I may possibly finish as I have finished  7 as well but have yet to blog it.  This is a remarkable pace for me.  Usually I binge sew on the weekends and on days off, but I've been working a lot of 2nd shifts, so I've gotten a couple of hours in the morning in as well. I don't get to see much of Hubs that way but I am getting a lot of sewing done. 

Back to the skirt.  This is Simplicity 4701, now out of print. I made view F, the little red skirt on the cover. I've made this skirt so many times; each in a different size.  I just love it. 


I've made this skirt twice before in different sizes, so apparently I can't live without it.  It's just so easy to wear and such a basic item.  This times it's in a size 18 made from a denim/lycra blend from Denver fabrics.   The instructions are pretty straightforward but not in an easy order: they hop back and forth to the pants.  Example for the pockets: see steps 2-9 of pants.  


 

I only made two changes to the pattern.  I omitted the back patch pockets, I don't need anymore junk in my trunk, and I made the closure a button instead of hook, just personal preference. I serged and topstitched the seams for a faux flatfell seam like the directions say.  Just didn't feel like messing with the flatfell foot that day.

I just love my new skirt and I off to try to finish Item # 8, another top. Happy sewing.


Monday, March 14, 2016

Butterick 5429-- The Twist Top

the next item in the Spring Wardrobe Capsule is Butterick 5429. I believe this is out of print now.

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I made the short-sleeved twist top.  The neat thing about this twist top is that the twist is above the bust, not at the waist or bust as is usual.  This sounds like it would cause a heavy neckline and gaping, but it doesn't.  In the lightweight ITY knit I used (from Fabric.com), it hugs nicely against the chest and doesn't fly open.


When I read the reviews on Pattern Review, they all said it ran huge.  My pattern only went down to a size 16, so I graded down to a size 14.  The instructions were really easy; the twist was the easiest one I've ever seen.  The pictures made it so clear. It went together nice and easy and quickly.  I can see making another of these. It comes in a long sleeve, too.   More coming soon.  Happy sewing.

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Spring Wardrobe Continues

The work on the Pattern Review Spring Wardrobe Capsule continues.  I finally got a good photo-session in with Hubs so I'll be able to get a few entries in. 

First up, McCalls 7254 a really great little cardigan.  I love the shawl collar and how it folds and flares out into the peplum.  I used a dark taupey-brown ponte de roma knit from Fabric.com but can see this in a bulkier sweater knit as well. 

It stitched up so quick and easy; I wasn't expecting that.  It's the perfect thing for these cool spring days when you need to layer on and off.  I'm already getting a lot of use out of it and am looking forward to making another of these.

Next is Butterick 6065, the shaped shell top.  I never really noticed this pattern until I saw Faye's at Faye's Sewing Adventure  blog.  She's made several of these and they're all so cute.  She's so right, with only 3 pieces, what's not to love? I used an ITY knit from Fabric Mart and after reading about it on Pattern Review tried a Teflon foot to keep the knit under control.  Worked wonderfully!  I'll be using it all the time with knits now.   


I don't like the look of folded and hemmed necklines, so I made some binding for the neck and armholes.  Then, after reading about it on Pinterest, I decided to try Wash Away Wonder Tape.  I tried some of it and Steam-a-Seam 2 (¼ inch) on opposites ends of a scrap.  For this material, I preferred the Steam-a-Seam: it gave a smoother, lighter hem. 


The pants are an oldie but a goodie, Vogue 7301

I haven't made pants in years and now I'm all fluffy again so I guess I'm a little crazy for planning on 2 pairs for my wardrobe capsule.  I had made these years ago when I was a new sewer and fearless in my lack of knowledge and determination.  I had made a few changes to the pattern last time when I was about this size so thought it was a good launching point. 


I raised the center front ½ inch, raised the center back ½ inch and did a full thigh adjustment of about ½ inch also.  I cut a size 18, serged the edges of the pattern pieces and pressed them open at the seams.  


The fly instructions were awesome--clear, well-illustrated, step-by-step.  Made it so easy.  Looking at the photos, it looks like I could do with some kind of wedge alteration at the crotch and a little more room in the backseat.   I seriously need to trace this pattern--it's so faded I can hardly see the print or marking on the pieces and its definitely a keeper! 

So there we have it--Pieces 2, 3, and 4 of the Spring Wardrobe with more to come!  Happy sewing!