Review-a-Palooza: Simplicity 1945, McCall's 6996, McCall's 6078

Due to general life business and traveling for work, I haven't sewn a stitch since Saturday. And won't have time to sew today, or tomorrow, and probably not until Saturday evening if I feel up to it.

I am twitching and tweaking and the bigger problem; planning. Now there are like 8 projects on my "MustDoNow" list. OY!

While the blog is quiet I may as well get these reviews done. I am gonna be a lazy lazy pants here and just lump 'em all.

Simplicity 1945

It's a Khaliah Ali pattern so it goes up to size 28 - yay! And it's not a pattern full of boxy mess. There are super cute tops!

I chose this cardigan because it has two pieces. Lazy. And, either I have longer monkey arms than I thought or this photo is inaccurate. These sleeves are nowhere near as long as they appear in the pic.

I hemmed and hawed over sizing and settled on a 14. I used a light sweater knit from Fabric Mart (that I got for $1/yd previously!).

Just throw the directions in the corner. It's fairly intuitive to put together but some crazy person at Simplicity decided they'd make you go crazy like them.

There is a facing for the back neckline which makes NO sense as that entire front is finished with a double-turned hem. And they way they have you finish it is mind boggling in a horrid way.

cut on sleeve awesomeness

The back length is perfect for me so if you're longer through the torso, take heed.

McCall's 6996

When this pattern was released I was all, meh. I have 6844 and this is the same.

Except it isn't.

I can't quite articulate the difference but one DOES exist. Now, how's THAT for helpful?

I opted for view A (view B is 3" longer at the back), in a medium. I did a 1/2" narrow shoulder adjustment, which is typical for me.

This was quick and easy to sew up, no directions needed. The back neckline has that slight gather to it which is cute and makes it hug the neck nicely.

I love it and it is 3 of the 7 want-to-make projects listed above (one for me - with leather elbow patches!, one for my mom and one for my stepdaughter). My mom now owns two of my M6844 cardigans and wants one of these.

Again, never mind that she sews... ;-)

no fabric pooling at center back! swoooooon

The peplum is MUCH less dramatic than that of M6844; I like.

McCall's 6078 (oop)

I don't know what those models are doing...

maybe they're just feeling extra happy with their awesome tops?

Gotta admit, I passed right by Making the Flame's declarations of love for M6078 during OWOP. But now, NOW I now why she loves it so!

Those pleats at the shoulders are really beautiful when stitched. And the cowl is so soft, and falls just right, and isn't low at all. And the neckline finishing is brilliant. I think I've seen it on another cowl neck but can't remember which pattern and thought it was brilliant then too!

While a medium is the right size for me, I need a little cheater FBA on this one. My only other adjustment was shortening it via taking a deeper hem. You can see it's kind of long on the model and I didn't want it hip length on me. Plus, I love deep hems on knit tops.

I think I need a few more of these!

So I got a mini wardrobe and some new TNT patterns out of this experience; totally worth it!

**Aside from the 3 cardigans, my list of things I *HAVE* to sew:

Another pair of SA Sandra jeans (waiting for the jeans contest on PR)

M7100 (bomber jacket - the pattern isn't showing up on McCall's site. Weird)

B5966 (view B if I have enough for the length, otherwise view A)

B6130 (jumpsuit)

January Burda project. Except there's nothing I reallllly want to sew. So I might cheat and skip out. I wanted to sew the cover coat but I can't find any fabric thus far that doesn't scream robe or blanket...

I went to pattern review and saw Tiger Feet's version of the colorblocked slim fitting jacket

YOWZA!!!!! I must have one!!

Mini Wardrobe Complete!

I talked about my mini-wardrobe plans here and after my muslin for V8597 wasn't promising, I revised the plans here. And then the Belle blouse didn't work out. Oy!

So then I went and bought two white tees at Target. I picked up size L. Got home, tried them on...disaster. Returned them for XL. Got home, tried them on, very snug at the bust and too big through the shoulder. Returned them. Got a different style top in a L. Got home, tried it on, disaster. It is awaiting return.

The IH kimono tee has become item #7! It's a much "sportier" look than I originally intended but it's fine.

S1945 cardigan in black/gold sweater knit from Fabric Mart (review to come)

M6996 cardigan in animal print rayon/poly/lycra from Fabric Mart (review to come)

M6078 top in mustard rayon jersey from SR Harris (review to come)

IH Kimono tee in mustard & grey rayon jersey from SR Harris (previously reviewed here & here)

B5493 top in teal rayon jersey from SR Harris (previously reviewed here)

V9032 pants in black wool blend suiting from Fabric Mart (previously reviewed 1, 2, 3)

Style Arc Sandra jeans in non-stretch dark denim from SR Harris (reviewed here) 

I won't actually be wearing these sleeveless tops to work without a cardigan or jacket. And obviously these things work with some other stuff already in my wardrobe.

Uhmm, can we talk about how great these Vogue pants make my butt look??!!?!?

Definite TNT. Because I have lost a little bit and (thank goodness) I tend to lose right from my belly first, my other pants from this pattern are a bit loose at the waist so I made these a little smaller. They're snug but that's better than me having to go back and take them in. I hate adjustments.

I wish I had 10 more yards of this black suiting. Washed, dried, sewed and pressed perfectly. Bravo Fabric Mart!

B5493 was made previously June, 2013. I wear that top often and LOVE this version with the full ruffle. I cut the ruffle with my rotary cutter for a nice, crisp edge  and left it unhemmed (I have a couple of RTW knit tops with ruffle details; the ruffle is unhemmed).  Don't look too closely at the V-neck and the top could be a smidge longer.

IH kimono tee, no changes - meaning I forgot, again, to add more sleeve width. DOH! I think I spent more time stitching and ripping out that vneck than on the rest of the top combined :( I need some practice with that.

I hope to do this again as we head into summer, so I will have fewer closet orphans.

Revised Staycation Sewing Plans

I had it all planned out, I was going to sew and sew and SEW!! But my parents are coming!!!!

I only get to see them once a year -- maybe twice if I'm lucky -- and they will be here for 4 days over Christmas - YAY ME!!!! I'm not a 'mama's girl' or a 'daddy's girl', I'm just my parents BABY GIRL and I am so happy when they are near. Ahhhhh...

So I decided I need to get some things started sooner. I cut out all of the new-to-me patterns while catching up on Hell's Kitchen with my daughter, and on Friday, I muslined the Vogue top.

Well, this is what really happened:

Self #1: hmmm...do I REALLY need to muslin this?

Self #2: remember all those recent revelations about you and the tops you've sewn...

Self #1: yeah but look at how straightfoward this is...and the finished measurements look good.

Self #2: I don't know... it has that odd construction AND raglan sleeves...how will that work?

Self #1: Meh. It'll probably be fine.

Self #2: But you REALLY love that teal jersey...

Self #1: Ugh. FINE.

So into the knit scrap bin I went!

(sorry for the toilet)

Bleh. LOL!

I don't dislike it, but there isn't enough room, Something funky is happening at the front raglan sleeve (too tight across the bust?) and in the few minutes I had it on I must have adjusted that cowl like 13 times.

I think I would love it a size bigger, with a rayon type knit, and tunic length. So I might make it again.

PLUS, I did not like the idea of it with cardigans. And that made me rethink the tops I chose and how they would layer. Minnesota = layering. Period.

So I changed things up a little bit. And chose a different cardigan with a "collar" and another shell vs. a top with sleeves. I need more solid colored shells anyway.

Same color scheme because I really like it

M6996 in animal print

M6078 in mustard

B5493 in teal

S1945 in the black/gold sweater knit

Belle: Still in white challis

Sandra: Still in denim

V9032: still in black suiting

I am still quilting the quilt. It needs to be complete by Thursday morning. I did NOT quilt on Sunday and instead decided to start the "easy" knit projects.

Well, they went so fast! (YES L! THEY as in multiple! lol!!!!)

I was going to "sew the major seams" of M6996, M6078 and B5493.  And ended up finishing the cardigan and the mustard top. B5493 still needs finishing.

I WILL muslin the Sandras this weekend.

Sneaky peeks, reviews of patterns to come!

here the cardigan is unfinished

finished!