Another Sewing Filled Weekend

As you may know, I've been learning to knit. I've become enamored with knitting in short order. I spend tons of time (more than I'd care to admit) browsing awesomeness on Ravelry.

I've been focused on making tops for work as it was an area that was lacking in my wardrobe. Now I need pants and have two pair cut and ready to sew. But I wanted to make something FUN this weekend.

So, I cut S2406, view B, in a blue/black/white animal print (What animal?) charmeuse. I think that the shape is simple enough to handle a busy print. I haven't sewed it yet.

I bought some black stretch (cotton twill?) fabric from SR harris for $5/yd on one of my trips there. I bought 2.5 yards of it and was able to cut a top and skirt from it - SCORE!

Since I needed a fun and cute sew, I decided to do the peplum thing. I don't know why I waited so long! I had NL6130 in my stash. It was probably the 2nd pattern I bought. It looked complicated so I kept putting off sewing it. It was an easy sew. Not fast necessarily, but easy.

Now, I'm not much of a muslin'er. I should have made a muslin and I'm not willing to consider this a muslin - as in throw away. I like it too much. I cut a size 14 and ended up taking 3/4" side seams and trimming an inch off the back before adding the zipper...the finished bust measurement on the 14 was 40" and on the 12 was 38".  So I ended up with a finished bust of ~38.5" and my full bust is 38.5". The amount of stretch was more than I expected so zero ease was perfect.

I do have gaping around the neckline that I'm wondering if I can take two small pleats to fix it. I could probably unpick the shoulder seams and trim it but I'm scared of messing it up.

Gaping at the neck and also slightly too big around the armscye

But SO much potential!

I also cut V8672, The drawing made it look more pencil skirt-ish than it is. It sewed up very straight. I didn't want a straight skirt. I wanted a fitted pencil skirt! I sewed a 16 and it looked like a cute skirt for work or church. I didn't want a work skirt and I don't go to church. So I took in another 1/2". Still not to my liking. So I tried pegging it, but didn't do a good job and got some bubbling after the hip. I'll have to try to fix that. 

But together....eeeeeeee! I like. I like it alot.

Finished Item: McCall's 6751

So, when the summer McCall's were released, I was tweaking. I wanted them and I wanted them badly.  I needed to sew tonight (yes, I'm a junkie) and decided to cut M6751 and NL6130.

The McCall's top only has 2 pattern pieces - sweeeeet! The New Look pattern has, err, a few more. I passed on the facings. I hate facings. I hate them. And the fabric I'm using is a bit heavier, has a bit more body and I'm going to use bias tape as neck and armhole bindings and I probably won't do the tie.

I thought I could get them both cut tonight and at least get 6130 partially sewed. Well...

The McCall's top sewed up in 2 seconds but the &#*)(*)$ bias binding around the entire top...oy vey! It took F-O-R-E-V-E-R to pin it and sew it and iron it and sew it. I didn't hem it and it's totally a belly top :)

I considered this a muslin anyway...this is leftover fabric from the dress I made before.

Front view. The shoulders are designed to sit a little wide.

Side view. It just kinds of hangs from the bust. I should have cut it larger.

The keyhole isn't perfect. Sewing round/ed seams is hard.

ENDLESS bias binding! LOL!!!

PR Review:

Pattern Description: 

Misses Tops

Pattern Sizing:

XS-M (I cut a small)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I love that it is a very simple construction that looks more complicated. I hated doing the bias binding in that continuous (never ending) loop! 

This top is REALLY short. As usual, the modeled shot is not what it seems. I have a short waist and it's supposed to have a 5/8" narrow hem. I don't think it'll meet the top of my bottoms.

Fabric Used:

Fabric leftover from S2443. Some type of slightly stretchy poly woven.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I didn't want the full amount of ease in the Medium (says 36-38 bust with finished bust of 42" and finished waist of 45"). I should have cut the medium and taken slightly larger side seams. 'tis okay. It's an easy pattern to make larger (considering I cut the small!).

I haven't hemmed it yet. I was hoping to make this a wearable muslin but I'm not sure yet.

I also had a slightly tough time with the roundness of the keyhole. It's not perfect.

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

I want to sew it again in some "nicer" fabric maybe?

Conclusion: 

I want to LOVE this top. I'll definitely try it again. I had a sewing bug and needed a quick project for the night. It was really easy to sew but the bias binding was time consuming.