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!

Finished Items: Butterick 5493 and McCall's 6754

Got my mojo baaaaack :) I've been sewing this weekend and got a couple awesome tops out of the deal! My Simplicity 2700 pants are almost done as well. I think I'll get them done tonight but maybe not. Well...they won't be done tonight. I have never done blind hemming and I'd rather eat brussel sprouts and cauliflower than hand sew so uhmm, yeah.

First up, McCall's 6754. This is a new pattern from their summer release. It's pretty awesome too! It's easy to assemble and if you're confident enough could be constructed on the serger. It does fit a little wonky up top. I read a couple reviews that stated such and wanted to pull more out but was hoping it would snug up when I finished the neckline, armholes and added the peplum but it's still a little bit roomy. I think the fix next time will to be to take a tiny bit out of CF. We'll see. I'm sure I'll be making this one up again though. I'm wearing it today!

Look at those lovely serged seams!!!! :)

 

Pattern Description:

Misses tops and dresses 

My description: Dress and peplum top with bodice variations; and choice of raglan sleeves or sleeveless

Pattern Sizing:

XS-M - I cut a Medium

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?

I never consulted them. The sleeveless top is intuitive. The front and front peplum piece are cut on the fold, the back and and back peplum are cut and seamed. Assemble the bodice, assemble the peplum, sew it all together.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

So far (and the quirkypeach noted it too), it seems to be a slightly poor fit above the bust. I *love* the dart shaping and the light peplum. Super cute.

*I'm wearing it today and had that need to pull it up a couple of times. I still love it though.

Fabric Used:

Eeked this top out of less than 1 yd of ponte knit I got as a remnant from Hancock. I think I paid $1.50 for it.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

Sewing has made me uhmm, appreciate my almost 34 year old, post-kid body  I had to lower the bust darts about 1 inch and take 3/4" shoulder seam on the right and 7/8" on the left. I did not include the elastic (I'm not sure of the purpose and after wearing it I don't know that it's necessary. Perhaps as an "anchor"?).

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

I will DEFINITELY be sewing this again. Next time I'll slightly raise the neckline. It's AWESOME as is - but the peplum is light enough that I'd wear this to work, but the neckline would have to be a good 1-2" higher.

Conclusion: 

Easy top that comes together really quickly with good results. MAKE IT!! 

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Next up was Butterick 5493. I think it may be OOP.

This top went together fast...except for the decision to use bias binding on the armholes. Goodness gracious. Tedious. It's okay though...

I also did not do the hem on the ruffle or the blouse - I just serged it with a narrow overlock. It looks just fine and it helps that it's all black! LOL!

Totally need a swayback alteration. Next time I'll do it.

It's blurry but I like action shots! :) 

Pattern Description: 

Misses tops

Pattern Sizing:

8-14, I cut a 12/14

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 the style of this top and think it makes a great shell to add to my growing wardrobe of cardigans. No dislikes.


Fabric Used:

Some poly knit from the remnant bin...about $1.50 for the yard of fabric. The pattern says it's for stretch wovens as well.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I didn't do the side slits because I decided to assemble on the serger. That went really well. I did sew the front ruffle on with the sm. I forgot to do this before joining the shoulder seams though so I had to improvise, luckily it's black!

(I needed a swayback alteration and to alter the dart position next time)

I cut a size 12 until the bust then I graded to a 14 from there.

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

Yes. It is a nice, basic top with a little flair with the ruffle.

Conclusion: 

Really like this and will be wearing it to work tomorrow. It's a great wardrobe builder!