Finished Item - Simplicity 2594

I work as a chemist. I love my career and I love my job. However, I have a thing for clothes and shoes. I like having pretty things even though I am not a girly-girl. Now, working as a chemist means that I have to be covered at work. My current job is at a forensic engineering firm. THIS means that each day is different. I have found myself at my desk doing paperwork all day and I have found myself donning hard hat, Carhartt's, and steel toed boots while standing in a ditch, in the rain.

In other words, dressing pretty isn't that much of an option. My work "uniform" includes one of my three pair of pants in black, grey and tan. I have sweaters and cardigans that I wear most days. So part of my excitement to learn to sew was to make blouses and shirts that I could wear. This way I could branch out while still being comfortable and ready for anything at work.

Simplicity 2594 has been cut already in view C...but in a charmeuse. Oy vey! I'm going to save that for a day when I'm fresh and ready to sew. I had a hard time with the fabric and couldn't get the freezer paper to help.

I bought this gingham fabric on my last trip to SR Harris and I thought that, with it being 60" fabric that I could easily make a shirt with 1 1/4 yard. I couldn't find anything in my stash that worked besides view B of this pattern.

I. LOVE. THIS.

The yoke instructions were confusing. But there are a ton of pattern reviews on it and of course, some helpful hints. I'll use them next time. I winged it and it worked out fine. The shoulder pleat detail is really cute.

I was DETERMINED to wear this shirt today as I saw it coming together last night :)

My goofy kid in the background

The back. You can't even tell that I did something weird to the yoke. It looks fine.

A close up of the fabric. I think the pics make it hard to see that it's a lovely little gingham.


Pattern Sizing:
8-14. I cut view B in a 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 except for the yoke 

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love this top. If you're tall, you'll probably need to lengthen it

Fabric Used:
a woven that I assume is a cotton or poly blend 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I had to wing the yoke. And it was a little too boxy so I took in the side seams a bit more. Also, I used heat n bond strips on the sleeves then top stitched. 


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

Conclusion: 
Super cute. I finished it this morning and am wearing it today!

My First Pattern - Butterick 5610

I bought some broadcloth -- yes, it's thinner than I thought -- but there are so many cool colors!!! :) It's a cheery yellow and I plan to make Butterick B5610, version D (the green one) with it! I might need to wear a cami under it but that's okay. It'll be something that I made!!!

I followed the rules and prewashed my fabric - YAY!  I did not press my fabric (it was fairly wrinkle free), nor did I press my pattern sheets. Now, cutting pattern tissue paper is a sad thing. I just wanted it to be over already. Luckily, this version of the pattern has 4 pieces (plus the guide for the elastic), all cut on the fold. There's two facing pieces for the neckline, the front and the back.  I decided I don't like cutting around the pattern so I tested my water soluble marker on a small piece of fabric to see how soluble the ink was. When I saw that it washed out easily and completely, I traced out the entire thing onto the fabric, removed the pattern piece, then cut it out.

Next up, sewing the pleats. Boy. Oh. Boy. The pleats.

This is a case of overthinking. I had my daughter and husband both look at the diagram and the shirt to help me figure it out. When I stopped thinking about it and did what made sense, it worked out fine.

When I switched to sewing the bottom pleats, I accidentally flipped my fabric and had sewn on the wrong side. I had to rip those seams out and redo them. We live and learn, right??

After sewing the pleats, I washed the front piece because the pink marker was making me sad. All of the water soluble marker washed away. I didn't use any soap, I just did a rinse cycle and a quick tumble dry. The pleats are done well, not perfect, but I'm pleased with my progress. I still need to press them so...

Now, about this puckering, I don't know if it's an issue with my stitch width, length, tension, etc. I have to research that a bit, after I press out the pleats and see how bad it is.

Tomorrow, I'll finish it up. Facings need to be cut and sewn, then put it all together, add elastic and then hopefully model my new shirt! :)