StyleArc Michelle Tunic

I am continuing my love affair with StyleArc and this Michelle, or Kaftan suitable for woven fabric, didn't disappoint me!  Is it because of my lovely fabric that I purchased from Emma One Sock? Maybe, or perhaps it's just that I wanted a breezy top for the remainder of summer and this is perfect.


So here's my version:

So, obviously there are some noticeable differences from the line drawings. :)  

The sleeves!  These are straight up from the pattern, just as drafted.  I'm 5'7" and typically with StyleArc, the sleeves are just perfect but not these!  

I knew they would be shorter, and I really like the length, so I'm not disappointed at all.  Just beware if you print this off as a PDF from Etsy, you may need to alter the length.  

Let's look at the neckline for a moment, shall we?  

On the pattern, the neckline is a mere slit.  To get mine to look like the pattern drawing, I redrew it to more of a keyhole using my french curve and a washable fabric marker.  After checking it three or four times, I finally was happy and sewed it.  I like it this way!  

Oh, I have such a goofy smile on my face!  The sleeve cap is very easy to set in.  In fact, if you didn't put the side slits in, you could sew the sleeves in flat and then stitch the side seams.  

One thing the pattern drawing doesn't show is the button and loop closure at the neckline.  I just made a self-fabric loop, sewed it in between the facing and the top so it is nice and neat.  The button, which is square and pearly is from my stash.  

Another alteration I had was to lengthen the body of the tunic by 2 inches.  Had I not done this, it would have been much too short to wear with the white leggings that I love so much!  

Thanks for reading!  

Sue 

Jalie's new Eleonore Jean! Oh, it's love!

I wore my brand new jeans from Jalie today and the pattern is the Eleonore and it's love for me!


This is a new, hot off the press pattern that I scooped up as soon as I saw Cabin Baby

 

                                                               and Deepika's


versions on SPR...they are SO CUTE!!!

I had to make a pair of my own and here is mine!  

Normally I don't like full-on butt shots, but I wanted you to see how they fit.  The crotch curve is just perfect and the back yoke and pockets are very jean like styling. 

The floral stretch woven is from Hancock's...I had planned on making a summer dress with it but quickly changed my mind...

One very important piece of making this pattern work is to check the amount of stretch in your fabric. Too little and these won't fit, too much and they will be a baggy mess.  Your fabric must be a light or medium weight stretch twill or denim with at least 20% stretch on the cross grain.  Use the guide to check...

Determining your size is rather straight forward.  You need your hip and waist measurements.  I made a straight up size V for a 40" hips and I think the fit is spot on!  I made ZERO alterations to this pattern fit wise and am over the moon about this pattern!

I know it's hard to see the details with the busy print I used but they are pretty much put together like a regular pair of jeans although the fly is an illusion and there is an elastic waistband, not a zipper or button and no belt loops.

The directions for these are VERY GOOD and COMPLETE!  I wanted to follow them exactly and did!  I should get a gold star for that, since I am such a sewing rebel and want to do things my own way!

Sorry about the wrinkles, I wore these all morning and out to lunch.  They aren't pulling at all, so it is simply annoying wrinkles in the fabric.

I LOVE my new Eleonore's and already have another pair waiting to be cut out.  Sewing is fast and simple.  I am predicting this pattern will be a favorite among seamstresses everywhere!  What are you waiting for?  Purchase this pattern and go forth and make pants!

Thanks for reading!
Sue

Jalie Dolman, take 2...

Remember my disaster with the crappy-ass fabric from Joann's on my Jalie Dolman top?  If you need a reminder, here it is....I really like the look of the fabric just not the function of how it performed, especially after wearing it only a few hours...it literally started falling apart all over the place despite careful sewing!!!  Argh....but I digress...sorry about that!



Well, I HAD. TO. MAKE. ANOTHER. ONE because the pattern is so amazingly awesome!!!


So, I found two fabrics from my stash, combined them and well, here is what you get:

 Aren't my flowers pretty?  This is the first year the Astible's have done so well and I just love them!  Perfect for the shady part of my side yard where I tend to take quite a few of my photos.

Maybe combining fabrics isn't for you, but I didn't have enough of the print or the stripes, and by themselves those stripes may have caused someone to have a seizure....

The print is from a top that I never liked the fit of and didn't want to take apart and rework. 

How on earth did I think this top fit when I was done with it?  

In a moment of utmost clarity, I simply cut the shirt apart at the seam lines and had a few pieces I thought might work for the total front of this Jalie Dolman top, but....sometimes I am so spatially impaired I can't visualize if a piece of cut fabric is enough, or not...

 Obviously I didn't have a piece big enough to fit the entire front or back so I did the next best idea I had and that was to play around with placement of the print against the bold black/white stripe.  And with so many summer top patterns that focus on the back, I decided to go with that idea...

See what I mean about possibly causing a seizure or migraine?  Not that I don't like stripes, I've made many striped garments but when you talk about black/white stripe it just seems sort of harsh, at least to me anyway and I wanted to do something to break it up.  I also used the print at the neckline and I love how it looks with the stripe.  

The stripe is a ponte from my stash from a disastrous Burda Style magazine top that I hated so much I wondered if it was fair to put in the Goodwill bag.  :)

I do hope someone else will love it, or cut it up to use for a dog/car-washing towel.  (hehe...)

This time I had enough fabric to make the back as long as it is supposed to be and my cover stitch worked beautifully on that hemline!  I start to smile when I think about using that once-thought-of- beast in my sewing room!  

This top is a winner for me and I've already worn it today and felt comfortable and stylish!  That's okay to say about your own makes, right?  

You'll see more versions of this top down the road!!!

Thanks for reading and have you remade any garments that you disliked into a love? 

If so, please share!

Sue :)  

A new dress! Oh, I love it! McCall's7092

Ever work on a garment and think it is special?

Is it the fabric, the quality of the fabric, the pattern?

Or is the perfect convergence of pattern, fit, and fabric?

Either way, I feel like I won life with this dress!

But, let's digress for just a moment...I didn't come up with the perfect pattern for this dress all by myself...

I purchased this DROP DEAD FREAKING GORGEOUS NEOPRENE FABRIC from Gorgeous Fabrics and it is BEYOND Gorgeous!

Ann, from GF, suggested this pattern for the fabric and SHE NAILED IT!  Sorry about so many caps but dang, it's perfect!!!

I used McCall's 7092, made view B as a dress with the length of C and the green contrast knit was from my stash.

I was just a bit worried as I read reviews of this pattern about how thick the bodice gets with all the layers but honestly, sew slowly and you will be just fine.  I used a size 11 Stretch needle, took my time but the entire dress took about three hours to create and I used my cover stitch to hem the sleeves and skirt.  Super easy, great results, all the fitting adjustments are built into the pattern with lines and all you need to do is follow the directions for super-de-duper results!

Also, this isn't a fabric hog like some patterns are.  I purchased two yards and have scraps left that I can't decide if I should keep or not.  When I have a pretty fabric I really love, it is hard for me to part with the scraps!

I love my new dress and can't wait to wear it!


Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Sue

June's forgotten garments and a new Jalie top!

How could I have forgotten to include Kwik Sew 3703 and from the same fabric for June's wrap up? 

McCall's 7064?  My fav of the two is the Kwik Sew tunic!

Onto July sewing!  I received Jalie Dolman top pattern--3352--in the mail and made it up the next day!  It's super easy, fun, and stylish!  Who knew you could get all that in one package?

You can make it casual or dressier, depending on the fabric you choose!  I had to go to Joann's and pick up a spool of thread and low and behold, I saw this fabric--a BIG voice in my head screamed WARNING!!!!  THIS IS JOANN'S and her fabric tends to be well, crap!  Yes, I know, but I reasoned that recently DD1 said things have been much better and she's purchased some fabric that was actually nice.  Hmmm....it is pretty, and it's a knit, and it's 50% off so well....next thing I remember is that I am cutting out this top.

First of all, let's talk about how FREAKING AWESOME this pattern is!  The newer Jalie's have color-coded lines to cut out the sizes.  So easy!  So well drafted!  This is my fit straight from the envelope and I cut a V for a bust of 37:

Not bad!  I do think I need an FBA andI just realized I didn't take a photo of the back!  I liked how it fit.

Directions are straight forward, easy to follow, and great visuals!  Although let's face it, this is a super simple top and if you've sewn a tee before, you don't even need the directions.  A beginner could stitch this up with success!  Jalie also tells you have to create this top if you don't have a serger.

I choose to make a neckband and the directions are very good for this step as well.  I made a silly mistake and put the neckband seam at the center FRONT, not the BACK where it belongs.  That's what I get for sipping a glass of wine while sewing--in other words, don't do it!  Now I could pick it apart and resew, but honestly this fabric isn't worth it.  I'll make another.  I didn't even notice I had sewn the neckband on incorrectly until I had it on and wondered why the front neckline felt 'heavy'.

Chalk that up to a mistake to never make again!!!

I also didn't notice the fabric was only 45" wide.  Who does that with a knit?  I purchased 1.5 yards and had to cut the back a little shorter to accommodate the pattern pieces.

I used my serger and coverstitch and this came together in about an hour.  I did topstitch the neckband after applying it, according to the pattern directions.

Love, love, love the pattern and will make more!  Just avoid crappy fabric.  It isn't worth it!!!

Thanks for reading!
Sue

June Wrap up!

Where has summer gone?  I know it is only technically almost 1/2 over, but still!  I had so many grand plans and my house painting is sucking so much of my time, but that's another story!

I was productive this month!  Yay!  I have a few things I'd like to make but at this point, I've decided it is best to make the two remaining summer dresses I m-u-s-t create and perhaps another pair of cropped leggings or two and then I need to seriously think about late summer/early fall things.  Do you know how hard it was to type that???

Here's what I made:

2 of these tops cuz from McCall's 7093 and why not?

This tunic from my all time favorite McCall's 7122 pattern!!!

And of course, leggings from the same pattern cuz it's just that awesome!

You know, those legs aren't bad for a 52 year old!!!

This top from Sewaholic Alma is my least favorite make of the month, although that COLOR!!!

Then I did this from Thread Theory Design for all these dapper dudes:



And this little number from Kwik Sew, which BTW is my favorite of the month!

 

I still have a dress from McCall's 7092 that I've made but haven't posted yet, so watch for that soon! And the drop dead gorgeous fabric I used!!!  Squeel!

Oh yes, I almost forgot....how am I doing on those goals I set in January?

Here they are: 

1.  Continue to work on bra making--haven't done anything with this....

2.  Continue to work on pants and fitting--this I have been working on but need to continue.  If only my weight would stay the exact same and I would continue to work out as much as I need to keep everything as is!

3.  Perfect the FBA--I must say that I have really been working on this and even took a Craftsy Class on adjusting the bust.  What a help!!!

4.  Try more specialty fabrics--which yes, I have been working on this but need to continue.  Neoprene is not nearly as scary as I thought it would be and actually sews up really well!

5.  Finish quilts...still working on these....this one may continue until 16.  :)  

I hope your sewing is going well and you are having some fun creating unique and fun garments for yourself and those you love!  

Sue