More from Pattydoo! The Nora Coat

Today, I have another Pattydoo review for you!  This time, I made this adorable 'coat'.  My muslin was made from a wool blend plaid and my final garment was made from Telio sweater knit.  

I just love the design lines on this and the fact that the hood is lined.  As with the first pattydoo pattern I tried, the drafting is exceptional.   If you are interested, a link to the pattern is below.

Pattydoo Nora coat

I chose to make my 'coats' more jacket-like with no closures and with a lighter weight fabric.  

So, here is my muslin.  I thought I had matched up the plaid on the front band area, but apparently not!  I didn't have enough fabric to recut, so I am living with it.  You can also see, my band facings are made from a solid black.  In hindsight, I should have cut the black as the piece you'd see on the right side.  

At least my plaids match across the front band area!   You'll notice too that the sleeves are a tad short.  I corrected that on my final garment.  I am hoping this fits DD2.  She's shorter than I am, so this sleeve length is hopefully perfect. 

I really like that the hood is lined on this.  It gives a very nice finish.  There are no printed directions for this and there are videos, but they are in German.  Although, you can see the steps so if you have some experience, you can simply follow along and create this with no issues.

There are also side seam pockets that are very nicely drafted.  I do believe it you lengthened the finished width by about 1/4" or so, you could catch them in the band seam and then they would't flop around at all.

Here you can see those pockets.  I did tack them down to the band at the top and bottom.

Here's my second version.  I used this blush colored Telio sweater knit.  This fabric is so amazing and lucious!  If I can sew about 10 more things without purchasing additional fabric, I am going to treat myself to a few more colors of this sweater knit.  I just love it! 

Here's the inside of the jacket.  No judgement on the sewing room please! You can see the band facing is cut in two pieces. This saves on fabric yardage for sure.

I just love the fit of this.  I lengthened the sleeves by about 2 inches.  With this knit, I did leave the pockets off as I wasn't sure how the fabric would behave with the pockets constructed per the directions. 

I really took my time with this and stabilized the front band area, the shoulders, the back neckband and of course the hemlines.

This might seem a bit weird, but I starched each cut edge prior to sewing together.  I think it made the fabric a bit easier to handle.  

I did edgestitch the facing so it wouldn't roll to the outside.  

The directions have you add a piece of bias to the back neckline, which I forgot to picture.  I highly recommend this step, especially if you are using a knit.  There's a lot of weight on that part of the garment with the two piece and layer hem.

I think I have a new layering piece this winter!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Violet knit jacket by Style Arc.

Winter is rapidly approaching, and I wanted a few cozy pieces to layer up and keep warm.  

On IG, one of my favorite reviewers is @birdy_sew_obsessed.  She recently made this in a textured white and I was instantly in love!!!  Do you know the feeling?  I simply had to make this.  

I ordered this lovely, thick knit from Fabric.com.  The manufacturer is Telio and this is just lucious!  

It's thick, warm, and that texture!  

Since I knew this was exceedlingly big, I sized down one size from my usual SA. 

This pattern is well-drafted and goes together easily.  I made a few mods to the construction to give an overall cleaner finish on the inside. 

Would you just look at that fabric? 

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Patty Doo Zoey Colorblocked top

Today I have for you a casual, colorblocked top by a new-to-me pattern company called Patty Doo.  This company is based in Germany.  I fell in love with this design.  

And, here are the line drawings.  

This pattern is not available in English on Deutsch so I simply printed out the pattern pieces and figured it out.  It isn't difficult at all, as you can probably guess.  

If you are interested, here's a link to purchase the pattern or to look at their other pattern choices.

Zoey pullover

I picked my size based on the very helpful finished measurements chart included.  It's all in CM, so I used a handy calculator to translate that into inches. 

The fabrics I chose were from my stash and leftovers from a previous project and a purchase from the defunct Hancocks.  Am I the only one who is still mourning the loss of Hancocks?

Drafting on this garment is amazing.  Everything fits together beautifully and this sews together like a dream.

I really love this and plan on making more!

Thanks for reading!

Sue 

Another pattern review for Rebecca Page...this time it's for a ladies coat.  Here's the pattern image:

Cute, right? 


From the website, the pattern is described like this:

The Stella coat is a WOW piece… Fully lined and tailored, this adventurous beginner to intermediate level pattern gives you a classically beautiful and flattering garment that can be worn as an extra warm layer or as the hero of your outfit!

Here's my description: This is a slim-fitting coat that fitted in the bust and upper torso.  It flares at the waist line to a dramatic high-low hem skirt.  It's fully lined, has optional welt pockets at the waist, an optional welt pocket at the chest, and an optional back belt.  There's a concealed button asymmetrical button closure at the front.  The lining shows.  

Here's my make: 

I used this orange sheltan wool from Fabric Mart.  I so love this color! 

The lining is from fabric.com and the maker is Telio.  It's a rayon blend and is so lovely! 

This coat has some fun details like the high-low hem and the optional pockets.  I can't imagine making a coat and NOT having pockets.  Where will your keys go?  

When I said this coat is slim fitting, I wasn't kidding.  I feel like it's a tad tight in the upper bodice.  Luckily one of my daughters lives not too far away, and I want her to try this on.  You can also see how the concealed button band lies in this heavy wool.  This probably wasn't the best fabric choice, but sometimes I just like to go big and bold.

The skirt on this is so dramatic! I really do like how the back fits on this.

That all lies really nice.

This coat was a labor of love.  It took time and I am not 100% sold on whether it's right for me.  I may make this again but will need to make some modifications to the pattern.  I felt like the sleeves were a bit small for the armscye.  I should again mention I was a pattern tester and hopefully with the final pattern they adjusted this piece.  If you decide to make this coat, check the pattern measurements and make a muslin.  You'll be glad you did!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

Rebecca Page Sonia Skirt

Hi all,

Yes, I've been sewing.  Sewing up a storm actually, but I've been pattern testing and that takes time and you need to wait for the pattern release in order to post.  

Welp, that day has come!  

I was lucky enough to get to make this adorable skirt.  I love this pattern!  It is a fun and fast make and depending on your fabric choice, you can make this super casual or dressy.  It's up to you!  

I used a fabric from my staff.  This is a crepe in a rich print.  I can't remember where I got it but I suspect it was a Fabric Mart purchase.  This fabric was lovely to sew.  I am now a bit sad I waited so long to stitch it up.

This skirt definitely has a swish factor. 

Those little pockets are really nice too.  I made the midi length.  If I had enough fabric, I would have made it longer but I didn't.  With super swishy skirts like this, they are a bit of fabric hogs.

I love the fit of this straight from the package.  I made zero alterations to it.  I simply matched my measurements to the pattern and it fits perfectly.

I also like the belt loops.  Luckily, I had the black textured belt and it works with this quite well.

See how full this is?  I should also mention that I covered my own buttons for this.  I knew the buttons on this had to be special and covering your own was just the right touch.

My top, is the Itch-to-stitch Bellavista top in the softest knit from Sly Fox Fabrics.

  

I've made this top numerous times and I still plan on more.  How's that for an endorsement?  

But back to the fabric...

I found Sly Foxo online and went ahead and purchased the knit in several colors.  I am so happy with how this fabric looks, performs, and feels, that as soon as I make the four or so tops I plan to with what I have in my stash, that I'll order every available color.  It's amazing!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

StyleArc Sorrento Skirt

Oh my goodness, have you checked out this newish pattern by StyleArc?  

This is so on-trend right now with the midi length and asymmetrical flounces.  This is described as, "On-trend midi length skirt featuring asymmetrical flounces and an elastic waist.  The "A" line shape fall beautifully into a double angled flounce."  

What drew me to this pattern was of course, the flounces!  I am loving this look.  I feel like it's so feminine and flirty.  

This skirt sews up so quickly!  Honestly, it takes longer to narrow hem all those edges than it does to cut this out and sew together.

Use a fabric with excellent drape.  I used a crepe from Fabric Mart.  This is really nice fabric that didn't cost a fortune.

I am a huge fan of elastic waistbands and this one is cut as one piece that's seemed in the center back.  Even though it's elastic waisted, you'd never know.  It still looks polished and nice.

And that DRAPE!  I love my new skirt!

Thanks for reading!

Sue

 

StyleArc Miley Top

Here's a fun little top for you to view today.  This is the Miley Woven top by my beloved StyleArc. Just look at those sleeves!

This went together easily and fairly quickly.  Isn't that just a wondering thing once in a while?

Sorry about the indoor photos but it was raining all day long.  

For this top, I used a silky print from JoAnns.  It feels like a crepe with some of that wonderful spongy quality it can have.  I love the colors for fall!

I made my usual alterations after I flat pattern measured.  This includes adding to the bust curve and then adding the same amount to the area between the shoulder blade and waistline.  That's it.

These sleeves are the highlight of the pattern and the fun part!  You make a casing and attach your longer tie at the top of that casing.  To gather it into soft folds, you pull on that tie and attach it to the lower tie that's attached at the flounce.

The longest part of making this blouse/top is hemming the flounces!

I'll be making this again!

Thanks for reading!

Sue