Simplicity 2418

I picked up this pattern several days ago, and have been completely obsessed with it. I've got approximately 14,679,435 other projects in the queue, but this one had to be sewn.

And I'm quite glad I sewed it! It is so much lovelier than I thought it would be, and my expectations were pretty high.

The pattern is quite simple. It is a bias cut tunic with a shoulder yoke. The front shoulders are pleated into the yoke and the neckline forms a small cowl in front, which is hemmed rather than faced.

The back is gathered into the yoke. The yoke is topstiched. The hems are simple narrow hems. The fabric I chose, a silk charmeuse, did make this project a tiny bit more challenging, particularly as the front and back is bias cut. My walking foot was a godsend!  It was still a fairly simple project. Cutting it out was the worst part, construction only took about and hour and a half. Although I think this will be a versatile pattern, it definitely benefits from a fabric with lots of drape. I think it would be spectacular in lawn or voile, georgette or a soft knit (in which I'd cut it on grain rather than on the bias).

The bit of a cowl is particularly nice. It isn't faced, but it does stay in place pretty well. As you can see it is finished with a narrow hem, so there is a chance that the wrong side of your fabric could peek out on occasion. I didn't have this happen much while wearing it, and we took our pictures on quite a windy day. It stayed put surprisingly well.

With this type of sleeve, I always worry about bra coverage. I stitched the side seams as marked on the pattern and the coverage is good.
As far as fit goes, I sewed a size 10 in front and a 12 for the back and yoke, which fits quite well. (ETA: This is my way of doing a cheater broad back adjustment.)  I did not need an FBA, but the cut is generous and the bias cut gives a bit of wiggle room there. I did shorten it by 2 inches as I plan to wear it untucked. Overall, I'm very happy and will definitely be making it again. We'll just add that to the list... First I have some bellbottoms to make!

Simplicity 2526

If you'e been following this blog for more than about five minutes, then you know how dress obsessed my 2 year old daughter is. What you may not know is that she wears multiple different dresses as the day progresses. She loves to dress up, and Logan wants to play along, too. So, he's been asking me to make him a blue dress. This required some thinking. I don't want to stigmatize or restrict creative play, but he is a boy. So, I let him choose some fabric and a pattern. I was so relieved when he chose this one!

So, here is Logan's blue "dress". The fabric he chose is a poly peachskin given to me by my Mom. It's very plastic-y, but totally fine for dress up clothes and should be easy care. It was the devil to sew, though. Part of this was because the pattern is designed for fleece or coating, so this thin, slippery, impossible to ease stuff is pretty much the opposite of that. The pattern is very basic, and in fact I wouldn't use it for an actual coat. It is unlined with a one piece collar with facings to the shoulder. The pattern calls for the collar to be handsewn to the back seam, but I just finished it with bias tape.

I think this is neater and easier to do. Instead of buttons, I used snaps. Logan wanted red, just like Mr. Conductor on Thomas the Train. The other gripe I had with the pattern was the utterly ridiculous amount of ease in the sleeve cap.

After fighting with it, I finally just shifted the sleeve up in the armscye until it fit, then trimmed off the excess. That is nearly an inch wide at the shoulder point! In a child size 4! I'm all for a little cap ease in a heavy, tailored coat, but that is insane.

Here it is on Logan. The funny expression is his current facial response to the request for a smile. Anyway, he's very happy with it, and spent the afternoon dancing in it. I think the sizing is a bit off though. He's generally a pretty standard size 4 in the big 4. If anything I have to shorten them, but while there seems to be enough room in the body, it is quite short both in the arms and the overall length. I took smaller hems, but even as a dress up coat, they're too short and I can't see them working at all for an actual winter coat. When I get ready to sew for the Utah winter next year, I'll definitely be sewing from Ottobre.

Wadderville, Population: Me.

I had really hoped that this would be a wearable muslin, but it is so not wearable!

Too bad, it's a really nice color. I thought things were moving along nicely until it came time to attach the collar and the neckline was not only a bit too large, but also uneven. I think the front band is the problem.

See how weirdly narrow and bizarrely offset it is? I seriously have no idea how it happened, so I think I'm going to have to go back to square one with this shirt.

It isn't a total loss though. We were able to tease the fit a bit better. There is still a little more room at the side seams than Mitch likes, but I think he may need some of that for wearing ease.

It pulls pretty significantly at the shoulder, despite the fact that the yoke is actually just a bit too wide and falls off his shoulder point. I think a more shallow yoke with pleats at the shoulder instead of center back might give him the room he needs.

One thing I really like about this pattern is that you can choose a separate neck size and body size. As you can see from this picture, I should have gone with a smaller neck.
So, in general I like this pattern. It is a nice basic men's shirt, and I think it is a great starting point, but I'm not sure I want to go forward with it. I just got this great Burda pattern with man style princess seams and I think I could get a really great fit with that. Still, I have made really good progress with this Kwik Sew and I think I could get something wearable next run through. What do you think? Wrestle on with the Kwik Sew or try out the new hotness? (Bonus points if you recognize that movie reference.)

Patterns...

Did you get a chance to hit the Burda patterns sale at Hancock's this weekend? They were 2.49!! I know, I was in shock! Good thing they had that 10 pattern limit. Actually, I only got 8, but only because two I wanted were out of stock.

I have been thinking about my crazy pattern collection lately. Myrna posted the other day about how her fabric and pattern collections have started to feel overwhelming, and that really struck a chord with me. My patterns are literally overflowing the six file drawers I have to hold them, and that was before the new additiond. As a result, rather than buying new drawers to fit in new patterns, I'm downsizing. A little. So, check out my newly minted Ebay listings!

I AM all that!

Thanks to Angie, for passing on this fun Meme, originated by Kristine (AKA Beangirl)

And the rules are...

The recipients of this award are asked to answer the following questions, link to whoever awarded them and then pass it on to five, no six people (who they think will actually be willing to answer these totally intrusive and possibly inappropriate questions). Feel free to snag the badge too!

The questions & my answers:
1) What size shoe do you wear? If you wear a size 8*, can I borrow your shoes?
8
* replace this with your shoe size!
2) 30's or 60's?
Can I answer both? Wishy-washy, I know.  Stronger 60s leanings, maybe.
3) Have you ever kissed someone you shouldn't have?
Haven't we all...
4) Have you ever been poisoned? Was it by the girlfriend of the person you kissed?? That is awesomely "Knot's Landing".
That could be a fun story! Alas, no.
5) Who's on your "Celebrity Free Pass" list (top 5)?
While I must disclaim that I don't watch TV and most of the movies I watch are animated, so my selection is severely limited and probably out of date.
1. Colin Firth - the ONLY Mr. Darcy.
2. Orlando Bloom
3. Matthew McConaughay (I always have to Google how to spell that.)
4. Christian Bale
5. Johnny Depp

And the lucky six nominees for my IAAT award are...
1) Mary Nanna from Make It Smirk
2) Pammie from Pammie and the Ps
3) Louiz from Random acts of Yarn
4) Kristine from Just Keep Sewing
5) Mary from Mary is Sew Fast
6) Cindy from Siestas and Sewing