Kwik Sew 3167

I have a big project that I will be starting soon. I can't reveal all yet, but I'm pretty sure you are going to love it. I know I'm really excited about it! Anyway, if blogging is a little light for a couple of weeks, you know why. Sort of.

In other news, I made panties!

Why haven't I done this before?? This was the easiest thing ever. Both pair took under a half hour and that includes tracing the pattern, making alterations, cutting and sewing. And they are awesome. The pattern I used is Kwik Sew 3167, which includes several different panty styles as well as a camisole, which could even double as a light bra for the young, perky and less endowed. I chose the simplest of the panties, which is sewn from wide stretch lace, so there are no edges to finish and no elastic to apply.

The edges of the stretch lace become the waist and leg openings, which is pretty as well as easy. These panties fit like boy shorts, with a low cut leg opening in front and a sassy rear view. I won't be modeling them for you, as this isn't that sort of blog, but I assure you, the hubby is pleased. And so am I! These things are so smooth under clothing, without binding or pinching anywhere! VPL is a thing of the past. Based on my measurements, I made a size M, then altered the crotch curve, scooping it out just the way I would a pair of close fitting pants. The fit is amazing. I am never buying panties again. Did I mention that I got my lace from Sew Sassy (love that site!) for 2.49 a yard, and it takes 1 1/2 yards to make a pair of panties. That brings my cost to about 3.50 per pair, since I used scrap knit for the crotch lining. Seriously, comparable panties at VS are 12.50!! Sewing is awesome.

Ottobre 06/2011-34 & 01/2009-23

Both of these patterns are reruns, but I ran into some trouble I thought I'd share.

I made this outfit for Logan as a Christmas gift. The top is Ottobre 06/2011-34, which I made here, and the pants are Ottobre 01/2009-23, which I have made 10 times in various sizes. Needless to say, we like this pattern. For this iteration, I used a poly velour from Fabric Mart for the shirt as well as to line the pants. He has a velour raglan top made for him by his Oma that he wears all the time, but which is showing it's age. I used sueded cotton twill from Fabric.com for the pants outer.

Oma's version has a cool zombie embroidered on it, but since I don't have an embroidery machine, I picked up two Cars patches from Joann and stitched them on. Cute, huh? This was not where I had trouble though. The trouble came when I attached the neckband. This velour has less stretch than the rib knit I used the last time I made this top, so I made the neckband a smidge longer to compensate. It would have been fine, except that this velour curled like no jersey I have ever seen, and when I tried to stretch it to stitch it to the neckline, it curled away from the serger and out of range of the needles. Add to that that my serger has been misbehaving lately and you have a recipe for disaster. Three different neckbands, four broken needles, some basting and a bit of swearing later, it actually looks pretty good. What I learned was that if you have a jersey that curls like a mad fiend, basting the edges together with a zigzag stitch before you serge will tame the curlies. Word to the wise. The cuffs look much better. I basted them.

The pants have some decorative twill tape at the back pocket openings. Mom brought this home from Expo a couple of years ago and I have been awaiting the "perfect" project. I'm not sure this is perfect, but it was about to become To Good To Use, and we can't have that. I think it's a cute touch and it coordinates nicely with the top.

Simplicity 2520

I'm still in a bit of a knit top mode. I mentioned in my last post that I had this thin jersey that I had originally pegged for the Kwik Sew top. Idecided it was too thin for that, but I think it's perfect for this.

This pattern is Simplicity 2520. When I originally purchased this pattern, it was for this knit top. It has interesting lines, and I'm a sucker for an interesting knit top pattern. Somehow, I just never found the perfect fabric for it until now, although I did make the gored skirt from the pattern. But the top - I love the design. It is a mock turtleneck which forms a yoke into which the upper bodice is pleated.

Here are the pleats. You can see the fabric a little better in this shot as well. It is a very thin poly/cotton jersey with a soft gold finish. I think it's perfect for the holidays! Anyway, you can also see that this is quite a snug neckline. The pattern calls for a zipper at center back through the yoke section only. In a firmer, sturdier knit, I think this would be necessary to get the top over your head, but this fabric has about 110% stretch and is very light. A zipper would have weighed down the back and caused ripples, so it is fortunate that I can (just!) get it over my head without it.

As is typical for the Big 4, this pattern has plenty of ease! I cut a straight size 10, although my upper bust puts me in a 12, and my full bust is a 14. Based on the finished pattern measurements printed on the tissue, I went ahead an skipped the FBA, thinking I would prefer the top to have a bit of negative ease. It doesn't, although I do fill out the pleats.

I also really like the sleeve on this top. It is a raglan style, gathered into elastic at the hem, which hits me just past elbow length. The elastic gives my fine jersey a bit of weight, which helps the sleeve hang well. Over all, I am quite pleased with this top, and I'm glad that I chose to use it for this fabric. I definitely think this pattern benefits from a very stretchy, lightweight knit.

Kwik Sew 3694

In the interest of sparking a little sewing mojo, I went hunting for a quick and easy knit top pattern. The last time Kwik Sew went on sale, I picked up 3694 on a whim.

You can't get much more quick and easy than this - 3 pattern pieces and only a couple of seams. The only tricky part was the layout. Since the pieces are asymmetrical, you have to lay them out in a single layer on 60 inch wide fabric. You do need the width, too. This pattern is a serious fabric hog!

The front and back pattern pieces differ only in the neckline, so all the seams are the same - no easing, just sew. I chose to make the small size, even though the pattern measurements put me squarely in the medium size range. I was going for a somewhat closer fit than the envelope models.

The casing on the side is formed with the seam allowances of the side seam, which are stitched down on either side and a self fabric spaghetti strap is laced through the casings and drawn up to gather the side. I bound the neckline with my coverstitch machine, so I didn't use the facing strip included in the pattern.

The fabric is used is a rib knit from fabric.com. It was originally a creme color, but I accidentally washed it with some bright red yardage, so now it is a pinkish tie dye. Oops. I used it as a wearable muslin of sorts, since I wasn't sure about the style. I really like it, but now I'm not sure that I want to use the fabric I had initially paired it with. It is a very fine jersey with a soft gold finish. It's very drapey, which is so different from this firm rib knit. I'm not sure I'll like it as well, but I do have a couple of interlocks I think would be awesome.

Twirly, sparkly and pink

I'm still feeling a little scattered sewing-wise. I've pulled dozens of patterns and pieces of fabric, only to put them all back because I just can't seem to make a decision. Nothing seemed just right, until I spotted this remnant of embroidered batiste that my Mom sent me.

Isn't it fabulous??  Mom used it to make this skirt, and then sent me what was left.

There were only a few small rectangles of fabric, but it was just enough for a twirly skirt for Myra.

For some OTT girliness, I added a ruffled underskirt. Pink of course, made from some hot pink voile I got in a mystery bundle from Fabric Mart.

I didn't use a pattern - it's just rectangles sewn together and gathered a bit, but this tutorial will give you a similar effect.

Happy Twirling!