Jalie Guest Blogger

Guess who was a Jalie guest blogger today? Oh yea, ME! I used Jalie 3022 to make this really cute pair of shorts. Here’s a link to the actual post on the Jalie site. I actually have another pair of these all cut out and ready to go. This time, though, they are for swim shorts.

Kwik Sew 3453 - Running Vest

This is an old KwikSew pattern that is long OOP. I’ve made this running vest before with the zipper down the front. This time though, I made it with just a small neck/front zipper. I wanted something that would layer under my windproof jacket on these chilly days we’ve been having lately. This is a wicking Merino wool. I didn’t take it off after these photos. It was so warm and snuggly. This is the size small. I didn’t make any changes except to add an inch above the bust (while leaving the armholes alone).

 

I made View B.

 

Some pooling in the back but I didn’t want to add a center seam for a swayback adjustment and it’s not too bad. Oh, I lied, I also added an inch to the CB so the back hem was a bit curved. The pattern has you making it straight across on the front and back.

 

This, by the way, is what most of my pictures look like from yesterday. My remote battery must be running low on juice so I was trying to do the shots from the timed option. You know, the “fiddle with camera, push button, run for your place, hope for the best” method.

 

The colors outside are really washed out. This is the true color of this knit. I used a hot pink knit for the trim.

 

One cool design feature of this vest is that the back wraps over to the front giving you an opportunity to embellish a little bit. I choose to do a faux-piping in the seam.

 

I hate the way the black interfacing is so visible.

 

Here you can see the wicking part of the knit and the thick pink knit I used for the edges. This is the same knit I used on that Ottobre dress the other day.

 

I think I’m making another Ottobre dress in the near future. This time it’s for a kid, not me!

Another Ottobre 02-2016 #7

I had to do it again because I knew this little pattern had potential! I LOVE this version!!!! Here’s my first version of this dress.

 

I did all the things I said I would do. I lengthed the skirt by 4” (four inches!!!!), I took in the waist area about an inch on each side, and I fixed the swayback issue. I absolutely love it. (And, oh yea, I wear glasses too, although I think they have never appeared on my blog. I’ve worn glasses/contacts since the 3rd grade. I’m blind as a bat that cannot echolocate.)

 

The back looks much better. I did an inch swayback adjustment on the back.

 

The color of the top is actually a hot pink, not read. Wow, my skin is so white. We are just starting to get some sun again!!

 

I still love, love, love, love this bodice. You could add a circle skirt to the bottom of this too and it would be super cute.

 

I took about 3/4” of an inch off the sides of the bodice at the waist.

 

I took the skirt in about a 1/2” at the waist and I added four inches to the bottom hem (This girl likes a short skirt too). I ended up taking the hem in another 1.5” before I hemmed it to give it a more pegged look.

 

This is my super easy swayback adjustment. I don’t know why I didn’t start doing this years ago.

 

What do you guys think??? I LOVE it!!!! I love the fit of this skirt so much, I may just make a few of these with elastic at the waist to wear with other tops.

Ottobre 02-2016 #7 Knit Dress (plus another Jalie cardigan!)

This cute little dress is from the latest Ottobre Women’s Magazine. I’m sad to say that there isn’t much in that magazine that I love. This dress is really cute and there is a spagetti-strap peplum tank that I like too. Other than that, I’m just meh on this collection. I do like the two looser t-shirts too, I guess. You can look at the whole thing here. I REALLY liked the clothes in the last women’s edition so I’ll just keep sewing out of that one. :) Yowza, this baby is short. This is with me just taking a tiny hem too. Tall people beware!


It has released pleats at the shoulder and waist. There are two skirt darts on the front and back for shaping.


I really like how the bodice turned out. You can see a tiny bit of pulling from the center where I had to tack down the cross-over. That baby was definitely just a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. Maybe I should tack it half an inch lower to help with the pulling. 


I should have done a swayback adjustment on this. A pretty significant one to look at the picture! I did add my normal 1” above the bust on the front and back.


I made the size 34 and it looks like I could have given myself a smidge more room for my butt. I did end up taking it in just above and below the elastic in the waist.


Even though it’s short, I’ll wear this with tights and a cardigan to work. I made a new Jalie cocoon cardigan to go with it. This cardigan is made from a very fine weave sweater knit from Girl Charlee.


It had great drape. I love this cardigan. It’ll be great with a white tank, blue jeans, and boots too.


I can put the belt underneath or on top of the cardigan. I think I prefer it the other way, with the belt under the cardigan.


This Ottobre pattern also comes with a “jumpsuit” version with shorts on the bottom. I’ve never been a jumpsuit kinda girl and I’m not going to start now.


A close-up of the knit so you can see how fine it is.


I think I’ll make this again, add the swayback adjustment, and add about 3 inches to the length.


Here’s where I sewed one side over the other. You can barely see it in real life.


The back bodice has darts all over. There are two in the neck and two at the waist. I probably wouldn’t try this with a lightweight knit. You need something that will take the darts and pleats. I used a double knit from FabricMart.com. 

I have no idea what I’m making next! I guess you’ll know when I know!

Jalie 2806–Fourth Top

I promise, fourth and final top. This is the gathered top again. This is a chunky, thick knit that is super cozy. Of my four versions, this is least favorite, although I really like it still. I’m not going to spend too much time talking about this top since this is the fourth, yes fourth!, one of these tops I’ve posted recently.

 

For some reason, it seems shorter though it’s not.

 

And this shot makes me look like I have no waist. Oh well on the picture, I’m still really digging my new haircut. I love the waves and the shorter length.

I will wear these four Jalie tops a lot with my Eleonore jeans. I need more pairs of Eleonore in solid colors!

Jalie 2806–Round Three

Okay, sorry, I know I’m starting to get repetitive. That’s how I roll, though, folks. *sorrynotsorry* I’m still obsessing about Jalie 2806. This is the drape top again and I love it more than the pumpkin boob drape top (I still wear said pumpkin-boob top- I kind of love it actually). But how much fun is this top in animal skin, scale print? 

 

You know me, I can’t say no to a good animal print. This is the original length but I did add the optional hem band.

 

I am getting some wrinkles above the bust but they aren’t that bad. I went back and looked and I have them on each version of this top.

 

These are my Eleonore jeans again. Love these things!

I have one more Jalie top to show you, and yes *hangs head*, it’s the same damn pattern. You know when you can’t get enough? Yea, that’s Jalie to me . . .

Jalie 3461–Another Pair of Eleonore Jeans!

People, it is feeling decidedly springy around here. I found this stretchy denim at Girl Charlle (Boo! It looks like there is only one yard left!) and knew it was destined to be these Eleonore pants. It has about 30% stretch in a beefy denim so they are super comfortable.

 

I went simple on the topstitching and pockets because I didn’t want them to be too much with this crazy fabric.

 

I did narrow the legs like all my other pairs and made them into skinny jeans.

 

I took extra time and serged the seams on the lower half of the legs so when I roll them up, they look decorative. I should have taken a picture, but I used bright orange serger thread to finish everything.

 

I used the same elastic treatment as this pair when I made the back elastic about an inch smaller than the back panel. This stops any swayback-ed-ness.

 

Hahahahaha, can you see any details?

 

I’m not sure if floral pants are in right now, but I love these!

 

I went simple with the back pocket and just used my coverstitch machine.

I have another two Jalie tops to show you and maybe an Ottobre dress (that one is in progress).