KwikSew 3561–Simple Knit Dress

This is one of the patterns I bought for $0.10. I didn’t really need it, because I can use my Jalie t-shirt, but it’s fun to see how things compare. This is a “Kwik and Easy” pattern so it’s really easy. This version is the long-sleeved, boatneck, long dress. I have also made the shorter version and wooo-weeeee is it short. I’ll take pictures of that one too.

 

It fits well, but it certainly has more ease than my Jalie pattern. I’m not surprised by that at all. I often pinch out a half inch or so in the CF and CB of a Kwik Sew pattern. Their smallest size is an XS and I make a S. If I make the XS, the other measurements seem to be out of whack, like the vertical distance between bust, waist, and hips. Overall, I like it. It’s a cute and (very!!) easy pattern. But, you can also just make one of these out of your favorite t-shirt pattern.

 

You can see this is a bit sloppy in the back. The belt helps hold it in. The fabric is a rayon blend and it’s so comfortable (bought at National City Swap Meet). It’s kind of like wearing secret pajamas.  

 

I probable could have made the neckline binding just a bit more snug.

 

Overall, it’s a win, but I like my Jalie t-shirt dresses more . . . maybe? (Jalie dress number 1, and number 2). This would be better with a bit pinched out of the CF and CB.

Ottobre Shift – 02/2017 #19

Oh my goodness! Look! A real picture with a real camera! I still haven’t found a great place in my house to photograph clothes, but I’m working on it. So far, this is my favorite spot. However, it gets a crazy amount of direct sun. I wish I had a spot that was bright, but flitered. My windows are crazy-tall too so there is no covering them with something while I take pictures.


I made a knit dress from the latest Ottobre Women’s magazine. I made my typical size 34. I added my typical inch above the bust (without altering the armholes).  I think it’s okay but I’m not in love with it. I do love this fabric though. It’s an ITY from the National City Swap Meet (shocker!). It’s a very simple dress. The front is a tank with a faced soft v-neck.


The back has a tiny cowl at the neck. I wish the cowl were bigger because I feel like people might just think I don’t know how to sew clothing. I want it to be like, BAM, cowl neck in back. A cowl ON PURPOSE, not a mistake.


Of course pooling the back because, swayback.


I do like it and think it’ll be a cute little run-around dress or nice with a cardigan come spring.


I also made that cozy, long sweatshirt from the same issue but need to take pictures of it. Hope everyone is doing well. Things are getting hung up, put away, and situated in our little castle.

KwikSew 3770–Leggings

I bought this pattern for $0.10. Yes, you read that correctly. In September, I came across a great deal on Kwik Sew patterns. So far, I’ve only been able to have a little sewing time since then. We moved in November and sold our house. I can’t believe how much stuff we have. I STILL have boxes that need to be unpacked. I did a ton of purging too. But with six people and a dog, well, there is still a ton of stuff. Anyway, I was finally able to make this pattern and I love it. I made the ruched tights on the right. I find that KwikSew patterns are a little big for me. I started with the size Small. Then, I folded out a 1/2” (this is a one-piece legging) from the waist to the ankle to decrease the width. They fit nicely.

 

You can see they are rather high up on my waist but I like that in a pair of leggings. I would always wear these with a tunic or dress. The fabric is this amazing, buttery, soft, four-way stretch material. It feels like a cotton blend, but I’m pretty sure it’s a poly with Lycra.They are soooooo cozy. 

To get the ruched leg, you take a piece of very stretched elastic and sew it to the fabric. On the inner leg, there is a seam. On the outer leg, you just mark the top and bottom of the placement for the elastic. I like the ruching at the bottom, it gives it a little bit more if I’m just running around in my sneakers, but it is also invisible if I wear knee high boots.

I have another Ottobre to show you and another KwikSew pattern. I really need to find my “photo spot” in my new house. I want to find a place that gets lots of natural light, does not have tons of clutter, and has space in front of it for a tripod. Ideally, it wouldn’t have a stupid outlet in the frame either, but I’m not sure how picky I can get. This house is big, but has a TON of windows. Taking a picture in front of a window wouldn’t work either.

Ottobre 01-2017 #25 Woven Skirt

I decided to make two of these this weekend for the lanky twins. I used a light denim for the top and two different wovens for the bottom. I find that I’m doing more woven projects with my new machine because I enjoy sewing with it. I’m really loving it and the automatic buttonholes ROCK!

 

Here is version #1. This is a remnant of a liberty print on the bottom. I used it to make a cute top a year ago or so. It has elastic casing in the top and a mock button placket.

 

How pretty is the stitching? And my buttonholes, *swoon*.

 

I used a fun decorative stitch for topstitching.

 

Version #2 – This is using a cotton voile on the bottom. 

 

I used a different decorative stitch for this skirt.

 

I love how the inside looks as nice as the outside.

I just got my Ottobre Woman’s magazine this weekend so watch for the slouchy hooded sweatshirt!!!

Newest Ottobre Preview is up!

And I love so much in here! These are my favorites. Here’s the main Ottobre site where you can see the model photos too.

I LOVE this big, slouchy sweatshirt tunic. I love these pockets too. They are a lot like the Heather dress I just made. I love this wrap around hood too. I could live in something like this. Well, if I didn’t have to work every day. Ugh. I guess I can live in it on the weekends?

 

Cute leggings with an ankle zipper detail. I have made a couple pairs of Ottobre leggings and they fit me well with a few alterations. Mostly it’s their high front rise and my short legs (compared to their drafting) that must be altered. I’m curious what the back looks like.

 

Cute top with front ruching detail.

 

Simple knit dress with a little cowl in the back. I love dresses like this when I travel. They are easy to pack and can go with everything.

 

Cute t-shirt dress. I usually make these out of my Jalie 2805 top but it’s fun to experiment too.

 

I have some chambray that may need to be made into this dress. I love the stitching and the placket details. Also my new Viking makes automatic buttonholes and I haven’t really done them before.

 

Another cute knit dress pattern. This would be great for traveling with a couple of cardigans.

 

I think this coat could be cute. I really like the pockets and I think the shape is cute with the fabric ties.

 

I may or may not like this. I usually wear clothes that are a bit more fitted. This would be fun in the summer though.

 

And who can resist a bomber jacket? This would be great over a bunch of those dresses.

Ottobre 04-2016 #30 Long Knit Tunic

I have a girly who is a tights and tunics kind of girl. She loves her sweatshirts and her cozy clothes. She occasionally likes to dress up, but mostly it is casual knits. When I saw these cozy tunics, I thought of her immediately and knew she needed them.

 

I used a Merino wool as the main fabric. I love this fabric in theory but every time I use it, it looks like pajamas. I have an adult t-shirt made out of this fabric and I don’t really love it either. I don’t know what it is. Maybe I just haven’t found the perfect pairing for it? In any case, the “pajama-ness” of this pattern doesn’t really help. So I’m not in love with this, but the girl is so that’s okay.

 

I appliqued wool leaves to this in the hopes that it would be cute. Instead, siiiigh. I just don’t love it. I should have use several different colors of felt like they did in Ottobre.

 

I used my new Viking and decorative stitching to make the raglan seams pop. I DO love this detail so that’s a win!

 

The stitches are literally perfect until . . . You know on a “normal” machine (one that is not perfect and shiny and new) you sometimes have to help the fabric run through the machine? Well, this is what it looks like when I was “helping”. Note to self: don’t help the machine. The machine knows what the hell it is doing. Leave it alone and let it do its business. I do this automatically so I really have to remind myself not to help it feed through the new Viking.

 

She loves it and wore it with her leggings. She is also proud because she knit this hat!! Like she knit it with no help from me because I do not do that. It would be like me playing basketball. It’s not pretty.

 

I love the pop of red with the light teal. She loves it because it is (literally) like wearing pajamas to school.

Next up? Some secret sewing that I’ll be able to share with you in a month or two!!!