Mini-Wardrobe Contest

Well, another one is starting on August 1st at PatternReview.com. The rules are interesting:


3 different types of clothing (skirt, dress, pants, etc.)
3 colors
4 distinct outfits for the outcome


Here is what I am thinking so far. The two purple tops would go with the skirt and both could go over the dress. I am not sure I really like BWOF 07/08. I may have to go back through and find a different jacket; maybe something more fitted and structured (any suggestions??)? It is this fabric from Gorgeous Fabrics. She has the best stuff. The skirt would be black crepe I have in my stash. The leopard print is a stretch sateen I have already. The sweater knit is coming from Gorgeous Fabrics too. I think the purple sweater would look great over the dress and the necklines would work well together. I always screw up on the necklines. This time I made sure to keep that in mind while I was choosing patterns.




Well?

Burda 07-2008-116 Empire Top

You can tell that I should have done an SBA on this top. It is pretty baggy up on the top.

Perfect shoulder fit! And these sleeves are not restrictive. I was worried after reading Christina's post about the other BWOF top but this one is fine.


I chose to line the inside rather than mess with facings and binding the armholes. Make two bodices, hem the sleeves, attach them to the fashion fabric, sew neck edges right sides together, sew arm edges together (make sure sleeves are the correct way when you do this), turn right sides out and then sew side seams in one continuous loop. Grade, clip, press, press, press, and move on.


There are two sets of drawstrings. One goes in the right, across the front and back and outside the right side. The other drawstring goes in the left, around the body, and back out the left.


Super cute cottom eyelet lawn from my favorite fabric boutique. It used to be Three Sisters but it merged with another store and they are both called Seams Like Home now.

This is the review from PatternReview.com:

Pattern Description: Nothing looks so fresh in summer as a crisp white blouse! Our trendy, tunic-styled version sports a typical empire waist with drawstrings dangling at the sides.

Sizing: 34-44. I made a size 36.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it looks like both the line drawing and the model photo. Well, mostly. I don't have a huge white hat but yes very similar.

Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn't look at them much. I had to change the order of construction because I chose to line the bodice rather than use facings and bias arm finish. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?It is a really easy top to make, even with the lining. In fact lining it probably made it easier than messing with armhole binding and those back facing I can never get to fit perfectly. The top is cute but pretty trendy with the empire waist so it probably won't last more than this season. No dislikes; it went together perfectly.

Fabric Used: This cute Robery Kaufmann cotton eyelet from my local fabric boutique. They have good stuff but just not a lot of variety. I found Liberty fabric there and was amazed. It was quite spendy but you know, freight to Alaska makes everything expensive.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I did my usual 1/2" shoulder to bust tuck. I made my ties smaller because I have a bias-tape maker that takes strips that are 1" instead of 1.5". The casings that you create with the 3/4" seam allowances are not that big. I'm not sure that thicker drawstrings would have worked. I think you either need to increase the SA a bit or make your drawstrings thin like I did. There are two drawstrings; one that goes around and ends in the right side and one that ends in the left side. Here is a picture so you can see what I mean.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I probably won't sew it again but I really like it. I word to ya'll with "girls". This top is very low and very wide. Seeing as I have no "girls" to speak of, nothing is going to fall out but without a camisole my bra was pretty visible. If I made this again, I would raise the neckline by about an inch. I usually do that with BWOF but I guess I forgot. You can see in this picture of the front that the bodice is a bit baggy.

Conclusion: Cute and very easy.

Polo Shirt Placket Tutorial

This is how I made my placket for my BWOF polo this time. I am using the directions from the Timmel website. Click there for some more directions.

1. Attach a piece of interfaced fabric right sides together (RST) at the center front. I included the measurements in the picture below. Stitch a 1/2" around the CF leaving space at the bottom to clip the corners diagonally. This is important so you don't get a bumpy front when you flip the interfaced piece to the back. The teal is stitching lines. The black are just lines for references where you will fold later.

2. Flip piece to the inside. This is the showing the right side of the front.

This is showing the wrong side of the shirt but the right side of the interfaced piece. Press well.

3. Now, starting with one side, fold it open again and re-fold on the next line out. This puts it back in the middle of the opening where it should be. I tuck under the 1/4" edges and pin them. You will stitch this later. If you look closely you can see the un-folded piece on the left. It is hard to show with this teal color.

Here is the bird's eye view of the folds. This looking from the top of the shirt at CF.

4. Do the same to the other side. Pin carefully and topstitch (blue line below) both polo pieces as far down as you can.


5. Fold the bottom of the shirt up exposing the bottom of the placket. Stitch across all layers to keep them in place.


6. I finish off the bottom with my serger. I also sew a box at the bottom so the polot shirt does not go so far down. You don't have to do this but I like to.


Do the rest like you normally do! Ta da! Polo!

Burda 05-2005-104 Polo Shirt

Polo shirt from BWOF 05/2005. It is an oldy but goody. I can't believe that only one other person has made this and posted a review at PatternReview.com. Maybe I'm completely off the mark but I think it is cute. This isn't my best as far as sewing goes. The placket is a little off center and the facings are off. Next time when I know exactly what I am doing, I'll do a nicer job. They use a front facing on this but not a back facing. If you look to the right, you'll see my favorite sewing tutorials. A polo placket is one of them but I wanted to try it their way. I'll do it my way next time. No facings and I like how it turns out. The placket is just a bit thinner than this one.




I made sure that the circles didn't give me bull's eyes. It was kind of hard actually. This fabric has a lot of circles on it.





You can see the back here with no facing. You aren't supposed to stitch the bottom of the placket in a box shape like I did but I like the look of it and it keeps it closed a little bit more.





The inside. I didn't finish the facing edges. This is thin knit and I didn't want a ridge on the outside to show.





The new shoes my husband bought me for my birthday. Here's a link to get your own pair.

Burda 06-2008-104 Trousers

I just made these up yesterday and today. They are comfortable and fit well. I have crotch wrinkles though. It sounds like I have a disease doesn't it? On the plus side, my RTW pants fit me like this so I know I'm close.

Here are the icky wrinkles.


The back fits well. I had to take in about an inch above my posterior.


They have a wide waistband which I like. No more peeking at my undies for other people.


Snaps are fun. Love them. Enable me so I will buy this snap press. Tell me how cool snaps are. Please?


I added slight flairs to the bottoms on the pants using my Jalie 2000 pattern.


The true color. They are green outside but brown inside.

How Old is This Quilt Top?

As the "crafter" in the family, I seem to inherit a lot of old things. This is from my husband's grandmother's things. I have no idea how old it is. This is just the top and it has some damage. You can see on the full picture some brown areas and a few holes. (Click to enlarge any of these).


Many of the orange and blue squares are handsewn. Some of the printed fabric is machine-sewn.


Here are close-ups of the print fabrics. What is funny is that I recognize some of this fabric from the reproductions fabric where they re-release vintage prints.

1. How old is this fabric?
2. What do I do with it? It is too fragile to actually turn into a quilt.
3. How do I store it until I figure out what to do with it?

Freaking Cute

(ETA: My husband says they look like, "dime-store hookers . . . " with these on their heads. Am I going to induce a lot of therapy? I thought they were cute but maybe not??)


This is BWOF 07/2008 #140

I altered the pattern (the rectangle) and made it half as wide. It is 5" wide instead of 10".


The one on the right, the drama queen, is sporting the regular version folded in half. I made it first and then decided that I liked it thinner.


This is the width I like. You can see that the bottom is gathered. You gather it and then stick it in a casing with elastic. That helps it stay in place.