A little sewing-here and there

This morning I had to iron my dress that I was going to wear to work. While waiting for the iron, I decided to hem the KS top as the Coverstitch machine was up and ready to go. A piece of cake-10 minutes and it was done. Pressed the dress, cut off some loose threads and out the door.

I wore the KS dress recently completed with pintuck waist insert. I got several compliments today at work. Wearability factor--on scale of 10, I will give it an 8. I think I can still take it up through the waist area another 1/2 inch. Material is stretch cotton. The bateau neckline I love, but it tends to bunch up in the center front; not a major issue but one that can be corrected by lowering the front area where dress and neckline piece meet.

I started the LH skirt, so front and back are attached. Flounce next, then cover stitch that hem, attach elastic and done. The KS top was completed all on the serger and hemmed on coverstitch machine. Skirt will be the same Easy-peasy. Sometimes you just need that kind of project.

Another dress completed!

I am excited that I completed the Vogue dress that I cut out last weekend along with a KS top and Loes Hinse skirt. I have not had a chance to take photos of the finished dress, but I am so pleased that it was a quick and easy dress to make. It has a front, back and front/back facing pattern pieces. No zippers, no buttons, no darts, etc. Just pull it over your head, tie the self fabric belt and go.

Last weekend I make pattern adjustments to the pattern. One was a FBA using a technique I read about on Pattern Review and the reviewer called it a "cheater's FBA". She obtained the information from a Burda Plus pattern magazine. I love it and for a dress like this one, it worked perfect. I also made a swayback adjustment.

The fabric proved to be very easy to work with. I had some reservations about it as the wrong side is very satiny looking. I had no problems with it slipping as I thought I might. The negative or pattern dislike was the upper back was very full/wide and I ended up taking 1 1/4 inch seam allowance from upper back to waist. I also did not follow their instructions for attaching the facing. I used Claire Schaeffer's "All In One Facing" technique which eliminates the need for hand sewing.

I like this pattern so much that I am ready to cut out another one and sew it up. I already have selected the fabric-a border print fabric I acquired from Fabric.com in March.

I have a KS top pattern cut out and have cut out a skirt from a TNT Loes Hinse skirt pattern. I used this fabric for the top and skirt. I cannot remember for the life of me where I acquired it. But I love the feel of this knit and believe it will prove to be easy to work with.

I will try to post photos of me wearing the newly completed dress later this evening. Now off to fix dinner.

Another top completed

I completed the Loes Hinse v-neck tunic pattern yesterday evening. I cut out a small in the neckline/upper chest area and raised the neckline about 5/8 inch as the photo of the model indicated to me that this top would be low cut. I made a small FBA which in the end I did not need. I cut a large through the bust to bottom.

The knit I used was from EOS acquired in 2007. It was labeled Chico knit as it was a knit fabric used for items sold by Chicos. This knit was rather stretchy, similar to slinky but more bulk than slinky. Has a raised surface.

Due to stretch of the knit, I ended up taking 3/4 inch seams along the raglan sleeve attachments to front and back; 5/8 inch seams through the shoulder and upper sleeve seam. I used 3/8 seam allowance through the side seams. I then took an additional 1/2 inch seam through the underarm area tapering back to 3/8 at waistline area. I also reduced the sleeve and bodice lengths by two inches prior to cutting out the pattern. Being short this top would have been a mini dress on me if I had not reduced the length.

I almost made the shorter version, but was going for the tunic look. I also thought the shorter version was just too boxy looking and was not what I would want with a slightly bulky looking knit.

Here are shots of the finished top. Excuse the messy hair look, DH and I were outside most of the morning dealing with car issues.

I think I will also add a chain belt when wearing this top to dress it up a little. The colors in the fabric are somewhat muted and adding a metal belt will add something more to the look when wearing with a brown or black pant for work.