Butterick 6183

I am grateful for a long weekend!  After putting aside the Itch to Stitch top, I decided to make a woven top I had been planning to make for some time now.

I have read some reviews on Pattern Review as well as reading some blog posts also.  Most all seem to be positive and some mentioned the tight sleeves.  I cut my ususal 14 cap for the sleeve and then expanded to size 16 for bicep.

I pin fitted the pattern yesterday, made my usual adjustments-forward shoulder, upper round back adjustment, swayback adjustment.  No FBA as this pattern has cup sizes and I went with the size 16 from bust to bottom.

Here is where I stopped a little while ago

The front pieces are sewn together.  I finished the edges using my serger.  The fabric is from Vogue Fabrics purchased in May.  It is a cotton fabric with a denim look, light to medium weight.  I washed it once prior to sewing it. It presses well and was easy to cut and handle.  I sew so many knit fabrics that I forget how woven fabrics feel and sew.  When I purchased this fabric, my intent was to make a top/blouse;  this pattern was not my choice at the time.  I thought this looked like a cropped top with seaming.

I wish I had cut the center back piece with an add of a 5/8 seam allowance so I could use an invisible zipper. This pattern as it is has the back on the fold with markings to cut an opening for an exposed zipper.

More updates later.  Plan to grill hamburgers soon.

"Sometimes I get a good feeling---"

I have been listening to music this evening and I have this song playing over and over.  Yes, I do have a good feeling as the temperatures rose some today making it feel like spring could be coming some day soon. 

Something did arrive earlier this week, new spring fabric from EOS.  I have not even taken it out of the plastic wrapping yet. 

French floral on stripe knit

Royal blue 11 oz rayon knit to go with fabric above

Floral lightweight cotton

The blue fabric is much prettier than it is showing up here.  My plan is make a skirt to wear with the fabric above it or to incorporate both pieces into a dress.  The floral cotton piece will become a blouse.

Speaking of blouses, I have serge finished the edges of the main bodice pieces of the blouse I am currently working on for the Fitted Blouse Contest at PR and as my Garment for the Month.  Another good feeling.
I hope your week has been going well.  More later.

A box of fabric from EOS

Not too long ago I said I was going on a fabric and pattern diet.  I have fallen off that wagon.  A brown box came yesterday with fabric from EOS. I started out only planning to buy lining fabric to go with the navy blue lace fabric acquired from Mood recently.  I bought three colors as I was not sure and still am not sure what color to use underneath.

I have sapphire, nude and marine linings.  I think I want a contrast and thought the sapphire blue would be nice; or go with nude for an even more contrast or the marine color is perfect match to the lace fabric.  What do you think, contrast or match?  It will be a dress.

I fell in love with this pretty floral cotton fabric.









Then there was this knit fabric that was similar to a maxi dress made by Mimi.  Not sure what this will be.

Fabric photos

I mentioned a few posts back that I had purchased some fabric and thought I would share those with you.
From Vogue Fabrics, I purchased the following pieces.  The solid is a suiting fabric and the other two pieces were swatches together with this suiting and both are knits.

This fabric I recently purchased from Nancy's Notions; it is a cotton lightweight for a blouse or top of some sort. Floral prints seem to be every where so thought I will make up a few floral garments.

Status of sewing today

I made some progress on the dress today.  With my neck and shoulder issue, sewing is slower than molasses.  I have to take some frequent breaks.

I started sewing the back pieces first as I have some concerns with the new dart developed from the FBA I made and decided that I would tackle that later.  I am also not following the instructions for attaching the neckband and lining.  I find that the instructions for this particular pattern for lining is just way too many steps and way to much hand stitching.

I attached the back neckband to the back pieces;I then inserted an invisible zipper.  I had to restitch one side of the zipper as the neckbands did not line up correctly the first time.

The neckband was a lighter weight cotton than the cotton herringbone dress fabric.  I used two layers of the interfacing material to give it more body and bring it closer to the weight of the tangerine fabric.




I also completed the lining fabric and attached the facing neckband to the lining fabric.

The lining fabric is a tricot fabric, without stretch.

I stitched the waistline darts for the front lining piece and basted the side dart.  I stopped there for the day.  I will attach the front neckbands to front fabric and lining next.  The plan then is to test fit the lining unit after stitching front to back at shoulders and basting the side seams.  I am hoping the side dart is placed appropriately.  The tissue fitting of the pattern worked well but sometimes with fabric the dart points need tweaking.

Next up-jacket and dress

I fell in like with Vogue 8799 when new spring patterns were introduced.  As any good Club BMV member would do, I waited for a sale and purchased this pattern.  I have not made a jacket since the faux sherpa jacket this past winter. Thus making this jacket will be a new adventure.  I also plan to make the dress as well; this too will be an interesting journey as well

After arriving home this evening and having some free time, I visited the sewing room to look at knit fabrics and patterns thinking I would make one more top for the Starting at the Top sew along.  I just was not feeling the love for any of my knit fabrics that I have in the sewing room.

I was feeling the love for several woven fabrics and decided that I was going to start to work on making some other items.  This pattern was laying on the top of a stack of patterns and that led me to finding the recent "tangerine" cotton herringbone fabric I recently purchased from Gorgeous Fabrics.  This will be the jacket.

This is fabric I purchased in 2011 from Sawyer Brook and the orange is close match to the jacket fabric.  This is a woven cotton with a raised pattern.  This will be the dress.

The back of the pattern envelope states this is an unlined jacket nor does it reference that the dress, top, pants or skirt are lined.  However the pattern pieces clearly states how many pieces to cut of fabric and lining.  This was unexpected so I will be going through my lining fabric to see if I have the appropriate lining or do I need to purchase tomorrow.

I have cut around the pattern pieces, but have not begun the pattern fitting and measuring yet.  I have worked up an appetite so decided it was time to fix a small dinner for me.  More updates later.

Friday activities

I found a burst of energy Friday evening; perhaps it was my brain needing a different challenge than work.  I washed and dried the cotton Lycra fabric, just in case after making I decide I will use that method for cleaning instead of dry cleaning.  It did fairly well out of the drier, meaning not a lot of ironing required.

I then took the time to layout and cut out the fabric.  I now have an idea that I would like to find the perfect matching fabric at JoAnn's to make the ruffle in a solid color and thinking of trying to match the flower colors.   I will go there today to see what I can find.  I also decide to make the sleeveless version with the simple belt tie.

Also, I ordered two knit fabrics form Fabric.com and they arrived yesterday.  One is bright pink, close to fuchsia and the other is a black and white large plaid print.  I fell in love with the black and white fabric after seeing it made up into a dress over at Sew Terri's blog.   I now have to decide what dress pattern I would use.  I like the one Terri used as it really show cases the fabric so well; that of course is what influenced me to buy the fabric.

What do you think of the idea of using a solid color for the neckline ruffle?  I truly appreciate your feedback.  More later.

New Look 6000

I fell in love with this pattern when I first saw it on MushyWear blogspot.   She also reviewed it on Pattern Review.  Yet, I am not going to make the side pleated version yet.  I am going to make the sheath style with front side and waist darts. I am going to use the collar and the 3/4 sleeves.

I wanted to use this pattern for the red and white houndstooth fabric that is a cotton blend from Vogue fabrics acquired earlier this year.  I want to save the pleated version for a solid color.  I have some red shoes I am dying to wear and have put off wearing them as I want to wear them first with this completed dress.  The shoes were my first purchase from Zappos!  Love that site and their service.

I spent most all day yesterday pin fitting the pattern and making adjustments.  I still was making more adjustments today.  After lunch I cut out the fabric and have the sewing/serger machines threaded and ready to go.

You can get a glimpse of the fabric and pattern in the top right hand WIP photo.

Later!