I used medium weight white Lycra from stash. The pattern has many curves and can be tricky to cut but the pieces went together easily and quickly.
I love the result! The top fits very well. The flutter sleeves are perfect and the peplum flatters my shape. I've never sewn a peplum garment before. Who knows why?
I'm sure I'll sew this again. Next time with more color.
Happy sewing everyone!
Yay! It's finished! I wore it yesterday evening and people liked it. :-)
To recap - the body and sleeves have been lengthened
- the pattern has been adjusted for narrow and forward sloping shoulders
- the fabric is a heavy knit, present from Grandma
- I stretched the fabric with the iron but the soaking to get it back to shape didn't work. This fabric has nothing to do with natural fibers, obviously. To save the thing I used crochet cotton and embroided spirals. (Now I'm scared to iron the hems..)
- I made polymer clay buttons for embellishment.
Buttons detail: Cute and fun!
Embroidery details: Add another layer of interest and dynamic to an otherwize broad uniform yellow area.
Well, the jacket is warm, bright, cheerful and unusual. I love it!
Just keep in mind that this was my first try and don't expect something spectacular, ok?
So, I finally got around to using the elastic foot on my serger. It was rather easy. Just some tweaking to get the tension right and there was a seam I liked!
Here you can see the front and back of the seam. First, I serged on the elastic (on the wrong side!) and then turned it in and finished with a three step zigzag on the right side.
The top - just triangles and straps. For the triangles I used my old swimsuit. Traced around and added seam allowances - 1 cm at the sides and 1,5 cm for the bottom where the strap goes.
These are the basic pattern pieces used. For the bottom I deconstructed an old pair of panties. After inspecting the swimsuits I own I discovered they had only two pieces, i.e., the front and gusset were cut as one single piece. Although you need the gusset pattern to cut the lining piece in cotton.
Wonky bottom...
I added 1 cm seam allowance everywhere except at the sides because I decided to give it some interest with the circle strap closure.
The sides were turned in 1,5 cm to allow the straps through.
The gusset was sewn in at the front-back seam and left loose on the other side. That's also a method discovered after inspecting my old swimsuits. They are all different so I encourage you to take some time and see what you can learn from the things you already own.
Since the fabric used for this test project were cotton knit scraps it will not be used for swimming. I hate having wet things on.
Yesterday I decided on the next pattern to try. This time I will use lycra remnants and another top (bra) shape. I don't have much to show off and those little triangles make me even flatter. :-(
I'll try to document all the steps so I can share them and, hopefully, help someone. Maybe even using the sewing machine only. For those who don't own a serger.
Ciao until then!
I made a test bikini! Here's a sneak peek:
These are the basic pattern pieces I used:
More pictures and explanations coming up!
UFO
Finally the yellow jacket! Done halfway. I redrafted the pattern with all the adjustments and it looks fine. Right now it's drying on the rack because I made a mess while ironing. Turns out this fabric doesn't like to be ironed. It's another heavy knit I got from Grandma. I had to soak the jacket to let the fabric shrink back into its original shape.
Muslin
Burda 8/2007-105. Nice pattern, bad fabric choice. Not wearable. No stretch in it. Old pajamas and boyfriend T-shirts should not to be reused for snug garments. Anyway, the pattern needs adjustments so it's not a big waste. Not to mention the plunging neckline...
Sunday market find
A nightgown that will be turned into a shorter dress. It's too big, the bias tape has to be replaced 'cause it's worn out, but the fabric, a light cotton, is perfect. And I love the flowers!
Have a nice and creative day!
Digging through my stash I found this fabric that must be at least 10 years old. It's a light stretchy mesh. There was enough to make a T-shirt.
I used the Burda 2/2009-108 pattern with the altered armscye now. This fabric behaves strangely, though. There is no stretch lengthwise so it pulls oddly at the side seams. Thus, the most important thing I wanted to know about this alteration of the armscye is not really visible. Fortunately I also cut the colorful knit, so we shall see when I put that shirt together.
Made using the Perfect Pants Pattern and fabric remnants and scraps and recycled notions.
There is still the crotch problem. Will have to alter the pattern some more. :-(
He is so pleased with his new pants! The best ones, he sais. :-) Light as air and keep him cool.
I made two muslins. The first was too big. The second needed only some twitching. I think the result is pretty nice. But the thing I'm proud of is the matching of the lines at the side seams! This plaid is asymmetrical. Every piece had to be cut individually. I just wasn't able to match the vertical lines also. Maybe some other time. But I'm not a perfectionist. Fortunately. Otherwise I would have already gone mad with this pair of trousers.
Comfy! :-D
(Psst! I'm secretly making a linen pair. Don't tell him!)
Pants x2
Skirt x2
Dress x1
Top x2 long sleeves, x1 t-shirt
Add a couple of cardigans and stir. :-)
With this dress I've finished the Blue-green mini wardrobe!
I thought this pattern would be perfect for summer and paired it with a wonderfully soft cotton blend knit with a 80's print on it. (At least I thought it looked so.) I bought it in the middle of winter because it was so gorgeous I just couldn't leave it in the shop.
I altered the pattern pieces to get more length in the bodice. It all went together easily and nicely but the weight of the fabric pulled the whole thing downwards. I think this means that dresses made from knits don't need bodice lengthening alterations. Correct me if I'm wrong, please. You can see how it looked before the alterations:
Quite baggy.
I had to take it in at both sides, the shoulders and at the center back seam. A lot.
I was a bit worried about the results, though. To tell the truth, the white piece of the front had to be blue but I forgot to turn over the pattern piece so I cut it the wrong way. And there was no more blue left. If only I had taken a pic of the fabric...One part was white with blue stripes, the second blue with white and green stripes, and the rest blue with the girl print at regular intervals. It was really tricky placing and cutting this pattern out. And then I messed up with an important piece! Gosh. After that there was this bad bad fitting problem...
But in the end here is the dress finished and fitting! Looove it! :-)))
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