Love Notions Hip Hop Tank Pattern Review

I bought this pattern as part of a pattern bundle.  I had originally intended to make a summer tank but I didn't get around to making it.  I pushed this pattern to the side and didn't think about it until I went fabric shopping and found workout fabric at JoAnn's.  I was really excited about my find and I thought I would try making my own workout clothes (using this pattern) since I had started doing more exercise.

I cut out the pattern according to the measurements and went to work.  I opted to use the same fabric and not make a contrasting panel in the back.  The top came together quickly and I cut complimenting black rib knit fabric for the neck band.  If I remember correctly, I cut a 24" inch length and stretched it to fit the neck.

To finish the top I used my coverstitch machine on the hem and I topstitched along the neck.

This shirt is a great addition to my workout gear.  I like the loose fit for gym days or running errands.  You can see the straps of my sports bra but it doesn't bother me...the straps of my normal bra don't show.

Overall I really like the pattern and I plan to make some more variations.    #winning

Black and Blue - My Coppélia Sweater

It was a cold and very windy day when we took these pictures...as you can tell by my hair.

I bought this pattern with the intent of making sweater to wear while working out.  However, when I saw this black and blue sweater knit fabric, I knew I wanted to use this pattern.  

This pattern was a quick sew and I love the contrasting bands.  

I don't think I'll wear this to the gym because the fabric is a little dressy and not very good for absorbing sweat.  I suppose I'll have to make another version with more appropriate fabric for the gym.

Postponed Day Tripper

I bought this fabric months ago and planned to make myself a lightweight pullover for summer, but that didn't happen.   It's now October and I finally got around to making my Day Tripper.  I can still get use out of it in out California fall/winter weather, however it would have been ideal for the summer.

I chose the shortest length because I have a short torso and I didn't want it to be too long or baggy looking.   

The sleeves are about 2"-3" inches too long, so I'll have to shorten the sleeve length in my future variations.  In this picture I folded the ribbed cuff over to make the sleeve look shorter than their actual length.

This pattern was such a breeze to sew and I probably could have cut and sewn everything in 2 hours if I didn't have any interruptions. 

I'm extremely thrilled how this sweater turned out.  It looks great with the leather ponte leggings that I bought last fall.  The relaxed fit of the sweater makes the leggings look a bit more casual and wearable...but still edgy and trendy.

I love this new sweater so much that I'm tempted to make more using this pattern.  :)

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see ya next time! 

Burda Style 07/2011 #115

I wanted to make myself something to wear for Violet's first birthday party and I had the perfect fabric in my stash.  Since I was making this last minute a week before the party I decided on a simple skirt design, Burda Style Asymmetric Skirt 07/2011 #115.

I would like to note that the skirt doesn't droop like it does in the pictures.  When I tried it on, it looked fine and you couldn't tell that I used a lining unless you saw the underside of the skirt.  With that being said, let's continue!

The skirt consists of one pattern piece and then a rectangle piece for the band, so it came together quickly.  The most difficult part of this project was working with the fabric I selected because it was lightweight jersey.  When I finished sewing the two main pieces and tried on the skirt, I realized that it was almost transparent!  

I was bent and determined to finish this project and not waste the fabric so I went to JoAnns and searched for fabric to use for lining.  I needed something knit and something a little slinky so the lightweight jersey wouldn't cling to the lining.  The only thing I found was swimsuit lining so I bought it and took a gamble.  My gamble paid off and the skirt was a little bit more opaque.  I attached the waistband, only to realized I cut it in the wrong direction of stretch....doh!  I left it attached for now...it "works" but I need to switch it out for rib knit fabric instead.  As you can see in the picture, the lack of stretch made the skirt bunch up in some parts.

My skirt came out okay, albeit not as cute as I thought it would turn out...whatevs, now I have a comfy and stylish lounging skirt.  I'm just glad that I finally made something with this fabric that has been sitting in my stash for a year even though it's not the oldest piece of fabric that's been sitting in there.


p.s. - I did shorten it about two inches so it looked like the skirt on the model in the picture.

Fiesta, fiesta! (Cora's Maxi Dress Numero Dos)

I really loved the first dress I made using this pattern so I decided to make another in a shorter length.

I had a hunch that it would probably be longer than my knees but I didn't bother shortening the bottom tier.  I figured I could make a giant hem and call it a day.  After I finished sewing the giant hem, it was still longer than I wanted but I figured I would leave the length in case it ever shrank after being washed.

I didn't really think the construction of this dress all the way through because I didn't consider what the fabric would look like chopped up.  Once I started assembling the tiers I noticed that the print didn't match and the colors were slightly off.  I freaked out for a few seconds and then I convinced myself that it really wouldn't matter because no one would really pay that much attention and notice.

When I constructed this dress, I made some modifications to the bodice and the bodice assembly.  I didn't sandwich the straps between the ruffle and the bodice (like I mentioned doing in my other post) because I thought it might make it difficult to insert the elastic.  Instead I made the casing by flipping the ruffle over the bodice (see pictures below) and top stitching...I then attached the straps afterward to the inside of the bodice.  I also added a casing at the bottom on this dress.  I used single fold bias tape and I sewed the bottom to the bottom bodice seam allowance and then top stitched the top of the casing.  I used 1/2" single fold bias tape, however in retrospect, I should have used a larger size.  I like the elastic at the bottom, I think it helps ad a little shape to the dress.  I intend on going back to my full length dress and adding an elastic casing at the bottom.

I love the outcome of my new dress, it looks so festive, hence the name of this post!

Going Boho - Cora's Maxi Dress Pattern Review

I'm a sucker for long billowy dresses, so it was love at first sight with this pattern. I actually own a RTW dress that is a similar style; however, it's too long to wear with flats and it's strapless (which means I don't wear it often).

The fabric is linen from JoAnn's.  The pink color is almost the same shade as the two skirts (the Cascade and the Mabel) that I recently made (with fabric I also bought at JoAnn's).  I might be obsessed with this pink.

This pattern is rated for an intermediate beginner however I think anyone can make it.  The most difficult part of this dress is gathering the tiers and sewing them.

The pattern is well written, however there are a few things I would change if I were to use it again.  I followed the instructions on attaching the bodice ruffle to the bodice and I found the casing to be a little bulky.  I would probably sew the bodice ruffle to the wrong side of the bodice and the flip it to the outside to sew the casing as instructed.  I think it would reduce the bulk and make it easier to thread the elastic through.  Also, you could attach the straps between the two layers.  To secure and reinforce the straps you can top stitch them as directed in the instructions.  Another thing I would change is adding an elastic casing at the bottom of the bodice (to match the one at the top) instead of only sewing two rows of smocking stitches.  The dress just hangs and looks like a maternity dress on me.

All these gathers look cute but they are a pain to sew, especially when you have soooo much fabric.  I used my walking foot and lots of pins to keep the gathers in place as I sewed.  The pattern calls for top stitching above the gathers but I opted to use my serger to trim and finish the gather seams.  

I really love the dress (even though it took more than 5 yards of fabric!).  And of course I had to make a flower crown to wear in my dress pictures.  I didn't think my pictures would be complete without one...I mean, come on...who doesn't love flower crowns?  I will show you how I made my crown in a separate post.  

This is probably my favorite thing I have ever made...I love the dress so much that I might need to make more.  Perhaps I will make a matching version for Violet.  :) 

Cascade Skirt - Pattern Review

Last summer I saw a gorgeous Cynthia Rowley skirt (shown below)and I looked for it online, only to find that it was waaay too expensive and it was sold out.  I knew that Meg Nielsen had a very similar pattern, the Cascade Skirt, so I bought it and decided to make my own skirt.  (On a side note, Simplicity just released a pattern to make the Cynthia Rowley skirt.)  

I still have a little extra around the middle from baby weight so I made made this a size inbetween pre-baby and my current size (in hopes that when I finally lose the weight, it will fit better).  I thought the skirt would fit okay, but I was sooooo wrong.  The skirt wraps around me and it covers in the front but it doesn't overlap enough to keep me covered if I need to run after my children.  To fix my problem, I made a Mabel skirt in a matching color to wear under.  I'm petite (towering at 5' 1") but I decided to keep the full length because I like the dramatic look of the skirt.

Meg's pattern is extremely well written and very carefully thought out.  I love the simplicity and the professional results with the french seams. 

I followed all the directions for the skirt, except I think I messed up on the placement of my waist band.  I didn't transfer the pattern marking and I think I didn't align it correctly, oh well...c'est la vie!  I also used my rolled hem foot to make my hem.  Using my hemming foot may have helped me save a little time but not much.  I think sewing the hem is the most time consuming part of the project, especially if you're using silky fabric.  I would like to make a few more Cascade skirts, perhaps in jersey and shorter in length.    

Mabel Skirt x2

The moment I saw this pattern I fell in love!  I know I say that a lot about the patterns I buy.  I love the variations and the professional looking result of the pattern, as well as the close fitting flattering fit.  I own a few paper patterns for knit pencil skirts but they require elastic at the waist and that is not an area I want elastic digging into right now, so the Mabel pattern is perfect for me.  

After I bought the pattern I joined the Mabel sew-a-long and I planned to make a printed summer skirt, but then I realized I needed to make a second skirt to wear under the Cascade Skirt (for coverage reasons).  I'll share more on the Cascade Skirt in a different post.  I made the printed skirt out of a ponte roma knit and the the plain skirt out of jegging material.  I followed the pattern directions, except I used my coverstitch machine to sew the lining to the seam allowance.  I should not have done that, because it decreased the stretch in my waistband.  I can still slip the skirts on so it doesn't bother me, however I know better for next time...stitch the lining down on the sides (in the ditch)!

On a totally unrelated note, I have been having issues with my Elna 444 coverstitch machine.  When I get to a side seam, the stitches skip.  I tried playing with the thread tension and the foot tension but the stitches still skipped when I got to the bulky side seams.  I redid the hem of the pink skirt 3 times because there were too many skipped stitches and I knew that the skirt wouldn't last 3 washes.  I finally searched online to try and find a solution.  I found a great suggestion on a forum, which suggested using woolly nylon.  I didn't have matching thread so I only switched out my needle thread.  I did notice less skipped stitches so I left the hem in this time. #muchannoying #verytrouble #suchlaborious #endofrant 

I love this skirt and I'm already dreaming up more variations!