A Stylish Blue Cardi

I have jumped on the bandwagon and purchased McCall's 6844 which was voted Pattern of the Year for 2013 on Pattern Review. There have been so many favourable reviews of this pattern that I thought I had better see what all the fuss is about.

McCall's 6844 View B

I decided to make view B which is the longer length without the peplum as I thought this would be more work appropriate. I used a royal blue ponte de roma purchased from Lincraft when it was on sale for $10.49 per metre. 

I cut a size medium which has turned out slightly too wide across my shoulders, although I'm not sure I could get away with a small. 

It has nice shaping down the the side seams which is quite flattering, but looking at this photo it make my backside look huge.

The sleeves are very tight which makes it suitable to wear over sleeveless tops or very thin sleeved tops only.

As most reviewers advised, I did not interface the collar. It sits very well around the neck but then it just wants to flop forward. I tried to fix this by hand stitching it down at the hemline. This still makes it hang funny. I think I will hand stitch it down in a couple of more places further up towards the waistline.

Topstitching.

I added the top stitching around the collar as instructed, which anchors down the seam allowance and gives a nice neat finish on the inside. I also sewed the sleeves in flat.

Well...to tell the truth, I have been a little underwhelmed with this pattern. Maybe my expectations were a little high due to all the hype out there in the blogosphere?

But in saying that, I'm sure I will get a lot of wear out of this cardi and I just love the colour. I have already cut out View C so stay tuned for another review coming soon.

Happy Sewing

MMM'14 Week Two Roundup

Well, it's the end of week two of Me Made May'14 already. It has been a bit of a challenge to come up with a new outfit for each day, especially because I am used to wearing a uniform to work, but it has been fun.

Day Five

Monday 5/5/14

Day 5

I wore my Lavender Renfrew paired with my Pewter Style Arc Sammi Pants to work today. That is two "me made" garments...great start to the week.

Day Six

Tuesday 6/5/14

Day 6

I got to wear my new blue cardigan McCall's 6844 today (not yet blogged) and a repeat of my Sammi Pants. (Need to make more pants!)

Day Seven

Wednesday 7/5/14

Day 7

Another day at work and then the dreaded weekly grocery shopping. Today I am wearing my Style Arc Wendy Pants (not yet blogged).

Day Eight

Thursday 8/5/14

Day 8

Ollie was very excited to greet me as I arrived home from work. I wore my Style Arc Kristen Dress today. I love this dress, it's so comfy.

Day Nine

Friday 9/5/14

Day 9

After another day at work I spent the evening in my sewing room. I am wearing a wrap dress, McCall's 6163. I made this one without the collar.

Day Ten

Saturday 10/5/14

Day 10

Saturday I am wearing my new blue cardigan to take some photos for the blog. I am also wearing a "me made" top New Look 6470 which I thought matched my cardigan well. Is that a Renfrew hanging on the line?

Day 10 Evening

Saturday night we went out for dinner and I am wearing New Look 6071 which I made pre blog. Greg is wearing a "me made" shirt McCall's 6044.

Day Eleven

Sunday 11/5/14

Day 11

Just warm enough to wear my Style Arc Stacie Jean Jacket today. This is my first Mother's Day ever, when I haven't got to see at least one of my children. They are all spread far and wide across the country now. I have been made feel very loved and appreciated with all their calls and messages though. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.

Happy Sewing

Perfecting the Scout Tee

Here is my third attempt at making the Grainline Studio Scout Woven Tee. The other two attempts have been blogged about here.

Front

I have tweaked the pattern slightly to improve the drape of the top at the front. I lengthened the front piece at the hem line, at the centre front by about 3cm and tapered it back to the original length at the side seams. This actually gave the bottom front piece quite a curved edge but it looks straight when worn.

Side view

As you can see from the side view, the hem line is hanging evenly all the way around.

Back view

I used a spun rayon purchased from Spotlight in a plain cream colour. It is a little sheer so I am wearing a camisole underneath. It drapes beautifully and I can see this being a very handy layering garment in my wardrobe.

Satin binding at the neckline

This time I bound the neckline with cream satin bias binding. It gives the top a touch of luxury and dresses up the plain cream fabric.

Repair turned into a design feature.

The first time I wore this top, I accidentally caught it on a wire fence and tore a small hole in it near the hemline. I used the same satin bias binding to repair the hole and now I have a "design feature". 

I'm really happy that I have perfected the fit of the Scout Woven Tee for me. I predict there will be lots more Scouts coming up in my sewing future. Such a great little pattern.

Happy Sewing

Floral Denim Jean Jacket

I fell in love with this gorgeous floral stretch denim the minute I set eyes on it on the Lincraft Website. I already had the perfect pattern...Style Arc's Stacie Jean Jacket in the pattern stash.

Gorgeous Floral Stretch Denim from Lincraft.

I have already made this jacket in a plain denim blogged about here. The only changes I made to this jacket were to lengthen the sleeves.

I agonised over laying out the pattern on the fabric. I ended up tracing extra copies of all the pattern pieces so that I could cut the jacket out on a single layer and better visualise how the pattern was going to look once all the panels were joined.

Laying out the pattern on a single layer of fabric.

I think I spent more time laying out the pattern than it took to sew up the jacket.

Front open

Back open

The size 12 was a perfect fit and after lengthening the sleeves by 5cm they are the perfect length too.

Front buttoned up

Back buttoned up

I did the top stitching with a green thread that matched the greens in the floral pattern. This time I just used a single needle to top stitch (on the last jacket I used a twin needle) and slightly lengthened the stitch.

Top stitching detail on pocket flap

I was a little disappointed with how the top stitching turned out along the seams. I was using the width of my presser foot as a guide. This was just a couple of millimetres too wide and the stitches didn't always catch the seam allowance underneath. This made the top stitching look a little wonky in places. The weave of this fabric is quite loose and it made unpicking very difficult. The stitches just sank right into the fabric and I was worried that I would cut a hole in it. After unpicking two whole rows of top stitching down the centre fronts (that took forever), I thought I had better leave "well enough" alone.

Collar and front facing.

The first time I made this jacket, I had trouble with attaching the collar. It only seemed long enough to reach from the inside edge of the facing on each side. This time I staystitched the neck edge to avoid any stretching out of the fabric and I was able to attach the collar at the centre point of each front facing, which is how it should be, I think.

Button, buttonholes and front panel pattern matching (woops, see the mistake)

After all my exhaustive efforts with the cutting out of the jacket, I have made a very silly mistake. The pattern matches beautifully across the front centre panels now, but what happens when the jacket is buttoned up?   #%*$

Love the fold back cuff.

Overall, I really pleased with my new jacket. It's fairly light weight so I may have to wait for next spring to wear it.

Happy Sewing

MMM'14 Week One Roundup

Me Made May'14 is well under way and so far I have managed to stay true to my pledge of wearing at least one me made garment per day. The biggest challenge so far is taking daily photos.

Day One
Thursday 1/5/14

Day 1

This is what I wore to work. The pants are Style Arc Sammi Woven Pants. The rest of the outfit is my work uniform. I usually wear black RTW pants. My uniform is not compulsory and I am hoping MMM'14 will help me decide if I want to do away with wearing my uniform and create my own work wardrobe.

Day Two
Friday 2/5/14

Day 2

On day two I actually wore the same outfit as day one to work, however, after work I changed into my Fleece Hoody which I made pre blog. This was part of a Craftsy Class. The weather has really turned cold tonight.

Day Three
Saturday 3/5/14

Day 3

Saturday was cold but nice and sunny...perfect for taking photos of my new Renfrew top. I wore this into town for a little shopping and coffee with my fiance.

Day Four
Sunday 4/5/14

Day 4

Sunday was a quiet day at home catching up on the domestic chores and also a little sewing. I am wearing another Renfrew top with some RTW track pants and slippers...nice and comfy.

I am off to plan my wardrobe for the coming week.

Happy Sewing

Lavender Cowl Renfrew

I have made another Renfrew top from Sewaholic Patterns.

View C with long sleeves.

This time I tried View C with the cowl neckline, but made the sleeves long as in View A. I have previously blogged about the Renfrew here.

The only alterations I made to the pattern was to reduce the length of the hem band by 4cm because I am not pear shaped (the Sewaholic patterns are all drafted to suit pear shaped women). I left the width of the body the same as the pattern to accommodate the extra padding around my tummy area.

I love the shape of the Renfrew because it hides all my worst features, yet still looks good.

That bulge on the front is the belt holding up my RTW jeans that are way too big in the waist. I also love the nice slim shape of the sleeves.

The back has a bit of wrinkling and pulling going on. Maybe it needs to have a bit of width added to the back piece? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry about the over exposed photo.

This is such an easy top to whip up, yet it looks quite smart. I used a 'delux lavender ponte double knit' (description from cash register docket) purchased from Spotlight. This was quite expensive at $15.99 per metre and I had purchased two metres to make a long cardigan. When I laid the fabric out for cutting I discovered a large run in the fabric. I was so disappointed. It really pays to check the fabric closely before buying it because a flaw like this can render it useless. Luckily, with a bit of clever pattern placement, I was able to eek out this Renfrew top.

Cowl neckline.

I love the cowl neckline. Even with this ponte it drapes well and is so cosy. I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of this top over the winter which is almost here now.

All seams sewn with the overlocker.

Ponte is such a lovely stable knit to sew. I constructed this top entirely with the overlocker. I used a grey thread because I didn't have lavender and this seemed the closest match. I was quite happy with how it blended in with the lavender and doesn't look out of place. Look how big the cowl collar is...so luxurious.

Overlocked seams.

I didn't top stitch around the neckline as instructed. I just didn't feel it was necessary with the ponte. The neckline sits beautifully as it is.

Side seams match.

Intersecting seams match at underarm.

I managed to get a great result with my seam matching by using this handy tip from Did You Make That. Perfect results every time and well worth making the effort. Badly matched seams are one of my pet hates, and they really spoil the quality of a garment, in my opinion.

If you are one of the very few sewers who haven't tried the Renfrew, you really should give it a go. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Gotta love an instant gratification project.


Happy Sewing

Me-Made-May'14

Well tomorrow is the first day of May and I have joined the

challenge.

Here is my pledge:

'I, Jean of sewjeanmargaret.blogspot.com.au , sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '14. I endeavour to wear at least one me made garment each day for the duration of May 2014'

Zoe, from 'So, Zo...What Do You Know?' is again hosting this fun event. If you would like to find out more about the Me-Made-May'14 challenge, check out Zoe's Blog.

Last year, I enjoyed watching others partake in the challenge so this year I am being brave and joining them.

I have only pledged to wear at least one me made garment for each day during May. I hope this will help me identify gaps in my wardrobe and encourage me to sew more needed items, instead of flitting from one thing to the next without a proper plan.

I will photograph my outfits daily, but will do weekly posts, as I think this will be as much as I can manage with working fulltime. There will probably be lots of repeats as I don't have a huge me made wardrobe yet. I currently wear a uniform to work, but this is not compulsory and I have been toying with the idea of making my own set of coordinating outfits to wear to work so this process will help with the development of this idea, I am sure.

Let the fun begin...