Finished - Vogue 8597 Cowl Neck Stretch Top

Here is my finished top Vogue 8597. This fabric and I fought our way through the overlocker just about every step of the way.

 I begun by trying to sew it using the cutter blade, but the cut fabric bunched up over the seam marker, so I couldn't tell what seam width I was sewing. Then the fabric jumped at the start of one of the shoulder seams, and cut a small hole in the fabric. I had to make the seam allowance a bit wider on that shoulder, but you can't really notice it because the fabric is so busy. I ditched the seam cutter and changed over to just a regular 5/8 seam allowance. This time, the three thread seam was not enough to catch both seams as they moved about when I was sewing, so I switched to a four thread seam.

Once I sorted that out, the top sewed up quite well, and I think it is a fairly good result for my third go at sewing a stretch garment and only the second one sewn up completely on an overlocker.

This is a close up of the cowl collar. I agree with all the reviews of this pattern on Patternreview.com that mentioned the cowl does not sit very well. If I made this again, I would extend the cowl facing by at least 2 inches so that you cannot see the wrong side of your fabric. To re-cap, this is the pattern cover, and I made view B, which is the red top. I also have this fabric in the blue colour-way, and I am considering making up top C in this pattern.

And here is the back of the collar. It is high at the back, so it can keep all the winter breezes away from you neck.

I don't have a cover stitch machine, so I just sewed the hems using stabilising tape and a double needle in my regular sewing machine. That worked for the lower hem, but the sleeve hems are a bit puckered. I remember reading somewhere that you should loosen the tension, and when I did that, it sewed up quite nicely on the hem. When I showed the finished top to my sewing club ladies recently, one of them asked if I had done the hems on a cover stitch machine, and then we got to talking about whether we had one and if not, would be consider buying one. I guess I would if I did a lot of stretch sewing, but at the moment I am not.

I am pleased with this project and would certainly consider sewing this pattern again, but I will be putting it away in the closet for next winter as it is starting to warm up here. Next up on the sewing list is a messenger style fabric bag, which I hope to start on today.

Vogue Stretch Fabric Top V8597

Audra over at Dolly Fever has been asking where I have been. I have been a lazy blogger as well as being away interstate for work in Brisbane. I stayed in Brisbane over the weekend to go and see the museums there. One of the exhibitions was of the Prado masterpieces from Spain. I really enjoyed this exhibition. It was well arranged with all the paintings on a topic such as religious, portraits, sketches all grouped together.

I have been working on this top, Vogue V8597 for the last 6 or so weeks. Sewing it got interrupted by some trouser hemming. This is a job that I hate, but I don't like to pay to get it done because I would rather buy fabric with that money. I will do some more work on this top tomorrow, and I hope to get it just about finished. This is the pattern cover - I am making style B which is the red cowl neck top. The pattern got good reviews on Pattern Review, except some people had trouble with arranging the cowl neck once they had it on. I won't know about that until I finish it and start wearing it. I might not be wearing it until next winter as it is starting to warm up here. The fabric was from Spotlight.

So it looks like those pesky dollies of mine will have to wait for their new summer frocks as I have a keen desire (and need) to sew up some summer tops for myself. I am even getting quite ambitious about making some bags using some of my beautiful craft fabric stash and making some pencil cases for my niece and nephew. Pencil cases are a good task for my sewing club day as it does not take too much effort, and we are usually talking a lot so my concentration levels are usually fairly low.

I have some stories coming up on a crazy googly eyed Scottish souvenir doll, and a gorgeous bag making book that has inspired me to have a go at making some bags. The bag I am using at the moment is like a black hole. There are only 2 small pockets inside, so things fall to the bottom of the bag and I can't see much because the lining is black. I know black for bag linings is practical, but there are so many pretty alternatives, I don't know why manufacturers are so keen on using black.

Happy sewing until next time.

Dolls! Cute Wardrobe Pattern for 18 Inch Antique Style Dolls

I was searching through my extensive pattern stash for stretch top patterns when I spied this ensemble for dolls. This is the swimsuit from Vogue Craft pattern 7244 designed by Teresa Layman and released around 2000. At the time, I planned on making up one of these outfits for a German doll that belonged to my grandmother. In the end, we paid an expert to restore the doll (she was in pieces with raggy hair and no original clothes). It cost far more to restore her than what she is worth, but as it is a family heirloom, it was the right thing to do.

This is the party dress and a sailor suit style dress.

If one of my dolls thinks she needs a swimsuit, I have the pattern!

There has been a lot of buying of fabric and patterns and talking about what is going to be made here on Lizzie's Arty Crafty at the moment, but no sewing, except for cutting out a paper pattern. Not sure if that counts as sewing. I think I might be able to steal an hour or so of sewing time this weekend though, and still do some study, so wish me luck.

Don't Let Me Loose When It's Sale Time

Butterick 5467

Two of the big chain stores had 1/2 price pattern sales over the weekend. I came out with 6 patterns and 2 metres of linen mix fabric. Oh dear.

I am thinking of making Butterick jacket 5467 in the three quarter sleeve option in this linen print.

These were my other purchases:



Butterick 5223



Butterick 5496

I am thinking of using some of the polyester gabardine suiting fabric that I have in my stash (I made New Look 6619 out of some of it) in this pattern from McCalls:

I really like the tie belt with this one, but being short waisted, I might have to skip this idea.





5668



And finally, McCalls 5860. I have some pinwale corduroy in some beautiful prints that would look really good in this style.

Then to compound the problem, my copy of Vogue Patterns magazine arrived last week, and as usual they have a buy one get one free offer for subscribers. I have not made my selections yet but will do so soon.

Unfortunately, finding the time to sew these lovely patterns is going to be in short supply as I am starting a certificate IV qualification for my work shortly. This will slow down my sewing output down for the next four or so months. I might slip in a bit of sewing over that time, but I will have to see how I go.

Do you notice a common theme with these selections? There are mostly jackets. I still have a lack of jackets of all kinds in my wardrobe, so I think I am going to have to sneak some time away from my studies to do some sewing.

Works in Progress, Vogue Patterns Magazine

Simplicity 2596, aka the Top for Lisa's Wedding, is progressing along nicely. Once I got over my shock that I was actually sewing satin, and my sewing machine didn't seem to have anything against it, things went along quite well. I just have the elastic to put in the sleeves, and the hem to do. I think I will shorten the sleeves quite a bit.

My second work in progress is a New Look jacket pattern 6619 that I started the calico muslin for earlier this year. I have fussed and tweaked the pattern quite a bit which could be a case of extreme procrastination as I have not done a jacket for a while. I tried on the calico this weekend and realised that the extra kilo or 2 that I collected over winter has added to my fitting problems. I am so glad that I did the calico because I found that the mid back was too big.


Below is the pattern and the rough calico. The calico is looking very rough and wrinkly after all this time sitting around in my sewing area.

I am doing view F, but making the sleeves longer.

A reviewer over at Pattern Review found that the depth of the sleeves was not enough to allow for a small shoulder pad. I had to add 1 1/2 cm to the sleeve depth to account for this. I found this sleeve depth matched a couple of ready to wear jackets that I already have.

Lastly, here are some shots from my Vogue Patterns magazine that arrived today. I have a subscription to the mag through the Australian distributor of Vogue patterns, and I notice that we get the issues that match the seasons on our side of the world. The bonus is that we get the buy one, get one free offer which is quite appealing.

From a quick flick, here are a couple of my initial favourites. This shirt is made up in satin, and I am an expert in sewing this now!

 

 
If you get a chance, have a look at the technical drawings for this dress (which is 8577) on Vogue's website as it shows the cut much better. It has a lovely retro look to it and the full skirt is divine.
 
I hope to get the top finished soon, and show you what it looks like. Then I will not be able to procrastinate any longer over the New Look jacket!