Simplicity 4264

Trying to find things to sew for Lu that are tasteful to me, but that she approves of gets a bit harder all the time. Sigh. But how cute did this turn out?


I would absolutely wear this myself! I used a "That's So Raven" pattern from Simplicity, the tee view. We've made the tank and the skirt before from this pattern, and I have the knit wide leg capri's cut out in hot pink to match this top. This pattern turned out to be a real keeper for us!

I cut out the 16 because she wasn't here to measure. I thought it would be fine because the top has elastic in the back and in the shoulders (similar to a peasant top). I was wrong! It was a little gapey in the front, since there is not an elastic casing there. I fixed it by taking a small box pleat at CF. This is covered by the ruffles anyway.

The other problem I had was that it was too short! Quite a bit too short, actually. I remembered (too late) that the tank had been too short too, and I had added a ruffle. So...we added an elastic band with tie sash out of the contrast.


I cut 2 strips (selvedge to selvedge) about 4 inches wide. Then I followed the directions in Simplicity 3887 to attach it (3887 is a ladies pattern with a similar waistband and tie). I love it when mistakes end up making the garment better!

I added 1" elastic to the waistband too, instead of gathering the top to the band. I just cut the elastic shorter than the bottom of the top circumference and left the band topstitching open at one side seam (actually both sides of this side seam) so that I could thread it through. Then I stitched through the ends to hold it in place.

I also added the ruffles from View D (tank) instead of the shoulder ruffles. They were a bit finicky at the neckline, since I didn't use the front facing. I just serged and turned the top edge under to stitch. I had to topstitch the top ruffle to get it to lie flat. The others are just stitched through the (serged) header. (The pattern doesn't call for finishing these edges before doing this, but that would be a mess I think!)


These 2 prints have always been Lu's favorite and I was saving the last bit for a special project. This little top took less than a yard, so we have enough left over for one more twirly skirt or some other project I think.

And she loves the top, which is the important thing!

Ottobre 2-2008-14

Not on my mini-wardrobe or anything, of course. But I have sewn a couple things this past month that I haven't shared yet. Why?

Well, one didn't fit the way I wanted it to. Two of the pictures were crap.And none of it was for my wardrobe, so they were all tinged with contest guilt.

Here they are anyway! First, I made a Textile Studios Santa Monica tee, one of my favorite TNTs for a quickie sewing fix. This one is in that pretty blue aqua knit I showed you last month (I'm still making a BWOF tee out of it too, I have plenty!)

See, not the best pic because you can't actually SEE any details of the tee. Especially not the neckline, which is my favorite part (it's raglan sleeve, but the neckline squares off. It's pretty, but you'll just have to take my word for it.)

Then I made the Jalie Sweetheart top out of my mauve knit. It would be perfect except that I didn't mark the shoulder portions clearly, so when it came time to gather & match notches, I had to guess. I guess too low for the top notch, so the entire neckline is off. Argh.


Still an OK top, but you can see my bra strap on the left. Phooey. This is a really thin knit though, that I planned to wear a cami or tank under. Maybe I'll wear a tank in a contrast color and pretend like it was "planned" to show.

Then I made the gored skirt from Ottobre 2/2008. I had this gorgeous brown Amy Butler print, but not quite enough to lengthen it like I wanted. I think it needs another inch. This is becoming a regular alteration for me with knee-length skirts. I have long legs and a shorter torso.


I am not crazy about the finished skirt. (It's been sitting on my sewing table waiting for finishing stuff for 3 weeks.) I loved it in the magazine! And I liked the contrast hem band, but I think the proportions are a bit off. I'll make it a bit wider (deeper) next time. Th.e skirt is also a bit too big. It sits below my waist and I can tug it over my hips without the zip. Whoops.

The directions were wonderful. No problems at all deciphering them. I really like Ottobre directions. They're to the point with no fuss or wasted time. I didn't have an invisible zip, so used a lapped zipper instead. I also added topstitching to the gore seams, in pink thread:


I really like the waist treatment on this skirt too, it's neat and tidy. It has a weird overlap though (for snap(s). I left it at first, but it was really unruly (almost 2 inches of overlap!) so I ended up trimming it off and I'll add a hook/eye instead.

I love the fabric I used for the hem band so much I've been hoarding it for years. It pains me that I don't love the skirt now. The only pic I have where you can see it is before pressing.


But you can see the tone on tone embroidery & the sequins that add a little "sparkle" (hehe, Tamara, are you reading?) You can see the lining fabric in this shot too, a pale pink satin batiste, also from the hoard, erm, stash.

I'll probably try this one again and lengthen the gores a tiny bit, and add to the hem band's depth. I have lots of quilting cottons and this skirt is perfect for them!

Today at the zoo...

me: All of you need to turn on your filter now!

them: Say what?

me: You know, the thing that connects your brain to your mouth. Turn it on please.

them: Why?

me: Because contrary to what you may believe, you actually DON'T have to say everything that pops into your head. Out loud. At top decibel.

them: No way.

me: Way.

me again: See, just as soon as you feel those words coming out of your mouth, close your lips (cue demo of fingers pinching lips closed) and then THINK about whether you really need to say whatever it is. If you're not sure if it's appropriate...raise your hand and whisper it to me, and I'll let ya know.

them: (crickets)




(Jerrie this one was absolutely for you.)

Happy Birthday!!

to my bestest buddy Shannon!!



(technically it was yesterday, but I know you love me anyway.)

BTS!

I'm not ready!! Too late...my first day included a class of 24 (I have 24 seats, so full house). Four girls...20 boys. Freshman boys.

Most of my attention was directed towards maintaining order. Which is rather hard to do when you're busy biting your lip to keep from laughing. Silly boys.


And where did summer go, anyway?