Simplicity 4744: Aqua shell top

I finally finished the shell to go with my aqua cardi-wrap cozy. It took me three times longer to make the shell as the cozy. It took lots of putzing to make the pattern fit and look right... see the details in my review for patternreview.com below.

But I like how it looks with the cozy itself. When you wrap the cozy, it can almost look like it's one top with wrapping capabilities. I show 10 different ways to wear the cozy here.

For the top, I took just the bodice part of this dress. (I can't see myself ever wearing any of those dress versions, but they sure are cute. I don't have anywhere to where such a thing.)



Review for patternreview.com

Pattern Description: A "Design your own dress with skirt variations and knit bodice" that I turned into a spaghetti strap shelf bra cami. (to go with my Cardi-wrap cozy reviewed earlier.
Pattern Sizing:12-20

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?My cami looks pretty much like the bodice of the dress. Close up of top only.

Were the instructions easy to follow?Yes. Except I kept losing them. Everytime I'd turn around they were somewhere else. If I was up at the sewing machine/iron, they were downstairs and vice versa. (this happens to my scissors and pins too... anyone else like that?)

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
1. It works well as a knit spaghetti strap shell.

2. I could do without the horizontal back seam... see no need for it.

3. Another dislike is my knit sewing skills.

....3A. The hem hung nice before I hem'd it, then after hemming it stretched a bit so the bottom of the top is a tad wider than originally planned.

....3B. I understitched the shelf bra to the seam allowances, but the stitching stretched the seam and made it uglier than before it was understitched. Maybe you're not suppose to understitch knits??? I wish I hadn't. I won't in the future.

Fabric Used:cotton/poly (?) rib knit

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
1. I used only the bodice to make the top.

2. The pattern said to insert elastic in the straps. I didn't. But I think I'll go back and do that. They want to keep falling down since there's nothing to hold them up.

3. I narrow'd the front strap placement an inch, so they'd fall off the shoulder less.

4. I added a shelf bra, which isn't enough for modesty, so I took the photo with a regular bra sans straps, (shoving the straps out of the way), but that won't do for real life. I need to solve this bra with spaghetti strap knit tops dilemna. I considered building a bra into it, but already the top took 3 times as long as the cardi-wrap to make, so I didn't. I'm thinking of making bra straps by covering elastic with my fashion fabric, attaching fasteners that work with a converable bra and use them and say "hey look at these matching bra straps" (I would hope they'd almost look like they were built in... like a top with two straps...) I'm wondering if anyone has ever done this? I'd love some inspiration.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?Now that I have it sized right for me, I may make another top, but I probably won't make the dress... I wish I had occasions to wear a dress like that, but alas... I'd recommend it to others, esp. if you're the type of person who goes salsa dancing.

Conclusion: Nice pattern. Morphed well into to top. (More on my blog) ... The cardiwrap is reviewed here and I have photos of my 10 ways to wear the cardiwrap cozy here.

Simplicity 2603 Cardi-Wrap...like the DKNY Cozy

Check it out. 10 Ways to wear the Simplicity 2603 cardi-wrap (almost identical to the DKNY "Cozy"). I just finished sewing this today and thanks to my personal photographer, you can see 10 different ways to wrap and tie this cardi-wrap-cozy. ... beginning with ...


Here are some of the alternatives...




Keep in mind I didn't have a mirror as I wrapped and tied these variations standing out in the driveway. The ties in the previous picture and in this next one are uneven. I said to B: "I need a stylist, so she could get my garments to look just right before the shoot.... or maybe the stylist would be a he"

B. says "Both. You need two stylists, baby. Minimum"

Here's the strange shape of this thing. I've never cut out such a huge front piece for a garment, and never sewn anything this unusual. Isn't it wierd?

The next three alternatives would look better if I could have seen what I was doing (or if my team of stylists had been there ). I hope you can get the idea.

This one really turned out wrong. Extra bumps where they don't belong.



Here's the review I posted on patternreview.com

Pattern Description: Cardi-wrap

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Exactly

Were the instructions easy to follow? The first time I made it, I cut out the wrong back piece, and that was a disaster, resulting in a horribly bumpy shoulder line. After I bought more fabric and made it again, it was easy as can be.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love everything about it. So easy. Can be worn so many ways. It's warm and cozy.

Fabric Used: cotton rib knit

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: 1. I added 5 inches to the sleeves (without the added cuff). They hit right at the wrist. I wish I had added another inch or two. 2. I added 2 inches to the center back and then cut a gentle curve to the side seam because on my first one it looked shorter in the center back. That probably due to my back. One inch would have been enough, but I don't mind how it's slightly longer in the center back now. 3. I didn't narrow hem the outer edges, since several reviewers didn't ... but my fabric looks like it will need it. It's not that it ravels, but it has already started to look tattered on the pointed edge where I've tied it in knots. I'm worried about ruining a totally cute cozy by hemming that looks awful. Any advice before I screw it up would be greatly appreciated.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?I will. I will.

Conclusion: Most fun pattern I've made in a long time.

Oops...The Cozy that bit the dust: Simplicity 2603 cut out wrong

I started this last evening. I was having a heck of a time fitting the upper neck and shoulder seams, matching dots, etc. But nothing lined up. I couldn't figure out what "they" had done wrong in the drafting. I went back to the pattern review gallery to see if anyone else was having the problem I was.

Finally I figured it out: I had cut out the WRONG back piece. The pattern includes 2 different back pieces: one for the cardi-wrap and another one for the sleeveless shell. You can see (below) how radically different they are, and clearly explains why nothing lined up. But I forced it, stretching everywhichway. Result: ugly lumpy shoulder and neck edge. I was going to rip it out and re-do it, but wasn't inspired. I set the whole mess aside, went out today and bought new fabric and started over. It's almost done ... just need to hem the sleeves... (that's what I get for staying up too late to sew).

Long Black Knit Skirt: Style 2834 OOP

Black Wrap Knit Top: Simplicity 4095

Butterick 5185: Asymetrical tie front top

Twist Tie Top: Simplicity 4076

Pattern Description: Three tops including the twist tie front that I made.

Did it look like the photo/drawing? Yes. One reviewer noted that the pattern photo looked much looser than the one they sew'd up. I wanted mine loosish (is that a word) so I made the size that matches my measurement and then did some adjustments...

Were the instructions easy to follow? Easy Peasy. Although having recently returned to sewing after a long hiatus, I feel behind the times on techniques for knits, so I did exactly what the pattern said to do (like on how to turn facings), but would like to learn some of the newer techniques for knits I hear you all discussing.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love the style, the v-neck... nothing to dislike.

Fabric Used: Thin Jersey

Pattern alterations: I cut the size matching my measurements, then took the side seams in above the hips. I narrowed the sleeves so I can push them up.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes. Yes.

Conclusion: The top is cute. I love it. The back upper edge could use stabalization... next time I'll try clear elastic or read other reviews to get ideas on how to tighten it. (a bit drapy back there, but from my point of view, I only look at the front, so who cares ... oops... oh yeah ... anyone who see me from the side or from behind ... oh well ... it's not really horrible ... that'll be for next time).

Vogue 2980: Faux bolero top

I had admired the results of 33 gals who'd reviewed this pattern on patternreview.com. It's out of print, but I was able to find it on ebay. It arrived in the mail Friday. I think it's such a cute pattern. I love the cleverness of the faux shawl/bolero.
I cut it out that very afternoon from fabric I've had in my stash for years: a cotton/lycra black on black print. The bodice sits higher on me across the front than on the model, perhaps because my fabric has less stretch than the fabric in the model picture. Or I should have altered the pattern at bit to lower the front. If I make it again, I will.

My sturdy Husqvarna Viking sewing machine, circa before I was born -- my mother bought it when she was young -- hadn't been used for over a year so it took a bit of time to get it set up right. It was skipping stitches on this knit with a regular needle. So I switched to a ball point needle. STILL skipped stitches. Grrrr. I didn't want to take the time to figure out why. So I used a small stitch length and double sewed each seam.

The sizing on the pattern was very snug, runs extremely "close-fitting" (acc. to the pattern envelope, and as many reviewers commented). So I cut out one size larger than listed for my measurements, which wasn't enough. It was STILL too tight. (Probably my less-stretchy than recommended knit contributed to the problem). I narrowed the side seams to as narrow as possible, which ended up about right. I wore it last night to usher at CAST theatre for the play "The Year of Magical Thinking". (ushers must wear black).

The photo below shows the brocade-like texture of the fabric better. (And it's noticable how much more hourglass shaped my dress form is than yours truly.) Bill asks "Shouldn't the dressform be your exact size? Isn't that the point? "Yes, of course it is." I say. "I just haven't finished adjusting her yet". (It's an antique dress form I got at a yardsale in Florida for $25, then hauled her up to WA with us last spring. I need to oil her metal parts to make the adjusting process easier. (I did the sneaky trick from fashion merchandising... pinning the back at the waist to give her a more sales floor appeal...)

Here's the back view showing the "faux" shawl effect. All in all, a cute pattern I'd highly recommend and plan to make again.

more photos...