Sew Wrong

There’s Bound To Be Problems…

…when you don’t make a muslin.

First of all, how does one make a muslin for knit fabrics? You can’t use regular muslin since it has no give.

Do you go and splurge more money on knit fabric that has identical stretch, or do you just buy a yard or two more of the fabric for your project to make a muslin? Both options are not cheap.

These are the questions I have resulting from my Fandango Dress, which looks like it might be a Fandang-no. The pattern in question is, of course, Simplicity 3678. I guess I should have known better than to pick a pattern that crosses over at the center front, like a wrap dress. Those patterns and RTW never work on my, ahem, small chest. But the picture looked misleading, and I thought that the neckline wasn’t that low.

Hah.

Let’s just say, if I bent over, it was a free show. Can I also add that I’m making a size 10 top, which has a bust that measures to 32.5″. Not to be too personal, but I’m a 34″ chest, and this pattern still doesn’t work on me and I have bust to spare!

I tried adjusting the front by having the fronts cross over more than specified in the pattern. It was a little better than before, but still required some tacking down on the top front cross piece so that it wouldn’t gape. But I have some options:

1. Totally take apart the top (pleating, top stitching, facings, shoulder seam stabilization) and start over, cutting the top down from a 10 to an 8. There is no guarantee that it will work out better.

2. Keep on going, but wear a cami underneath the dress whenever I wear it. Extra layer, extra bulk, extra hot. This is supposed to be a summer dress.

3. Add some sort of faux “cami” by placing some fabric underneath the neckline to make it look like it’s layered. This would prevent whatever boobage I have from showing .

4. Use the remaining fabric from the skirt to make a knit shell that I would be able to wear under my black blazers to work, thus making the shell more wearable than the dress since the dress would only be a summertime item and not a year-round garment.

I spent $20 on this gorgeous fabric.
Number 4 is looking pretty good right now.

Follow:

Somewhat Cowl

I got some good shots of my sweater today:

Somewhat Cowl
Somewhat Cowl
Somewhat Cowl - finished!

Needles: US 4 and 5 circs/dpns

Modifications: I ended up knitting the raglan length to 8″ since I knew that the length given in the pattern was way too long for me. I just measured myself and knit to that measurement instead. I also made the neckline higher by knitting to about 9 or 10″ before joining in the round. I wanted this to be work appropriate, hence the reason it’s knit in black, and I can wear it with a cami underneath for work or without one for going out. You can almost see the white one I have on in these photos.

Somewhat Cowl - detail shot

This is the most pleased that I’ve been with any sweater that I’ve made. I still have to block it, but the stitches look great and it fits perfectly. It took a couple of years, but I’ve finally got a wearable sweater that doesn’t look so “home made!”

Follow:

The King of Fashion

The end of an era: watch it here.

Follow:

I need more sunshine

Somewhat Cowl – Detail, originally uploaded by sewwrong.

Well, I tried to take some photos of my finished Somewhat Cowl. This was the only somewhat ok photo that I got out of about a dozen (then my battery died). If we didn’t have thunderstorms and big clouds rolling through all day, the lighting probably wouldn’t have been an issue. I guess I’ll have to try again tomorrow to get some better shots.

I got the yarn for my Pink-ina this week and started working on it last night. The lace is slow going, but it’s easy to memorize. The color, Cheeky, is absolutely a joy to work with and a nice change than having to stare at black all the time.

Pink-ina Yarn

I’ll probably have a photo of the lace after the weekend is over. And hopefully, some final sweater photos of the Somewhat Cowl.

Follow:

Plans for the Great Coat Sew-Along



I’m participating in the sew-along over at The Great Coat Sew-Along, and I’ve chosen to make view B from McCall’s 5525. I’m a little apprehensive since this is the first time I’ve ever tackled a project this complex, so it will be quite the experience! I figured this would be a great coat for fall, and with the 3/4 sleeves, it would look smashing with some elbow length leather gloves.The pattern calls for lightweight cotton and cotton blends, even raincoat material, but I guess that I’d be able to use some wool gabaridne since it’s supposed to be a lightweight coat.

Any input about the fabric would be great, whether or not to go with something else. Ideally I’d like to make it in wool or something of the same variety.

Follow: