The Knit is Still My Enemy

It's been almost 2 years since I tackled sewing with knits.  I decided it was time to try again.  So I took this pattern:

 Vogue 8669

And made this:

It's not too bad but I still have an issue with my stitches.  The side seams aren't bad, and the back neck had bias for a little more support but the front neckline and bottom hem stitches still come out all wonking.  It doesn't make any difference if I use the so called "stretch" stitch on the machine or a regular straight stitch.  At least the front neckline folds in on itself and really can't be seen.  And I doubt anyone is going to be staring at the hem, the print is busy enough to hide it.  I didn't want to take any chances with hemming the arms so just left them unstitched.

I love this top, it looks really flattering on me.  I cut a straight Size 12 and the only adjustment I made was taking the length up 1".  It is very long and the tunic version even longer.  I would love to make a few more sleeveless and 3/4" length versions.  I think I am going to try a matte jersey knit next, this slippery 'ITY' stuff is a PITA to work with, luckily it is the last piece in my stash.

Oh yes and I made it in a day, a few hours all total from cutting it out to picture.  For me that is an accomplishment!

4 Sorbettos, all in a row

 You already saw #1 in a previous post but here it is again.

I had some fit issues with this one that were entirely my own fault by cutting it out on the incorrect sizing lines (they need to make 10x reading glasses for this stuff.  I don't know how people can use the Burda patterns without making a mistake!).  This was made in the standard Sorbetto with front pleat and has self-made matching bias trim.  It's a little snug across the bust (FIRST time I have ever had that issue) but it is wearable and I do like it.  I have worn it once already.  Here is a close-up of fabric and bias trim.

Sorbetto # 2:

I only had about a yard of this fabric but really thought it was a nice print to go with jeans.  I got rid of the front pleat and had to cut the back in 2 pieces rather than on a fold, making a scant 1/4inch seam.  I thought it looked a little plain so I made the little front placket and added the buttons.  It has purchased bias trim. The fit was better on this one and I have already worn it once.  Here is a close-up of fabric, trim and buttons (these buttons are actually on backwards, I liked the pearlized underside better than the top):

Sorbetto # 3:

 This one is my favorite. I just love this fabric and even though the background is a dark navy intend on wearing this with black jeans.  The fit on this one, after a little tweaking, is perfect.  It is a standard Sorbetto with contrasting self-made bias.  I have not worn it yet, but plan to next week.  Here is a close-up of the fabric and contrasting bias:

  Sorbetto #4:

This is my second favorite.  The print is black and grey on bright white.  It is a standard Sorbetto with front pleat, self-made contrasting bias and 3 black mismatched buttons.  The bias trim really contrasts on this one while #3 was a more subtle contrast so as not to fight the busyness of the print.  This print cried out for a little more zing.  I have not worn it yet (just finished sewing on the buttons an hour ago) but plan to next week.  Here is a close-up of the fabric, contrasting bias trim and buttons:

There is actually a Sorbetto #5 cut out and sitting on the work pile.  As with #2 I had less than a yard of fabric so it will have no pleat and a seamed back.  But I am a little burnt out on making these at the moment but will come back to it shortly.

This is a great pattern and like many other sewists out in blogland I have been smitten with Sorbetto Fever!  I am sure I will continue to come back to this pattern time and again.

Issues ....I've got issues

I don't know who's blog I saw it on but they made Colette Patterns Sorbetto tank top.  It was adorable and it was a free download.  So off I went.......

After taping the pieces together I was going to copy the size I needed but for the life of me these old trifocaled eyes could not see the lines through the tissue paper.  So I decided to just go ahead and cut out the size I needed from the paper pattern.  

In reading over their size chart I was a little surprised that I would cut a size 2 (Bust 34).  I know they are an independent pattern house and not the one of the larger commercial brands but I was still a little concerned.  I decided to go up one size to a 4 (Bust 35).  I also cut the length at the size 10 because I like my tops a little longer.

The top just looked small to me as I was sewing the seams.  Once I got the seams done I held it up to me....uhoh.  I am surprised I could get it on.....I know they say they have less ease in their patterns but I looked like 10lbs of sausage stuffed in a 5lb casing!  It was also shorter than I like even after adding length. I was so disappointed because:  1) I really like the fabric (it goes so well with a pair of cargo pants I bought months ago, that I have nothing to wear with) and 2) everyone always raves about the fit of Collette patterns.  I'm note sure what went wrong where.

Not to be defeated I was determined to try and save this cute little top.  Getting out of it was my first hurtle....I looked like Edward Norton in 'Fight Club',  beating the crap out of myself to get this thing off!  But I won, and off it came.

I took out all the seams and resewed them at a scant 1/4".  It is still a little snug in the bust but I think it is wearable.  Here she is with the bias facings on yet:

The flowers are shades of lavender and purple with tan, not green leaves.  I was going to make the bias out of a lavender tonal print, but I think I will just use the same floral fabric.

I have already made my adjustment notes and because this is a simple top they weren't that complicated.  So fit issues aside I really like this top.  It sews up quick and the pleat adds a little interest. You can embellish it or make it even simpler by taking out the pleat.  I know I plan on making more.

Better Late Than Never

TaDa!

I present Simplicity 3786  (hopefully I get a better picture later wearing it). Since it has been well over a month since I began this garment, let me refresh your memory.  This is the pattern and fabric:

I did View F. It has been eons since I've sewn pintucks and I didn't find their instructions very clear, so I kind of winged it.  They looked good enough to impress The Husband. Other than that it worked up easily.

It's an okay top. I have never been a big tunic gal, but they seem to be everywhere this year and thought I would give one a try.  The pintucks do add interest and the elastic insert in the back keeps it from being too blousey.  My cotton may be a little too stiff as it still poufs out in front for that much sought-after maternity look. I am hoping a few washings will soften in up a little.

One thing I don't like is the band collar.  It's too big and sticks up.  If I ever make this again I would make the collar half the size.

All in all, it's okay and it's DONE! Time to move on.......nothing here to see...........

Simplicity 4176

Well, I have finally made something that I like and that I think I made well. It is View D (top left) of Simplicity 4176 with modifications.

I used a Kaufman Kona solid and a 30's cotton Feedsack reproduction fabric from my stash, and I just love the combination! I got the idea to do a contrasting outward facing from Diana at Sew Passionista. At first I was only going to do the neckline facing, but decided it needed the armhole bias to be the same to balance it out. I added the banding at the bottom so the length falls somewhere between the short and tunic views.

I really wanted a nice, simple cotton top to where as it has been warm and humid here already. This worked up really fast, just 2 evenings for me. I wore it yesterday and it was very comfortable.

But..... ah, ha....here it comes....I don't know if I would make it for me again. I think the style is a little too young for me. If I was even 10 years younger....maybe. I don't know, maybe I'll try it again with a softer cotton with more drape, we'll see!

I do like it though and am sure it will get plenty of use this summer.


You Say Tomato...........


Our first little tomato fruit popped out a few days ago and is looking good! This is hybrid red we also have a yellow variety along with banana peppers and anaheim peppers. I can't wait until they are ready to eat! Nothing says summer like a straight off-the-vine tomato!

Last Night's Dinner

I have been remiss in posting The Husband's culinary creations so I leave you with last night's simple dish...............

Lightly battered fish, braised leeks with bacon and green salad in a lemon-rosemary vinaigrette. It was very tasty and the fish was surprisingly crispy.

I Have Met Thy Enemy, The Jersey Knit

I have always been a woven kinda gal, but I have seen some gorgeous tops and dresses made from knits, and I wanted in on this action. I read over a lot of reviews on PatternReviews.com and other blogs before making the plunge. I saw people who 'said' they never sewed with knits before do bang up jobs, even without a serger, so I figured I could do this.

HA!

Armed with a lovely ITY black and red jersey from DenverFabrics.com, New Look 6753, a brand new pack of ballpoint needles and my trusty Pfaff 7570 I headed into battle!

And a battle it was, right from the beginning. How and the heck do you cut and sew this stuff neatly? It is slippery than a Chicago politician ( I know, I'm a Chicago native)! And marking, let's not go there. Wax-free tracing paper, tailor's chalk, chalk pencils, soapstone marker....nothing stuck to this fabric. I was tempted to try a Sharpie, but just gave up.

Let's move on to sewing the evil knit. I tested my Pfaff's stretch stitch and a regular straight stitch on swatches of the jersey and chose the stretch. It still puckered a little so I kept playing with the tension and got it the best I could. Keeping my seams straight was nearly impossible, I felt like a drunk, always verging off the road. I could not get the neckband and seam allowance to lie flat, so decided to topstitch on the outside as they suggested. BIG MISTAKE! I tested the straight stitch on my swatches with the appropriate layers of fabric and it looked okay. But, of course, when I did it for real on the garment I couldn't keep the vehicle on the road! This fabric just had a mind of it's own. My top stitch looks like quilt stippling. So, I've read where several people have made mistakes on knits and ripped out the stitches and fixed it.

HA!

Fat chance, those stitches were buried in like ticks on my dog's a**! They weren't going anywhere.

Let's talk armholes. Stitch, stretching band to fit. Okay, did that, but it stayed stretched. If I had Hulk arms it would be great, but I don't. Not very becoming.

At this point I was going to toss it, but I really like the print. It would go so well with my new capris I just made. So I turned the hem up and zigzag stitched it down.......making a nice little ruffled edge.....instead of a nice flat hem as intended. So here it is:

If I apply the quilting theorem "if it looks good from a galloping horse", then it's not bad. But I don't think I can apply that here. I am totally disappointed. I'm not sure why I had so much trouble. Maybe the jersey isn't the best knit to start with, maybe a serger would have helped but really I don't think so. I have a cotton knit, ottoman knit and 2 more jersey fabrics in my arsenal. I may have lost this battle, but I will win the war on knits.

60th Birthday Meal

The Husband made himself a wonderful meal for his 60th birthday (you really didn't think I was going to cook, did you!!??).

Herb-crusted rack of lamb, sauteed leeks, rosemary roasted tomatoes with a rosemary portwine reduction and (underneath in the center where you can't see very well) a mushroom and bacon bread pudding that was out of this world! He really outdid himself, this meal was fantastic!!

TeenagerI think of Lily as my teenage dog, I have to go and wake her up in the morning. I have never had a dog that loves to sleep in like this.............

Simplicity 2805

Ugh......and I don't mean the boots.
So I finished this top, Simplicity 2805, and I can't say I am too happy with it. Well I'm more unhappy with this picture......when did I turn into my Mother!? Maybe it's the fabric or the color or the style or I don't know what, but I'm thinking I look a little frumpy in this.

I will say the pattern was easy and I did learn something from this project. I noticed it gapping in the back of the right armhole, as I had been reading 'Fit for Real People' I remembered about the gapping from uneven shoulders and sure enough my right one is lower and slopes. This also caused the from where the vee crosses to gap open. Fix the right shoulder, fix the armhole and the front gap.

There was another problem with this top that had nothing to do with the pattern or fit. The fabric was flawed and I didn't even notice it until it was sewn together. The bright blue flowers faded across part of the fabric, and of course that part of the fabric ended up front smack dab in the middle of the top. You can see it a little in the picture. This is totally my mistake for not checking and paying attention.

So this little number will be put to use when I'm digging in the garden or washing the dogs. I'm not sure I will make another one.

Next I'm thinking about pants, I really need some summer pants. And I just got 'Pants for Real People' so I am anxious to try this fitting technique. Carolyn, at Diary of a Sewing Fanatic, was talking about her TNT (Tried and True) patterns (she really is creative!), and got me to thinking I need some, especially a pants one since that is what I mostly wear.

So that will be up next, but not until after the Super Bowl. I can't believe football is almost over!