Recent projects

I've been sewing quite a bit in between exciting visits to see my new granddaughter, born April 13th. I have a new version of the Sewing Workshop Liberty Shirt pictured here. Also a color blocked shell from an old Vogue pattern, a linen dress from a new Burda pattern, a drapy rayon top from a new McCall's pattern and a fleece coat/bathrobe from Sewing Workshop's Soho Coat pattern. I also made another Jalie Criss Cross top (love that design). I'll get pictures up I promise. Meanwhile here is a shot of the new baby, Sierra Naima Smith, wearing a sweater and booties I made for her daddy before he was born 39 years ago. I saved it along with the blanket she is lying on until it could be used again! She is 6 days old here, the same age I have a picture of Derek wearing the set.

Vogue 8559 Marcy Tilton jacket as a vest

My garments are sewn using Marcy Tilton's jacket pattern view A without the sleeves. It is a loose fitting unlined jacket with dropped shoulders and fronts longer than the sides. View A has no side seams. Without the sleeves it is just one pattern piece. It is hard to see on the pattern envelope as it is shown in black. It is an entirely different pattern from view B/C which is shaped differently and has bands.
Pattern Sizing: Sizes XS-S-M or L-XL. I made size Medium.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Well, except for no sleeves and no decorative stitching and my edges were bound with ribbon from the fabric.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Marcy has excellent instructions.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I have made this pattern before using the other view with a matching tank top. I was intrigued to try this view. My fabric is very unstable so I wanted to use a pattern with few seams. I like the drapey, relaxed style.
Fabric Used: A fantastic fabric with ribbons woven through. I bought this fabric at Marcy's booth at Puyallup after I saw a sample garment they had there using this fabric. Katherine Tilton had made it (using a different pattern) binding the the edges with ribbon pulled from the fabric. I decided to try this too. The selvedge has the ribbon looped along the edge so I used that along the bottom edge.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: As I mentioned, no sleeves and bound edges.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I have made this view again in a sheer lacy knit using the 3 thread rolled edge on my serger for the finishing. Here's the back
Conclusion: Quick vest to make especially if you use the serger for the edges. Wrapping the edges with the ribbon took a while but since the sewing only takes a few minutes it is still a quick garment to construct. I'm wearing it here with the Jalie top and Tilton pants I recently reviewed.

About the MT outfit

Thanks everybody for your reassuring comments about the pants. I love them.


Kathleen, I cut the edge with a wavy blade rotary cutter. That was a quick and really fun thing to do. I tried it at the neckline but that didn't really look as cool so I turned that edge in as a binding. Thank you.

Vogue 8637 Marcy Tilton pants with Vogue 8497 MT top

                                         ?

'

'

 

This is such a great pattern. I made the skirt last month and have been wearing it constantly. I forgot to review it I think because it seemed like such an old favorite already. I will get photos soon. Meanwhile I have now also made the pants from the same fabric and they are my new favorites. So comfortable and funky. They are an elastic waist pull on pant with wide darts at the lower side edges which control the fullness of the curved side panel.

Pattern Sizing: Size BB includes 8 - 14. Size F5 has 16 - 24. How do they come up with these sizing labels?? I made size 12 which is one size down from my measurements. I also cut the size 8 crotch since I am a short person. I also shortened the length 1 1/4" (I usually shorten 2') but that was too much and I had to skimp on the hem depth.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes Another view
Pants closeup
Pants back

Were the instructions easy to follow? Very simple design and easy to follow.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?Love the slightly funky look combined with easy comfort.

Fabric Used: Cotton interlock or double knit.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Size changes as above. Also changed the waist slightly to use my 1" wide elastic that I had on hand.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Definitely. Love these and will make them again.

Conclusion: I still had a bit of the fabric left after making the skirt and the pants so I squeezed out the top using Vogue 8497, another Marcy Tilton design. As this fabric doesn't curl up attractively on the raw edges I decided to get creative and used my wavy rotary cutter to cut the raw edges. Top
Another view of top
Top back. I think I am not standing up straight causing the back to be all wrinkled.
I was quite surprised to see the following comment on my review at Pattern Review. I thought these pants look pretty good on me but more to the point is that I don't usually see this kind of comment on anyone's reviews: 
"I was planning on making these but after seeing yours I've decided against it. While your sewing is fine, I don't like how it makes you look shorter and dumpy."

Tracing from Polka Dot Overload

The blogger Polka Dot Overload at http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2010/03/perfect-pattern-tracing-paper-love.html#comments has an interesting topic open for discussion right now. She asks if you are a cutter or a tracer. She has converting from fear of tracing to loving tracing, attributed primarily to finding the right tracing material. This led to me thinking about the topic and formulating my feeling about it.


I am a cutter. I hate to trace. I have tried different tracing materials and do it when necessary. But it is not about the problems with the different tracing materials but the act of tracing. It is very time consuming, it hurts my back, it is easy to be inaccurate, etc. I like to cut right into the pattern. It is only a pattern. I get them at sale prices. They are not expensive. Even expensive ones I cut out. My time (and back) are worth the expense. So what if I render the pattern unusable for the future. The chances are slim that I will use it again. If I do want to reuse a pattern it is a rare chance that it will not be reuseable. You can always tape it or add tissue where needed. Also, I don't like heavy paper patterns. So much bulk. I like the flimsy tissue.


How about it? Anybody like me?