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Showing posts from 2014

Style Arc Sharon "Sweat Top" jacket - pattern review

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I just completed the StyleArc Sharon jacket (or "sweat top", as they call it!)  The StyleArc Sharon is described as:  A fabulous weekend piece to have in your wardrobe, use contrast rib to give a point of difference to your top. The zip front makes this an easy throw on sweat top and the zip pockets are an optional feature. I ordered a size 8, which is my standard size for StyleArc tops. My fabrics were a pair of ponte knits from Mood Fabrics, in garnet and black. A rayon-polyester-lycra blend ponte with a bit of stretch. The style lines in this allow for some color blocking options, which I took advantage of, mainly because the black would be hidden (you'll see!) and I only had a yard of the red. But I like the effect. Sewing notes:  The instructions can be squirrely at times, especially for attaching the bottom band and the front facing; I think some steps may be out of order, so read them thru and think and pin before you do anything.  For example, if you f

Kwik Sew 3504 - PANTS!

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This is not my first time working with Kwik Sew 3504 - I've made 2 muslins and 2 pair of shorts from it, but have yet to really be satisfied with the results. These are described as: " Men's jeans have fly zipper, waistband with belt carriers, back yoke, back patch pockets, front pockets, a coin pocket, and topstitching detail. View A legs are straight cut and View B are boot cut." Kwik Sew 3504 I have been sewing the straight leg version. My first attempt at pants was this Hot Patterns Disaster .  Let us not speak of it again.  I made a muslin of Kwik Sew 3504, size M, and it seemed to fit well. I got sidetracked, put them away for a while, and when Tim tried them on again, they seemed snug in the butt. So I thought I'd make a L back on a M front, and grade them at the waistband.  So the first attempt was this past summer, in a corduroy I bought from Fabric Outlet SF.  The results:  OVERSIZED!!  They were really huge in the waist, and luckily he we

StyleArc Gabriella skirt

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My Colette Ginger and Sewaholic Hollyburn skirts are my TNT skirt patterns, but I'm starting to have a closet full of them, so I'm trying to branch out. I recently ordered the StyleArc Gabriella skirt (with a few other patterns I can't wait to try) and just completed a wearable muslin. The Gabriella skirt is described as: This is on trend skirt of the moment. It has lovely wide Basque falling into a casual flip skirt. The back features a metal exposed zip. I ordered a size 10 - the pattern is quite simple, I didn't even read the instructions, but the muslin was for sizing purposes. I'm usually a size 8 bust/waist but a size 10 or 12 hips in StyleArc sizing, and I was nervous.  This patten can be made in a woven or a ponte, so I used a medium-weight teal polyester double knit I had in my stash.  As I said, this was easy to sew, you can use an exposed or invisible zip, there are two length options - easy! I sewed it up, basted in the zipper, tried it on - and i

a Colette Myrtle dress

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I've been very underwhelmed by new pattern releases lately, and not into the mad rush to buy, sew, and blog things that don't inspire me. So I had no plans to buy this pattern when I heard it was coming out. Then I saw it, decided it had potential, and ordered it. And I happened to have just received and washed some rayon challis, so I decided I was in the mood to sew it on Saturday. For knits and wovens I bought this because I love a knit dress, then ended up sewing it in a woven! Whatever.  My fabric is a rayon challis from Fabric.com (I bought it to spend enough for free shipping without any specific plans for it. But I liked the color scheme). Fabric.com It is 56" wide and I bought 2 yards; the pattern calls for 2 5/8 yards but I easily made it with 2. I cut a size S and made version 2, the shorter one. It is very easy to sew; I cut and sewed it in a few hours, in time to wear it out to dinner! I imagine the knit version is even faster, since you don'