Finally She's Done - B5562

Well it's taken me almost a month to the day, but I've finally finished B5562 View B

It's hard to see the gathering details in black.

The added length helps to prevent the shirt from exposing me when bending over, which with three little ones, I seem to do all the time. (Me being silly with my tiny photographer)

Pattern Description: Close-fitting, pullover tops A, B, C, D have stitched hems. A: short sleeves. A, B: elasticized sleeves. C: puckered, below elbow sleeves. A, B, C: narrow hemmed neckline and gathered sleeves. D: draped, gathered, elasticized collar. B, D: long sleeves.

Pattern Sizing: Y(XS-S-M), ZZ(L-XL-XXL)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? I think so.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Super easy instructions although I didn't really use them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love the interesting sleeve detail and that it works up so quickly (that is if you can work on it consistently). I found that I didn't quite like the bateau neck line as it doesn't quite work for those of us with sloping shoulders. A V-neck or the scoop neck as featured in M6164 would have been preferred so I wouldn't have had to play hide the bra strap all day.

Fabric Used: A cotton-poly knit from fabric.com. This fabric just had 2-way stretch, selvage to selvage. I will be sure to use fabric with 4-way stretch should I make this again as you actually have to re-fold the fabric end to end in order to accomodate the sleeve so you loose the crosswise stretch.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I did about a 1 1/2 inch FBA using the pivot method and added 2 inches to the length so it would cover areas I don't want to advertise. When I make this again, I will cut the elastic a bit shorter. I have have short arms so I could have used just a bit more gathering.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I will definitely be sewing this again many times. I can see it becoming somewhat of a TNT as long as I can get away with the gathered sleeves. I would definitely recommend this to others.

Conclusion: This is a great, stylish little top, especially for those looking for instant gratification or the beginner.

If feels good to finish my first project of 2012, there's definitely something to this sewing in small increments when I can rather than waiting until I have huge chunks of time to sew, I'm already tied with production from last year. On to my next project.

Fearless Sewing (A Borrowed Title)

I was recently doing my usual blog crawl and ended up linking to this post. It really got me to focus on this fleeting idea that I've had for a while. The idea of fearless sewing. As I say in my profile I returned to sewing after about a four year break in 2009. In my previous sewing life I primarily made dresses or palazzo style pants with the occasional home dec or children's project thrown in. For the sake of perspective, the extent of my sewing in the years prior was as follows:

WARNING: Photo lite, verbose posts follows

2006 - custom silk pillows for my guest bedroom.

2005 - custom silk and micro suede pillows for my bedroom

2004 - Dress for my graduation from my doctoral program

2000 - I sewed quite a bit that year (for me at least) because I graduated from college and had a party so of course I needed dresses for those occasions and I also got married that year and had two bridal showers, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner as well as the hair and mani-pedi events the day before so of course I had to have new outfits for each of those events all in the wedding colors of course (this was the year I discovered DSW and the perfect matching shoes.

Extremely Poor quality photo alert

1999 - A full ball skirt and shirt with two part collar in satin complete with layers and layers of tulle and lining sewn in. So my daughter could look and feel like a princess on Christmas. Just thinking about hemming that skirt will probably give me nightmares.

1998 - a beautiful fully lined tropical georgette 3/4 length dress (posh lining was my fav back then) to wear to a summer wedding and white and yellow daisy lace underlined sheath. Easter dresses for all three of my nieces.

1994 - A fully lined, full length designer gown with boning made from my first Vogue pattern for my high school reunion.

1993 - A crepe/lace underlined dress for myself and crepe and organza dresses for my two sisters and sister in law for my mother's 50th birthday party.  All without the benefit of a rolled hem foot or serger.

The point being, when I didn't know any better, if I liked it, I made it, I was fearless armed with my little $70 Brother sewing machine that I picked up on a whim from Target.  I've noticed, now that I know that certain techniques are advanced or working with certain fabrics is supposed to be difficult, I tend to shy away from them or at the very least start to doubt my abilities.  Well those days are over.

I'm declaring 2012 The Year of The Return of Fearless Sewing after all it's just fabric, beautiful, cherished fabric, but fabric nevertheless.

I.WANT.THESE.

and these . . .

and these . . .

and these . . .

B5562 Progress

I've had a few rough days and have been exhausted. I had Friday off and thought I'd finish up this shirt. Instead, I slept literally ALL.DAY. Although I truly needed the rest I couldn't help being disappointed that I didn't get anything done. However about 4:00 a.m. I had a burst of energy so I took advantage and here are the results.