Business casual skirt

It has been no sewing in my life recently, but I have few pieces I haven't blogged about. One of them is pencil skirt for summer. 

I used the same pattern as for silk skirt I sewed earlier this year (from Burda 08-2007). The fabric is cotton-lycra twill I bought online at NATAN store. I like the colour combination very much.

Back view:

It starts with fabric ....

I bought this bold print knit in January, during my first fabric shopping in Warsaw. I didn't have any specific pattern in mind, but I wanted to make a dress from it. Unfortunately, each time I tried to find pattern, it turned out, that I don't have enough fabric. Luckily, the next time I visited that shop, I managed to buy additional yardage.

I decided to make maxi dress with McCall's 6700.

 I cut size 10, and I did not make any alteration apart from 1.5 cm short waist adjustment. Next time I should lenghten bodice front (circa 2.5 cm at center front, tapering to nothing at side seams).

The neckline is cut very low, and gaping a bit, I could have overlap front pieces by few more centimetres (I think I might rip waist seam and correct it, because it's annoying).

In order to stabilise neckline I fused a strip of knit interfacing. Then I finished it with coverstich. To make shoulder gathers I stitched clear elastic over shoulder seam (it looks more like RTW clothes)

Back view:

Eventually I added back ties, to keep back in place.

I wish I sewed this dress earlier this year, not in the end of summer. Despite minor imperfections I think this is lovely dress and will get a lot of wear next year.

Perfect summer dress

I wonder why this pattern (Butterick 5873) is not very popular among Pattern Review members. It's such any easy and stylish dress.
Here is my review:

 Pattern Description: Close-fitting, above mid-knee length dress has mock wrap front, gathered at left side, collar, collar band, raglan sleeve, side zipper and stitched hems. I made view B with short sleeves but without sash.

Pattern Sizing: I cut bodice 10, and graded to 12 at waist and hips.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, there were fairly easy. Although I changed order of construction, first sew attached sleeves to the bodice, then serged side seams. I also used coverstich machine to finish hems

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I like the silhouette of the dress, which is very slimming. I like side gathers. No dislikes

Fabric Used: Raoyn lycra knit. I think it was perfect fabric-pattern combination, the knit has just enough weight for gathers.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: My usual alteration ie removing 1.5 cm from waist area. I also took in 1 cm at sleeves seam.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might sew view A with longer sleeves for fall.

Conclusion: I wonder why this pattern is not very popular at PR. For me it's a winner, the best summer dress! It's comfortable to wear, yet stylish. 

And photos:

Side gathers:

Back view:

Cotton cardigan

Have you ever sew something you did not like? Not because of fit, but because it does not fit your style. It happened to me with this cadigan. The pattern is McCall's 6844, the one with many positive reviews on Pattern Review.

So why it did not work for me? Firstly, I cut it too short. I did short waist alteration and removed 2.5 cm, but forgot to add the same amount to the length.

Secondly - wrong fabric choce. I chose thin cotton knit in light grey colour, which would be more suitable for sweatshirt.

No photo on me this time.

It looks more like loungewear. However the pattern itself is ok, and I might sew it sometime, only with different fabric. It will look great in lightweight wool knit.

Vogue 8724 again

Here is the second version of Vogue 8724, made for my sister. This time I used size D cup for bodice. It was almost OK, but if sew this dress next time, I will do FBA. I cut size 14, but added 1.5cm to side seams (next time add 2 cm). The construction was the same as for the dress I made for myself.

 

Easy knit dres

This is a dress I made 3 times in a row. I didn't planned it, it just happened. I sew one dress for myself. When I showed finished garment to my sisters, both of them requested that I sew one for them.

The pattern is Vogue 8724. The pattern is rated easy, which is very true. It comes with separate bodice pieces for A,B,C and D bra cups. I used B-cup for myself, and D-cup for my sisters' dresses.

I cut size 12 and graded to 14 at waist and hips. Grading was not necessary, as I ended taking side seams in. I did my usual short waist alteration (1.5 cm) and shortened skirt by 5 cm.

 

I interfaced neckline with strip of knit interfacing, and finished it with binding. I sew all seams on my sewing machine with narrow zig-zag, and then serged them.

The unique feature of this dress are back princess seams. They are easy for fitting.

I have worn this dress few times during May and it's definitely a winner. I'm thinking of tweaking the pattern a bit, and sewing tunic with flared skirt. If I figure out how to add sleeves, it will be great dress for coller weather.

Vogue 1250 revisited

I ordered  1m of this rayon knit for summer top. When fabric arrived, it was so generously cut, that I managed to sew a dress from it. I took Vogue 1250, the pattern I used last year for my  first knit project. The only difference was that I shortened skirt by 4 cm due to shortage of fabric. (Note to myself - don't do it again. Skirt is a bit too short for my taste).

It was quick and easy project. I started on Friday evening and finished on Sunday morning, so that I could wear it to my mom's birthday party.

 

Close up of fabric: