Sunday, July 26, 2009

Kwik Sew 3221


My first completed project.

I really am supposed to be figuring out how to make pants for my beautiful pear shape, but one can’t just jump to a pair of Vogue jeans. I’m easing into things by starting with some simple tops. Although Kwik Sew 3221 is my third top pattern, this is the first one I’ve been able to wear, the rest turned into muslins for various reasons.

I got smart with this one and made a real muslin first. I know the pattern is really simple (a rectangle with side seams). However, how do you accommodate XL hips and M bust in a rectangle? Tapering would’ve destroyed the shape. Thank goodness KS has helpful customer service because I was truly perplexed. The solution? Cut a medium and use XL stitching lines. After making the muslin, I decided to use the XL length.

This was my first neckline and I did okay. In the future, I’ll be a lot more careful when making the facing. I got fancy and used French seams for the shoulders. I tried to make a machine-rolled narrow hem. It was my first and I could use a ton more practice. I figured out through trial and error that the walking foot was a necessitiy for the sheer fabric.

Not bad for a first attempt. I wore it to work and it didn’t fall apart!