Not Bad For A Muslin - Kwik Sew 3617

I finished KS3617 today and not without drama.  First, you see that blue dot on the neckband? That was where I numbered the wrong side of the pattern piece so that I wouldn't confuse things.  I used a Mark-B-Gone marker.  Then  I fused interfacing over the mark.  Now, when the collar is wet, the ink goes away.  When the fabric dries, the mark reappears.  That better come out when I wash the top tomorrow.

The second bit of drama was, and I almost came to tears, when I was hemming the sleeve.  I used my machine's free arm and I thought I had stretched the fabric out.  I don't know if I would have recovered if I had.  Thank God it worked out. 

I purchased the fabric to be a muslin.  I think that by the time I was done with the sale at Hancock, I paid around $1.00 for the fabric.  Silly me should have bought the whole bolt.  Then I'd have a more realistic muslin fabric for this ponteroma knit wardrobe. In the back of my mind, I was hoping that this muslin would be wearable.  I think it is:-)

The last quirk I have for this top is something I've done with everything I've tried to make -- I accidently cut a hole in it. Without fail, I do it every time.  I know less about mending and darning than I do sewing, so here's my best attempt at a fix.

Let's review, shall we?

Pattern Description

Misses' pull-over close fitting tops. View A has scoop neckline with wide neckband and full length sleeves.

Pattern Sizing
XS-XL

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. Kwik Sew has become my favorite brand for knit tops. The patters are well-drafted and the instructions are clear.

  

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love the scoop neck with wide band. 

Fabric Used
Ribbed knit from Hancock's value fabrics

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made
1.  I tissue-fit the patten as subbested in Fit for Real People: Sew Great Clothes Using ANY Pattern (Sewing for Real People series)

2.  No-dart FBA as described in The Perfect Fit: The Classic Guide to Altering Patterns.

3.  I added back darts.  At the time, I didn't understand how to do a sway back alteration. So I added darts using a really scientific method; I pulled out a pattern that had darts and traced them onto this pattern.

Would you sew it again?  Would you recommend it to others?
Of course. It's a good basic top.  If I can tackle this with moderate success, beginners should have no fear.

Conclusion
This top is a wardrobe staple. I look forward to it in many colors in both short and long sleeves. 

Beginners, here are the skills you'll get to practice:

• Working with knits
• Understitching
• Hemming
• Double-needle topstitching
• Fusing interfacing
• Attaching a shaped neckband 

See the work in progress here, here and here.  Thank you to those who provided advice and encouragement along the way.

What I Learned Today

So I'd really be close to done with this shirt had I not ran out of thread. Lesson learned? Don't use real thread for basting stitches. What makes it so bad is that I was in two fabric stores today! Good news is that I like the fit. Redid some of the top stitching on the neckband.

Slowly But Surely - Kwik Sew 3617

I completed the neckband today. It takes me a long time to work a neckband. I get confused about which way to pin it. And it takes me forever to sew it onto the neckline.  This one was a two-piece neckband with interfacing.

I have it attached to the top.  Please tell me what I was supposed to do with all those seam allowances. I made up a way to trim them, but I'm sure there are some proven techniques.

My understitching skills need work.

Didn't do too badly on this round of understitching.  This is the part that really took forever because I had to rip and re-sew several times.  Okay, a ton of times.

I pressed everything within an inch of it's life. Next up sleeves, side seams and hemming.  Whoo hoo!