The Battle Continues

The quest for clothes that fit continues!  I'm tackling my first sway back alteration in a top.  Rather than doing the wedge and tapering to the side seam, I decided to try this method.  If you use this one, you don't have to worry about straightening the hem and fixing the grain line. 

I'm working on my second Kwik Sew 3740 muslin.  The first one I put aside when I realized I'd cut the collar and the top of the bodice too large. I decided to make things easy and simple and just start over; I'd already done an FBA and I didn't want to get confused.

This is definitely an iterative process.  No pics until I get the pattern adjusted properly. I started with taking out 7/8".  For this next round, I think I used the right waistline marking on the pattern and I've taken out 1 1/2".  I can't wait to get into my cowl neck ponteroma knit top!

On a separate note, I thought I'd be getting my new sewing machine this weekend.  Looks like I'll be putting that off for another month.  I decided to stop working on Kwik Sew 3221 until I have more technology to help me with the slippery sheer I am using. Also, I was a little disappointed after I tried it on. I thought it would look great with this top; I didn't like the way it looked over the long sleeves. 

It was completely God's grace that got the design centered! I gave that absolutely no thought when laying out the pattern.  I've realized that not only did I have problems sewing the fabric, but I butchered it while cutting too.  If you see this value fabric at Hancock, please give me a shout! I need two yards.

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!