New Look and Simplicity

 

I made at least one thing on my summer list!  I’ve hoarded had this fabric since I fell in love with it May of 2014.  I wanted to wait for the perfect top to use it for.  I only had 1 yard.  Well, this New Look top is pretty much my favorite pattern ever.  I made it last summer in a purple matte, a blue floral; this year in a solid black, and now with this jewel fabric.  I can’t get enough of it! 

New Look 6470 View B

Adjustments and Size: 14 for shoulder and high bust, 16 at waist/hip; I took 3/4” out of the back neck in a slant to 0” at the bottom.  This accounts for 1.5” total out of the back neck. I added 1" to the hem as well.

As with my solid black version, I wanted to have the front part of the cowl lined with the entire shirt (because I hate cowl linings flipping out).  I only had a yard of this so I made the bodice front, cowl, and cowl lining down to the underbust line with the jewel fabric (all in one piece), and then attached some of the leftover black fabric from the solid top at that underbust line – making the bodice all lined.  It worked out great.

Fabric: 1 yard, “Brazil Knit Print” from Michael Levine, Inc. (lowpricefabric.com). purchased May 2014 for $12. It is a poly spandex blend ITY.  Very soft.

Thoughts: Um, I love, love, love it!!  It exceeded my expectations.  I plan on making a cardigan to go over it in the fall/winter – fabric and pattern already bought. 

This top is navy and not black like I first thought so I wanted some navy pants to go with it. 

Simplicity 1283  – Mimi G Style

These pants are supposed to fit a pear shape well (according to the reviews on patternreview.com).  So I took a chance.

Size: My measurements would put me in a 16 waist/ 20 hip.  I looked at the ease and decided to go with an 18 at the waist and 20 everywhere else. 

Adjustments:  I measured the flat pattern for hip/thigh/waist size as well as crotch height/rise.  I decided 2” of negative ease would be ideal.  The hip only measured 39” even though the pattern states it measures 43.5”.  This meant I had to add 1.5” to the hip (equaling 3/16” to each hip edge).  I had to shorten the pants by 1” because they were so long.  I also took a whole THREE inches off the crotch height!!  When I held the pattern up to me, the pants came up to my under bust before the waistband was even added! Wowza.  That is why I shorted the crotch height.  They still come up to my belly button. Anyway, this meant my front dart was no longer needed and my back darts were shortened.  I was not going to sew a zipper into knit pants so I omitted that.  I cut the waistband  on the cross grain instead of the straight of grain like the pattern wanted.  I added 1” elastic to the waistband and sewed it on in the round, like I would on any knit pants.  This worked out great.

Fabric: 2 yards Navy Blue Double Knit, 98% Polyester 2% Lycra. Purchased February 2015 from fashionfabricsclub for $9.90 total. 

Thoughts:  The pants are comfortable in fit.  The fabric is a bit scratchy to wear.  It makes a swoosh-swoosh sound when I walk so……  I’m not sure how much I will wear them.  They look great with my top though so who knows!  I like the pattern enough, it has potential – I just need to buy softer fabric and try it again. As you can see below, I need to address the center back as well, it dips there and is loose.