Purple, Purple and a Puppy

Well, the year is almost over and I still have a bunch of makes I haven’t posted yet. Oops.  I will do my best to catch up so I can start my big plans for next year, fresh.

Here are 3 makes for me (1 fail, 2 successes) and a make for the puppy. 

Ottobre 02/2017 #2 “All Day Long” Rayon Jersey Top



Size: 42 at shoulder to waist, graded to a 44 hip in front and 46 hip in back. 

Adjustments: 1/2” forward shoulder adjustment. Raised neckline 1/2” because it looked low



Instructions are to the point, easy enough to follow.  The neck and hem are bound, cuffs at the arms. 



Fabric: 2 yards Midnight Plum Rayon Spandex Jersey Knit. Purchased May 2017 from Fabricmartfabrics.com on sale for $4/yard.  $8 total.  This is a heavier rayon spandex than I’m used to.  It does make the top hang a bit more (pull towards the ground). 



Thoughts:  Fail.  miserable fail.  I do not like the drop shoulder; Honestly I didn’t think the pattern had this at all, big oversight.  It is also super long.  Like Tunic long.  It looks oversized, baggy, and huge on me.   If I pull up the bottom it looks halfway decent but I still don’t like that shoulder.  I will attempt to use it for a nightgown but I am afraid it is destined for the trash or repurpose pile.  Hmm, there is a lot of fabric here, maybe I can get a cowl tank out of it.  I do love the color.




BurdaStyle 11/2007 #122

I had this pattern pegged to make myself some yoga pants, and then Miss K needed some like “right now” back in September for Gym.  She even used the black space fabric I wanted to use.  After I got over my disappointment of making them for her instead of me, I picked out the same fabric in a different color and made my own. 



Size:Waistband 42; Front Piece: 42 waist, 44 hip to hem; Back Piece: 42 waist, graded to 46 at hip to knee and back to 44 the rest of the way to hem. I added 1.5” for the hem like the magazine stated but then only did 1” hem. 



Instructions:  For Burda, these are good instructions.  However, the pattern is also simple to sew up so not too much to mess up.



Fabric: 2 yards Eggplant Space Dye Poly Spandex Performance Tech Knit Fabric;  It is 90% Poly, 10% Spandex. Purchased from StylishFabrics.com in July 2017 for $7.20/yard. $14.40 total for these pants.  This fabric is amazing.  it is soft and slippery.  It feels closer to ITY than athletic wear.  It has great recovery though.  When I wear these pants it feels like silk on my legs.  The fabric is perfect for warmer weather. 



Thoughts:   I love love love these pants.  They are so easy to make, fit really well, and are super comfortable to wear.  I loved them so much that I made a second pair in this thick red yoga knit fabric. 



Fabric: Premium Red Yoga Knit from Knitpop.  Super thick and luscious.  Purchased in June 2017; it was $10.50/yard in a half off sale.  So $21 total for this pair. This fabric is awesome to wear too.  It has great recovery and is super soft and plush. 



And now for the puppy.  Back in September I was preparing Bear (aka bennie, beanie, etc).  for his first shave.  Knowing he would be cold I made him a cute shirt.  I even embroidered his name on the back.  His full name is Bear E.B. Benson. 

Pattern: Sophi and Friends (on etsy) Dog Tee Shirt Pattern 1764



Size: Tiny little 8lb Bear measured in the Large/XL size.  I measured twice to be sure.  I made him the size Large.


Fabric:  A small bit of Turquoise Cotton Lycra from the scrap pile. 



Instructions:  The instructions are good.  I had no problems putting this together.



Thoughts: Pretty good fit though I will probably size down next time.  It is really baggy near his belly and well…. he’s a boy so it needs to be shorter and tighter across his belly. 



He was thoroughly confused by the shirt and the pictures.  It’s so hard to live a dog’s life.



Happy Sewing!

Dolmans, Shorts, and a pair of Yoga pants

Hello! I know it’s been awhile!  I’ve been very sick still.  I did just find out that I have H. pylori.  Sadly, I’m hoping it is the reason for some/most of my problems.  I just finished a wicked course of meds and can’t say yet if I feel any better.  Time will tell.  I have been able to get back into the sewing room though!

Sweet Tee:

So, I am not a fan of Dolman sleeves.  I just don’t like how they look on me and they feel weird.  However, I love how fast of a sew they are.  Back in May 2016 I wore a P4P Sweet Tee I made out of cotton lycra.


I wasn’t sold on it and cut it up for underwear.  Then I from time to time I thought about that tee and how easy it was to throw on.  Fast forward to last week when I had some leftover fabric from a dress I’m making and I decided I would try the Sweet tee out again. 



This time I used Double brushed poly.  It feels heavenly.  I still don’t like how the Dolman sleeves feel on my arms.  I dislike the top seam.  But I love how this top looks.
Size: Large for bust/waist, sloped to XL at hip.  I also did a 1/2” forward shoulder adjustment. 



Small swayback is needed if I make this again. 
Fabric: 1 yard Double Brushed Denim Teal Amber Floral on Poly Spandex; $8.50 from Knitpop



My lovely camera was acting up and it was 90°F, in September!?!.  This is the best side picture I could get.



Jalie 3352 Dolman:

I decided to compare the P4P Sweet Tee Dolman with the Jalie 3352 Dolman.  I used charcoal cotton lycra for this one.  I used size W tapering out to size Z at the hip.  I did a 1/4” forward shoulder adjustment and straightened the bottom because I don’t care for a high/lo hem. 



After I made it and tried it on it was huge on me.  I ended up tapering in each side by 2”.  I still do not like it.  It’s too loose and baggy. I'll be chopping this one up.



I did however enjoy learning to do a reverse coverstitch and of course it turned out perfect because I won’t be wearing this top. 

Palazzo Pants:

Size L at the waist to XL hips down.  I also scooped out 1/2” from the back butt curve.
These feel amazing when wearing them, though they do ride up my thighs.  Now that I see these pictures I see all these wrinkles :(


Fabric: Peacock space dye fabric from Joann's. 1 yard. $10.19;  normally I would never pay that much for a yard of noncustom fabric but Miss K had to have it. And I’ll admit I do love how thick it is.  Of course now Joann doesn’t have anymore.



I made another pair I loved these first ones so much.



And once I saw these pictures I saw more riding up at the hip.  I guess I need to make this pattern an XL at the hip instead of a large.  This fabric has more recovery too and is a bit tighter than the brushed poly I used the first time.



Fabric: Black Space Dye Poly Spandex Performance Tech Knit Fabric, 1 yard from Stylish fabrics; $7.20;  This fabric was supposed to be made into pants for me however… Miss K decided she would steal it and tell me she needed gym pants the following day.  So I only had leftovers to work with. 

BurdaStyle 11/2007 #122



Gym Pants. Miss K needed them in one day.  She stole my fabric and even the pattern I was going to use it for!  In the end she was happy so it worked out.  This is Burdastyle 11/2007 #122 Yoga pants



Size: 42. Then I shortened the rise 1” and took 2” out of the length.  I tapered each leg in by 1” for a total of 4”!  Miss K still says they are too wide at the leg (she loves those skinny jeans).  The waistband is originally 10 inches which you fold in half to 5 inches and then fold over again for the yoga waist.  Miss K hated that so I chopped up the waistband to be 3” and put in 1.5” sport elastic, folded over.  She wears them for gym and likes them enough so that is a win in my book.