Cardigans

Normally it is cold this time of the year so I thought I’d get a jump on that and make some Cardigans. 

This pattern is another “Patterns For Pirates” beauty.  Once again there are lots of options that come with it.  You can make short sleeves, long sleeves, 3/4 sleeves. Hemmed sleeves, banded sleeves.  Hemmed or banded bottom.  Elbow patches.  Regular collar or shawl collar.  Shirt length or tunic length.  Buttons, snaps, or none. Pockets or no pockets.



The first one I made with this awesome Ponte from Hobby Lobby.  I was walking through the store 2 weeks ago in search of Navy Cotton Lycra (no luck), and saw this on the clearance rack; it spoke to me so I picked up 3 yards with no project in mind.  Two days later Patterns for Pirates had a huge sale and I knew it was destined to be a cardigan. 



I made the Tunic length, banded;  Long sleeves with cuffs, pockets, and the shawl collar. My measurements put me in a size L Bust/Waist and XL in hip but I made a straight size L for some reason. I did remember to do my 1/2” square shoulder adjustment.



Instructions: Detailed, full of pictures, step-by-step hand-holding.  The instructions are wonderful.

Fabric: 3 yards Ponte knit from Hobby Lobby, $15 total. 



Thoughts: At first I wasn’t sure if I liked this style on me or not.  I do not have any leggings or boots to wear with this. I really do not have any plain tees with “pop” to wear under it.  However, after wearing it with my black yoga pants and tee, I was loving it. The length is great and it is nice and warm.  I didn’t put any buttons on because I didn’t want any and frankly I can’t get it to close over my hips….  I really need to grade to an XL in hips, like the pattern tells me to. Anyway, I love that it sews up really fast ; this was a 2 hour sew.   Now I need to make some leggings and a plain tee in a bright color like teal to go with this. 



I made the cardigan a second time because I needed a black cardi to wear to my husband’s Christmas party.  It was not a fancy event but I wanted to be a little dressed up and not just jeans with tee.
For this one I made the shirt length + 2inches, banded hem, long sleeves with cuffs and shawl collar.  I stayed with size L because I was being lazy and the pattern was already traced.  This one has the 1/2” square shoulder adjustment as well. 



I only had 2 yards of black cotton lycra knit and hoped to squeeze it out.  I got all the way to the end and realized I didn’t have enough fabric for the shawl collar.  I ran into Wal-Mart to grab a yard of their black cotton lycra (which I love).  It didn’t quite match my other fabric but I did not care at that point.  This one sewed up equally fast.



Fabric:   2 yards Black Cotton Lycra (10 oz) from stylish fabrics, just purchased, for $13.80.  And then 1 yard Black Cotton Lycra from Wal-Mart for $5.98.  for a total of $19.78



Thoughts: I needed a plain black cardigan because it will go with everything.  I’m happy with how it turned out; however, on the shirt length the pockets are a bit high and not practical.  I would put in side seam pockets next time if I used this length.  This one does not close over my hips either, but this is my error and not the pattern’s fault.

Silhouette Excitement and Miss K Sewing

My mom (who is the best ever) gave me my Birthday present early.  A Silhouette Cameo!!!  Oh how I love this thing.  I was impatiently waiting on some vinyl to come so I could make my first design.  Well, it came and I just went for it.  I made my design, the machine cut it out, and the next thing I know I have the best sweatshirt ever!

This is the Jalie 3355 hoodie that I made in April 2015.  I was sort of “meh” about the sweatshirt but then I wore it a few times and it is amazingly comfortable to wear.  So I loved it but it was so plain.  Well, plain no more!! Here is my new favorite sweatshirt debuting my first ever vinyl creation!

My “I’m so flipping excited” face

And my smug “I’m going to make tons of these” face

I’m going to have loads of fun with this thing. This is the Siser Easy Weed Stretch Heat Transfer Vinyl.  I wanted to make sure it wouldn't crack when my fabric stretched.

Anyway, on to the sewing. 
Miss K picked out some fleece (oh how I dislike fleece) at the store and asked for nightgowns.  I dug up a vintage Kwik Sew from the 70s it is #628 and is a simple nightgown with short, medium, or long length and bonus panties!  I sewed up the medium length in a size 12 for Miss K grading out to a 14 in the waist and hip, per her measurements. 



I made the elephant one first and Miss K approved.  She asked me to make the Inside Out fleece out of the same pattern.  So the bonus is that I had it already traced off.  These sew up really fast too.  It's a pretty shapeless nightgown which is downright perfect for a 9 year old.

I had to beg her to take pictures and she wanted to use the remote by herself.





Fabric for elephants: 1.5 yards “Elephant Party Gray and Blue Microfleece” purchased in September from Hancocks for $5.93 on sale.



Fabric for Inside out: I carefully squeezed this out of 1 yard of “Disney Inside Out Emotions Packed Fleece” also purchased in September at Hancocks for $6.72 on sale.



I also made Miss K up another Jalie Dolman ~ 3352
I sized down with this one to a “N” for the shoulders/bust and a “Q” at the waist/hip.  Unfortunately K thinks this one is too tight in the sleeves and shoulders.  I’m not sure if she will even wear it.  She prefers the ITY fabric like the one I made her in October.



I may just take the Navy sleeves off and hem it to be short sleeves.  She seems to have a problem/irritation where the seam on the sleeves meet. The fabric is Rayon Jersey.  The elephants are scraps from my shirt the other day, the Navy is also scraps from that shirt. I would say the Navy was 1/4 yard for $1.31 and 1/2 yard of the elephants for $3.75 for a total of $5.06

Battle of the Raglans ~ P4P vs. Ottobre

Hello, Hello!  I took a ton of pictures today so I'll have lots to show you the next couple days. Let's start with my battle of the Raglans. 

I wanted to take 2 patterns for Raglan tops and make them both to compare them in fit and assembly.



The first one I made was the Patterns for Pirates ~ Raglan.  This pattern has so many great add-on's that I just had to buy it (during their sale of course).  There are options for: a hood; a cross over funnel hood; a funnel hood that is ruched, traditional, or buttoned up; Elbow patches; a kangaroo pocket; thumb hole cuffs;  long sleeves, 3/4 sleeves, short sleeves; curved hem, banded hem, regular hem; tunic length, regular length.... Oh the possibilities.  I just love that in a pattern. I’m not an affiliate and I wasn’t given the pattern free, I just like it a ton!



Plus, the PDF is no trim.  This means that if I print with a "boarder-less" setting on my printer I don't have to cut anything, just get right to taping up the pattern. I love that!  The sizing is also amazing in that it goes from XXS all the way up to XXXL.  The patterns are drafted for hourglass shapes.
  


Sizing: My measurements put me into a L for chest/waist, and XL for hips. However, according to comments on the Facebook page it was recommended to size down.  So I sewed up a M and then graded to a L at the hip. 

Instructions: amazingly detailed and very helpful.  Pictures are posted for each step.  I just keep my laptop up next to me in my sewing room while I sew.  



Fabric: 1 yard Navy Blue Jersey Knit, cotton/lycra.  I purchased it in June for $5.25 from Fashionfabricsclub.com; It is so super soft I would live in it if I could.  and a Fat Half of Gray Elephant Rayon Jersey knit purchased in June this year for $3.75 from Purpleseamstress.  This stuff is soft too, but on the light side.  Total for shirt: $9.00



Thoughts: I love it! I really love it.  The length is perfect, the sleeves are nice and a tad long – which is great in the cold because I can pull the cuffs down over my hands. The neckline is perfect.  I think the sleeves are a tad big, but that is easy to fix for next time.  This is a Winner in my book; plus, think of all the options with the pattern!
 
Next up is Ottobre 05/2011 #4 ~ Everyday Scoop Neck Raglan T-Shirt
The pattern is for a long sleeved raglan with sleeve cuffs and hip band.  No options come with this one.  Just a nice simple shirt.



Sizing: I made this according to my measurements; I also measured the flat pattern to make sure they would work.  I sewed a 42 for the shoulders and waist; and a 44 for the bust and hip. The pattern goes from size 34 to 52.



Instructions: normal Ottobre; sufficient in information but no pictures to help you along the way.  No hand-holding.

Fabric: 1 yard black cotton lycra knit 7oz purchased in Nov. from Stylish fabrics for $4.90; Fat Half of White/Black Lace Print cotton lycra knit purchased in Nov. from Fashion Fabrics Club for $2.63.  Total for the shirt: $7.53.



Thoughts: I’m not digging this top as much.  I love the fabric for sure, but the fit of this one is different.  The neckline is way to wide/low for me.  It ended up too short for my liking, plus the sleeve cuffs are too big, they aren’t tight enough on my wrists.  I had the hem band on but it was terrible and too big for the bottom so I had to chop it off (no unpicking that for me) and sew a tiny 1/2” hem.  Now it’s too short.  I will remake this raglan with the same fabric but use the P4P pattern.  (am I crazy? lol. yes, I am.)

here is with the hem band on. See how it swings out in front? ick.

 
 
The Ottobre Raglan isn’t bad, it just does not fit me comfortably like the patterns for pirates one.  Plus it does not include all those fun options.  I think if the bands on the cuffs and hem were a good 2 inches tighter, the top would fit better.
 
~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

November Recap 2015

November recap?  "But you haven't posted anything in November?"

You are right about that.  I enjoyed taking the month off and spending time with the kids.  I also worked on remodeling the upstairs of our house; and we were busy with all sorts of holiday things.

I have sewn some things, but they are yet to be blogged.   But I'll be blogging like normal again December and forward.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving (if you celebrate that sort of thing)!


~ Happy Sewing! ~ Kristin ~

October Recap 2015

Wow I made a lot of items in October!  I’m happy I was able to make so many things for me.  Though not everything turned out to be a success, I had fun learning along the way.

17 items, 22.25 yards of fabric. Total fabric cost $107.52

How did I do for October with my resolutions?
1 new pattern: yes, 12 total new patterns used
1 new Burda/Otto pattern for me: yes, 3
1 fabric stash used: 1.5 yards
1 me make each month in 2015: yes, I really went all out for me makes this month with 9 total!

~Happy Sewing!~
Kristin