TNT's Patterns Are My Favorites - Vogue 1314

My first "finished" project of 2018.  I needed something fast and easy to make on Monday afternoon.

Vogue 1314 is one of my go to knit dress pattern because it is quick, easy, and already to go.   It's a simple four piece pattern to is a bind right next to my table.  Perfect for a mid-western, cold as the North Pole, January day.  I first used it a few years back.  After making the necessary adjustments, it was immediately place in the TNT bind.  I use the front and back lining for the dress along with the neck band and sleeve.

The possibilities are many.  It can be used as a sloper to adjust similar style patterns.  Last year I used it with other sleeve patterns.  This basic pattern can lend itself to be morphed into a totally different dress.  The possibilities are endless.

My previous reviews are here:

Vogue 1314 The Third Time's The Charm

Getting the Most Out of Your Pattern Vogue 1314 and McCall 7542

Vogue 1314 Striped Knit Top

Oops The Wrong Fabric Choice

Self Drafted Sleeve - Vogue 1314

Sparkle Top with Bold Full Skirt

There are all of the versions of Vogue 1314 that I've had over the years.

Happy Sewing!
C

Practice, Practice, Practice - Bound Button Holes

"Practice makes perfect" is a well known buzz-phrase.  It's a phrase that I often use when describing how I intend to build my own skills and confidence.  For 2018 I decided to include "perfecting bound buttonholes".   The image above is my practice test using the coat fabric.  I chose the smaller version for the coat.

Finished Bound Buttonholes on the Coat

You might ask, "Don't you already know how to make them?"  My answer, "Yes, but each time I make them, I need practice like it was the very first time."  I've been working on my first coat of the year, Butterick     .  Instead of regular button holes, I made bound ones.  I'm 75 percent done with my coat and hope to reveal it soon.  But in the meantime, I wanted to share this small sewing goal with you.

On the Wrong Side of the Center Front Coat

There are several online tutorials that give you step-by-step instructions on how to make a bound buttonhole.  Below are a few with the Threads process being very close to how I made mine.  So here goes!

Threads tutorial 

Sewaholic tutorial 

LolitaPatterns tutorial 



Happy Sewing!
C

Vogue 1525 - In Review and Not the Look for Me

 

I seriously debated this Rebecca Vallance outfit, Vogue 1525.  When the pattern was first published, I thought about purchasing it.  But then I thought; "No this isn't the look for me."  After seeing it made by others, I thought maybe it will work for me.

Well, throughout the entire process, I had doubts about the look on me.  In hind sight, I realized I should have simply made a muslin.  It would have told me a lot about how this outfit would look on me.

Over the weekend, I tried it on again.  I think it's the crispness of the fabric.  It has body and it falls away from my frame.  This affect makes me "thick" and I the outfit a lot on the maternity side. :-(

I think the fabric combined with the style is not a good match.

Anyway, this Chinese Red Stretch Blended Double Cloth would have been better used in a dress or jacket and skirt.  The fabric is medium weight with a crisp hand.    The good thing is I do have enough left to get a nice skirt.  Maybe I'll try that next. ;-)


As far as reviewing the pattern, it was easy to construct the garment.  It is available in sizes 6 to 22.
 

It's described as:  loose-fitting top has back invisible zipper closure, shaped front and back side panels, and long sleeves with in-seam invisible zippers. Semi-fitted pants have front pleats, back invisible zipper closure and side pockets.

There were no difficult or confusing instructions.  Pretty typical and easy to follow.

With looking at the pattern, my likes were/are:

• The side panels of the top
• The close or high neckline
• Multiple cup sizes, reduced time in making adjustments
• Style of the pants 

Dislikes:

• How it looks on me in this fabric

The alterations/changes made:

• Lengthen the pant
• Omitted the invisible zippers on the sleeves
• Reduced the length of the shoulder seam
• Adjusted the crotch of the pants

 As far as a sewing the pattern, it's not difficult and there are no confusing steps or construction techniques to follow.  And if this style appeals to you, go for it!  Be careful with sectioning the appropriate fabric type.  Double cloth is not for this outfit.




Again, my issue is with how it looks on me and the drape of the fabric with this outfit.  What was I thinking?

Happy Sewing!  My next project is a few weeks away.
C

Vogue 8921 In Black-Metallic Gold Foil African-Inspired Stretch Velour

This is one of four projects that I'd hoped to finish before the end of 2017.  I barely made it finishing the hem on December 30th around mid-night.   This fabric is definitely the speaker.  No need for a lot of details to show it off.  So I decided to make another version of  Vogue 8921, view C, the first time I used this pattern was in 2014.

Forgive if the photo quality is not the best.  It is brutally cold in Illinois.  So no outdoor picture.  No way, no how.

My goal was to have this dress finished before Thanksgiving, in time for the holiday season.  But luck would have it, I missed the mark on making sure the pattern was consist on both side of the front bodice.  So last month I had to order another yard to re-cut the front bodice.  What was suppose to be quick and easy, turned into some tedious ripping out and replacing.  Once it was all done, it was a piece of cake. ;-)

First front bodice

Mood still has the fabric available on the website:  Black and Metallic Gold Foil African-Inspired Stretch Velour.  If you decide to try it, you won't be disappointed.  It has a soft and fuzzy hand.  The glossy finish speaks elegance.  You can make a super easy dress or some fancy pants.  Both will be a very easy sewing project.  My dress wears like my best pj's.  Easy on the skin and it lays gently against the body.

I did post a few pictures before my review.  First, because I wanted to include this dress in Moods LBD2017 Instagram challenge.  So this is one of two reviews that I will do this month for the network.  This black velour is a beautiful textile that should not go unnoticed.  So I did not to miss this chance to share my project and write a review.  

I had my usual adjustments with the addition of rising the front neckline about three inches and installing the invisible zipper closure at the edge of the center back of the neckline.  No hook and eye needed.  Because the zipper has inter-locking teeth, it does not roll down.

It was a bit of a challenge to get the print placement the same on both sides of the front.  I really think it is uneven as far as the spacing.  But the new front bodice halves are close to a mirror image and that was good enough for me this time. ;-)

I'm happy I finally finished the dress.  It is hanging in my closet, ready for the next appropriate social event to wear it.

That's all for now.

Happy Sewing!
C

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It's going to be a great year! There are so many things I want to share about my thoughts and plans for the coming year. It is my desire to be more present on my blog.

There were so many projects of 2017 that didn't get posted last year. I decided that I will post a few of the fall projects to jump start my blogging again. As I sat at the computer looking at the many project photos, I decided to also include some of my least favorite projects to stay true to the reality that all projects don't turn out as expected or don't look at flattering as envisioned.

There will be no long reflective posts for the year. I consider this the worst year of blogging since I started in 2007. Although Instagram and Facebook made it easy for me to neglect my first loved social media platform. The instant posts, five seconds or less to like or ignore, took far more hours than I anticipated.

One of the challenges I set for myself is to participate in Sarah Gunn's "RTW Fast 2018".  Currently, I buy very little RTW.  I'll see if I can do it for a year.  Anyway, this is suppose to be just a short post for starting the new year.

This week I will post two reviews:  Vogue 8921 and Vogue 1525.  Both outfits finished the last weekend of the year 2017.

Happy Sewing!
C