The Best Stretch Ponte Knit Ever - Christine Jonson Center Seam Pants

Most would like to believe that ponte knit is just plain ole common fabric used in simple or fast fashion.  But that's not true of Mood's Stretch Ponte Knit.  It is superb.  I love it and want it in every color.  It's so amazing.  The hand is soft and smooth.  The feel is similar to scuba knit.    Using a microtex needle this dreamy fabric sews up with no skipped stitches.

My first purchase was a trio of black, chartreuse, and beige yardages for fall/winter weight pull on pants.  January was my month to sew separates, and I decided that this would be a great time to sew up a few pants to compliment my wardrobe.  Black and beige neutrals are always a plus, but I had to have the chartreuse; something a little different from the norm.

Today, I'm featuring two of the three pants that I made using Christine Jonson center seam pants from her Travel Trio 1 pattern collection.   The marrying of the pattern and the ponte knit was perfect.  The sewing process was quick and easy.  The result is two great pair of pants.

I decided to play up the center seam with some top stitching.  This is a nice little detail to show off the seaming.  I almost love the pant leg shaping; not to skinny and great for wearing boots.  These pants can take you from casual work gear to night out on the town.  In the picture above, you can see I didn't do due diligence with the pressing.  But I'll take care of that later.  NOTE:  be careful when you press.  The high synthetic fiber may be a little challenging.

The only other notable change that I made to the pant was to lengthen them a few inches to cover my extremely long legs.

This certainly will not be the last time I purchase Mood's ponte knit.  I want it in every color.  I invite you to try it.  You won't be disappointed.  There are ten delicious colors available at the Mood online store.

Happy Sewing!
C

Baby It's Cold Outside - But I'm Keeping Warm in Christine Jonson Funnel Neck Top -Travel Trio 2

On one of my calls to my mama earlier during the week.  She answered the phone singing to me,  "Baby it's cold outside."  Then she chuckled and asked how were we getting along with the cold weather.  Well we are getting along.  It's to be expected for the Chicagoland area.  It's the coldest in January and February.  But tomorrow we will get a heat wave, high in the 20's.  By the weekend it will be about 40 degrees.  I'm glad we are getting close to tolerable temps.

Living in the mid-west all of my life, I know what to expect during the months of January and February.  So for the month of January, my goal was to concentrate on making some separates to beef up my winter gear.  Sure I have some turtlenecks and warm pants ready in my closet, but many are worn and need to be replaced.  So last week, I make this cute little funnel neck top, pattern designed by Christine Jonson.

I bought all three of her Travel Trio patterns way back in 2011 when Rhonda created the Travel Trio Challenge for the Haute Couture Club 2011-2012 Fashion Show.  I only made the Travel Trio One.  This year I'm revisiting the Trio patterns to enhance my wardrobe.  They are great basics.

In Trio Two:

• Funnel Neck top- close-fitting top with 3/4 length sleeves (with sleeve band) and funnel neck.
• Wrap Skirt- semi-fitted skirt with self-fabric ties that wrap around the back and tie in the front skirt may be made reversible.
• Hoodie- Hooded, loose-fitting jacket with long sleeves.  Jacket is fastened at top with button and self-fabric loop.  Jack may be made reversible.

Sizes 4 to 22; I used 14 with modifications

My Fabric is from FabricMart Fabrics.  It's a jersey poly/cotton knit with 30% 4-way stretch and great recovery.  Love it.  I still have about 2.5 yards left to make something else.

There are only three pattern pieces for the funnel neck top:  front/back, sleeve and sleeve band.  I didn't like the idea of using the one pattern for the front and back.  Because my front and back are different shapes and sizes.  So I traced off two copies of the front/back pattern and adjusted each for my body shape and measurements.

For the front, I wanted to test to see if I could get away again without making a bust dart.  So I adjusted the curve of the lower armscye and side above and at the bust area and tapered back to the size 14.

For the back I created a center back seam and made a swayback adjustments and adjusted the curve of the mid and lower armscye.

The sleeve doesn't have notched for the front and back.  I didn't like that either.  So I added them.  I think the shape of the front arm and back arm are different.  So for the back I added just a little more for the mid and lower armhole area.  The sleeve cap did not have the excessive amount of ease as the big four commercial patterns, which was a plus.  And the shoulder seam wasn't an inch too long either.  Two pluses.


Once I made my adjustments and cut out my funnel top, it took about 1.5 hours to make.  Super easy and all sewists can make it.

I really like how this funnel neck top turned out.  It's great for the winter; it keeps your neck and chest nice and warm.

Will I make it again.  You bet I will.  One of my goals this year is to look at ways to maximize the use of my patterns.  With this basic funnel neck top I could change the sleeve and/or make it into a simple knit dress.

More later on using this simple, but versatile pattern.

Happy Sewing!
C

Parting Shots:  My wearing Simplicity 8643