The Road to Sew Paolo

Kwik Sew 3062 has been aging on my wish list. What prompted me to purchase this recently was the fact that it will be discontinued at PR (discontinued according to the Kwik Sew website).




Pattern Description
"Misses' pullover tops have sccop neckline finished wiht bias cut binding, gathers under bust and lower front is cut on bias. View A has slit on bodice at center front seam, and gathered sleeves have shirring with elastic. View B has short gathered sleees with elastic in casing in bottom edges. Pull-on bias cut skirt has elastic in casing at waist, and two ruffles at bottom edge." I sewed View B.

Size
Misses' XS -XL. I referred to my bust size and sewed a "M". I find that Kwik Sews have been generous in their sizing. I even find the "M" a tad roomy overall!


Fabric
What seems like a medium weight, mixed woven, "The Road to Sao Paolo", from Gorgeous Fabrics. It seems to be already sold out.




Favorite Features
*Very easy to construct

*Few pattern pieces involved: upper bodice, bias front skirt, bias neckline, sleeve, and back.

*I was hesitant to purchase this due to the empire chest which has in the past made me look as if I am expecting. Hopefully the bias front skirt below the bust coupled with the lower empire styling minimizes that.

*Puffed sleeves

*Scoop neck

*Bias finish at the neckline

*5/8" seam allowances included


Other Features
*Neckline scoop came lower than represented by the illustration on the envelope.
*Needs to be adjusted for sway back.
*The sleeves puffed out more (gathered quite a bit at the sleeve caps) than those featured on the envelope.
*Length of top appears shorter than expected


Directions
Clear and easy to read with very helpful illustration as what I typically expect from a Kwik Sew.

The finishing of the neckline is interesting in that the method described drifted from methods with which I am familiar. Instead of pinning the bias strip (sewn at the ends, forming a loop), right sides of fabric together along the neckline, I pinned it from the inside of the top or right side of the bias loop to the wrong side of the fabric along the neckline, ensuring that the notches align with the shoulder seams. I sewed the recommended 1/4" from the raw edges (could have sewn a little more to reduce the width of the binding) and turned the strip to the outside and press. Then I topstitched the binding, close to the encased edge.

Modifications
*To lower the empire seam, I extended the upper bodice by adding 1/4" along the lower edge and the bias skirt by adding 1/4" along its upper edge.

Conclusion
I highly recommend this pattern if you want to create something that does not require a lot of time and that is easy to sew with minimal adjustments. The Kwik Sew website states that this pattern is already discontinued and will soon be on PR! I wish I had purchased this pattern sooner! I plan to make a few more tops with sleeve variations.

Swinging Styles
I purchased these from the Decades of Style pattern company:

I like the butterfly sleeves of this 30's styled top:


Interesting collar style on this 40's styled top:

Intellectual Prowess vs. Physical Prowess

I would not say I "hate" sports. I enjoy skiing, tennis and hiking when I have the opportunity. I rather participate in than watch or talk about sports. Call me sports "illiterate" in a group that talks about sports as if it was such an "elite" subject. Boo hoo if so and so team loses! I could care less!

As a teacher, athletes are given too much undeserved recognition for doing meaningless activities. The real heroes and heroines are those persons that have the talent to move this country forward and not move around aimlessly on the field or stadium. I am so disturbed by school assemblies that "celebrate" the various teams of athletes by parading them across the gymnasium. It makes students who have outstanding scholastic performance so insignificant.

I find it very irritating to be listening to people around me discussing sports (i.e. outcomes of a game, the plays they saw during a game, and so on)as if they were some "elite" group making those who are "not sports minded" so uncomfortable and idiotic in their world. I perceive their discussions as worthless babble that have no relation to advancing this world intellectually and humanely. I keep forgetting....This is only entertainment, nothing serious.

Actual post:
"I would rather have funding for sports cut than for more enriching school activities such as the performing arts, music, and the decathlon team. It seems like athletes (I am finding a diminishing number of them are stellar students) are given more glory than my students who show demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. So what if they cannot catch/throw a ball or run aimlessly across a field? I am finding so much needless adulation for getting the "banner" than those who received wonderful scholarships to the universities of their choice. Thanks for understanding my view point after teaching for awhile."



A coach's response:
While I share your opinion that performing arts and academic competitions are valuable, I would strongly argue two points.

First, the idea that those activities are somehow more enriching than athletics is ludicrous. All activities enrich student lives, none more important than the other. I see plenty of athletes get into fine universities, and not on athletic scholarships. They are given "more glory" (and with that, a whole lot more criticism) because of the values of the society. And with all due respect, the idea of competition will probably win over simple performance most of the time (ie: what makes money for the schools).

My second argument is that athletics reaches far more kids than performing arts and academic competition. Take a look at school populations and you will find that athletics gives much more "bang for the buck" in enriching kids lives. I think you might be surprised at how many students are involved in athletics.

You seem to be frustrated with the "dumb jock" stereotype. I've found that most athletes are actually good students, and statistics show that athletics make better students. As for giving academic achievement its due, I can't argue with you, but society doesn't find it that important.

I give him credit for presenting his argument thoughtfully and respectfully. I understand his viewpoint very clearly. Yes, I agree that society, in generally does not value academics. I am seeing the scary consequences of it already......

This is the Sea Life
A week after visiting Legoland, Heather, Jorgen, and I had a wonderful time at Sea Life Aquarium (just next to Legoland) in Carlsbad!




Heather enjoying an "underwater" or "through the water" view!


Initially, she hesitated about going under a partition, so I accompanied her to the little "dome" where she went under. I think she was getting somewhat claustrophobic. Her dad took a few photos and she quickly dashed from the dome. Then he prodded her to return to the dome for a few more pictures. She returned without me guiding her. I then took a cell phone pic (not posted yet).




The Lost City of Atlantis!










Finding more underwater tresures!






Heather was fascinated by the stunning seahorses! They looked better up close and personal!



Heather the designer and builder!