Sewberta Plant

Here is a pattern that I purchased last week at JoAnn's during a Buttericks' sale. 

Pattern Description:

Tops/tunics with scoop necklines and sleeve options. I sewed view "B", the top with the sleeve tabs that the model is wearing.  I agree that this pattern is "easy", if it is sewn straight out of the envelope.

Pattern Sizing:

Misses' 8-18.

I sewed a "10" at the shoulders and neckline. I sewed a "14" elsewhere.

Fabric Used:
A mystery lightweight polyester woven from le Wal Marche

I feel llike a walking billboard for Ragu pasta sauce or for Knorr soups and seasonings due to the color scheme of their logos.  

"Babe I’m Gonna Sleeve You"

The pair of sleeve tabs for view "B" is simple to sew (This is actually the third time to sew then on a garment). Once a tab is turned inside out after sewing two pieces together and closing the open end with little zig-zag stitches...

(1) I stitched a buttonhole, 3/4" above the pointed end.

(2) I aligned this end and double-stitched it (using a 1/4" seam allowance) along the marked circles (transferred from the front and pattern pieces) perpendicular to the interior shoulder seam. On the outside, where the double-stitching was visible, I attached a button, centered at the shoulder seam.

(3) I took the tab "out of hiding" from the inside to the outside, "ruching" the sleeves in the process, to fasten it to the button, instead of rolling up the sleeves first per the instructions. The button and pointed end of the tab ended up being just past my shoulder. I fiddled with the tab and sleeve so that the tab and sleeve seam are both centered as much as possible along my upper arm.

"Whole Lotta Length and Width"
*For the views that do not have the elastic at the waist, the top billows out due to its exaggerated a-line shaping.

*Loose neckline, which could be remedied by taking in further the center seam of the bias strip of fabric to tighten the neckline, or adjusting the front/back pattern pieces to remove excess width.

*The original length of the tunic can overwhelm petite frames.


More Riffs
* To decrease the width of the upper back, I took out a 3/8" seam (3/4" total width) from the center of the upper back before cutting the entire back piece from the fabric.

*To shorten the upper back I made a horizontal fold starting with a 1/2" length from the center of the pattern piece, tapering to 0" at the sleeves

*I made a 3/4" petite adjustment at the waist on the front and back pattern pieces.

*Instead of sewing the bias strip onto the right side or visible part of the neckline, I sewed it onto the wrong side at 3/8" seams, pressed one end, turned it to the outside and topstitched it to the neckline.

*Topstitched the sleeve tabs

*I found the tunic length long for my short torso. Instead of using the full length for the tunic version, I added 1" to the length for view "C" .

*I took in each side seam an additional 1/4".

*Since I was dealing with fabric that unravelled or frayed easily at the edges, I staystitched the lower edges of the sleeves and those of the entire top 1/8" from the edge before pressing under a 1/2" hem and topstitching.

Comeback Tour?
I would sew with this pattern after a few more changes:
(1) tightening and raising the depth of the neckline
(2) removing excess width at the bust, upper back, and hips (especially for the non-elasticized tops)

So this pattern has a hopeful potential to be "go-to" or TNT pattern.

I recommend this pattern due to its ease of construction and its versatility, with added caution of the neckline depth, potential generous sizing at the bust and hips, and the the tunic length being long, especially for petites.

If you sew the pattern, straight out of the envelope, it undoubtedly is a "simple sew" or a "quick gratification" project.

Time to prepare dinner.  Chicken Broccoli flavored rice sounds good for tonight or maybe some Ragu and pasta.