Sunday, January 20, 2013

Getting Some Z-Z-Z-Z-Z's with Vogue 8634

From the back of Vogue 8634's pattern envelope:
"Misses' Top:  Close-fitting, pullover tops A, B, C, in two lengths, have collar and stitched hems.  A: short sleeves.  B: three-quarter length sleeves.  C: long sleeves."
 
I sewed a medium and used the three-quarter sleeves from view "B" and the tunic length of view "C".

"Cowl-ifornia Girls"
Cowl-ifornia Girls


Fabric Used
Some wild and funky Michael Miller cotton jersey from the "Heaven and Helsinki" series by Patty Young.  I had 1.5 yards of this fabric and used nearly all of it with scraps to spare.

 Ez-Zagly
I feel a resurgence of the gaudy 1970's wearing this fabric, all in good fun.


Instructions
They were straightforward with helpful diagrams.

After stitching the front under bust seam, I stitched the front of the raglan sleeve to each front of the top and then to the back (matching the notches). Then I stitched a sleeve seam and side seam as one continuous seam and repeated this process to the other sleeve seam and side seam. The basted collar end, having a center back seam, is attached to the stay-stitched neckline. Hemming and top-stitching the sleeves and lower edge of the top completed the construction. Very easy.


Ez-Zagly

Favorite/Not-So-Favorite Features
I like that this top is very easy to sew and I like cowl-necked styles.

Ez-Zagly

The only things I do not like is the 2" excess ease, or what I call "bulk", that I encountered from the collar behind my neck and the upper back.   Although the depth of the neckline is modest,  I would have preferred it to be 1" higher.

Modifications
My usual petite adjustment at the waistline and narrowing the upper back from the center back.

I took in the side seams an additional 1/4".

Removed 2" from the lower edge before hemming and top-stitching.


Tried to keep the continuity of the print while cutting the fabric pieces, especially at the under bust seam.

Omitted top-stitching the under bust seam and the neckline seam.


Other Thoughts
After more adjustments in the upper back and accordingly to the collar, I would sew this top again. I still would recommend this top, with my only reservation of it being loose instead of "close-fitted" as described by Vogue Patterns.  Being in my stash for quite a bit of time, this is one of those "why-had-I not-sewn-this-sooner" types of patterns.   

Ez-Zagly

13 comments:

  1. The pattern really does make it look closer fitting, while your looks more tunic like. Your version is a nice look on you, and I can't believe how well you lined up all the zigs and zags! You even got each arm to have the same zz stripe. I find some patterns to have that excess at the back neck also, so annoying, isn't it?

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  2. Nice style -- cowl necks are really for you! Great job on the zig-zag matching.

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  3. this looks good on you, nice fabric too

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  4. Thanks for the review! I have this same pattern and would not have guessed there would have been that much ease, although I had the same issue with the last Vogue pattern I sewed. It looks great on you!

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  5. I love your tops, Heather!! My 6 yr old says that the pattern on the fabric is really cool. :)

    I'm a big fan of cowl neck tops like this or the draped neck tops (Burda pattern) that you made recently.

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  6. Ouch! Heather is your daughter's name! :) Sorry I wrote your name as Heather.

    Your DD is such a lively kid! Please pass on my congrats to her, for getting her new sewing machine. My 6 yr old and I had the pleasure of looking at all your look alike garments! Now she wants me to make some for her as well. :)

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  7. I love cowl neck styles too and this one turned out so nice on you. I've seen this pattern before and thought about getting it but I just haven't sewn Vogue yet.

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  8. This is a great style on you. The wait to find the right fabric and make this was worth it.

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  9. Great review- I'll be rereading this when I try my own!

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  10. Your pattern match at the underbust seam is insanely awesome! I assumed you had eliminated the seam, but no! Just a perfect pattern match in a zigzag, which is so much worse than a stripe or a plaid. Go you!!!!

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  11. That top looks fantastic. Good job on the zigs and zags.

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  12. Thank you, ladies! Another top from this pattern is waiting in the wings...

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