Pet Pillow and Stitch to the Rescue

Ahhhh! Those Pillow Pets, that even come in smaller sizes, "Pillow Pet pee wees" ($12.99).  I agree that they are cute and cuddly, but are not as well made, as you can see.  My 8-year-old daughter just after cradlling Miss "Lady Bug"in her arms, brought to my attention that one of the pom-poms got detached from one of her antennae. This poses a potential safety issue for very young children.  Although I rarely post on FB,  I posted this to the Pillow Pets fan FB page  in order to raise awareness. 

 

The pom-pom seemed to be adhered to the antenna with a few long and loose stitches. Fortunately, I had some red thread and a needle handy to secure the pom-pom back to its stem.

 

Heather is now happy that "Lady Bug" is fine. 

 

Dot-ley Crue and Mis-Sew-Ni

I was inspired by our fellow PR sewists who experienced success with Style Arc patterns that I quickly hopped on the Style Arc bandwagon.

Pattern Description:
From the StyleArc.com website: "Fabulous versatile wrap dress, easy to wear, great for any occasion. Try it Royal Blue for that special occasion." These patterns are "real industry based patterns" as mentioned on the website.

Honestly, Style Arc's "Kate" dress is nicely drafted, but does not exactly replicate the much publicized blue Issa engagement dress worn by the Duchess.

FABRIC SUGGESTION DESCRIPTION: fine knit jersey, any soft knit fabric

Pattern Sizing:
SIZES: 6 -8 -10 -12 -14 -16 -18- 20 -22 -24 -26 -28 -30. Style Arc patterns do not come multi-sized. You specify a size for each style while ordering. I ordered a "12".

Fabric Used:
I used a somewhat thin rayon jersey (its photo looked nicer on the website) from fabric.com for my muslin.

Second version: "Mis-Sew-Ni", also in a rayon jersey from fabric.com

Here are my inspirations for my second version:

 a Missoni "puckered stripe" dress from SaksFifthAvenue.com, for $1,375.

The other a Diane Von Furstenberg vintage 1974  reproduction, a "New Julian" wrap dress in silk jersey, $345 at DVF.com.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Somewhat.


Were the instructions easy to follow?
The directions are a numbered list of steps on one page and are sufficient if you have experience with sewing knit wrap dresses or dresses in general. Hence, the "medium" rating. There are no diagrams a la the well-known patterns (i.e. Simplicity, McCall's, Butterick, Vogue...).

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
The pattern comes in paper instead of tissue.  Since it not as dense as the paper used by Hot Patterns, it is more manageable to work with. I give credit to StyleArc for its care in packing and packaging of the pattern. Each pattern, its set of instructions, and illustrated design were placed in a sheet protector for easy storage.

*I like the neckline depth: not too low or high, just "right".

* I like the pleating at the waist and at the sleeves, just above the wrists.

*The patterns are drafted with flattering side contours and in way that eliminates the need for me to make my usual petite adjustments at the upper back and waist.

* I am not too fond of the back ties. I prefer the ties to wrap from the back to the front and secured at the front. 
* The only setback is that the patterns do not come multi-sized which is useful for those as myself who use different sizes at the shoulders, bust and waist.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
* I took in the shoulder seam to approximate a "10" at the shoulders and kept the "12" at the waist.

*I did not use the narrow front and back facing. I folded a 3/8" hem at the front and back neckline and topstitched.

* I added 5" to each end of the tie belt to be able to wrap to the front.

* Finding the length to be longer than preferred, I removed approximately 8" from the lower hem.

* Instead of setting in the sleeves as instructed, I sewed them in flat.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Absolutely, yes! I already am planning to sew my second version of this dress in a sturdier knit with a nice drape. I recommend this pattern, especially if you are in search of a nicely drafted wrap dress with little or no adjustments.



Conclusion:
For my first experience with Style Arc patterns, I was impressed! My order (three patterns + a freebie) arrived quickly despite being shipped overseas from Australia. The patterns seem to be nicely drafted and straightforward to use.

Feather-ation

Pattern Description:
HP Pattern 1072:  relaxed fit "v"neck and cowl neck knit tops.



Pattern Sizing:
Multi-sized 6-26.

I sewed a "10" at the shoulders and neckline and a "12" elsewhere. and According to my specified measurements, I was supposed to use a "14". Although I went down a size, still encountered excess ease at the waist and hips. Maybe the word "Very" should precede "relaxed fit" in the pattern description.

Some trendy "Cowl-fornia Girls"

Fabric Used:
A polyester-lycra knit from Emma One Sock. Being somewhat slippery and fussy, I encountered a few missed stitches along the way and annoying "waves" in the hem. I experimented with several topstitching options, to reduce the "waves" in the hem.

After some shopping on a lovely sunny day, Heather, my 8 y.o. daughter, quickly snapped this photo:

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, after making a minor adjustment to the bodice modesty panel, which HP refers to as an "insert" panel.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I would not say "easy" because there are no diagrams or visual cues that accompany the instructions. If you have sewn lined knit tops, then you would be able to follow them with little or no problems. I was able to glance at them and go "on my own".

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I liked the overall style with the cowl front (topstitched edge) and flared sleeves, except for the slightly low back and the tendency for the top to "slip" from the shoulders. I probably would not experience this if I used a more "stable" type of knit.

After thinking that I "carefully" cut the pieces, aligned and stitched the lower armscye of the modesty panel with that the front of the top, something looked out of sync. My modesty panel which was supposed to land above the cowl, came "draped" below it because it seemed to be drafted wider than it should be. I had to add a few stitches 2 1/2" from the stitched seam of the side of the modesty panel "secured" to a portion of the front armscye in order for the modesty panel to rise above the plunging cowl neckline as illustrated on the pattern envelope. By doing this, I omitted the need for elasticizing the neckline.



Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
* I performed my usual 1" petite alteration at the waist and taking in the modesty panel as described earlier.

* I added a waist tie belt in the same fabric. 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I am not sure if I would sew it again. However, I plan to "borrow" these sleeves to use for another pattern. If you have this pattern somewhere, give it a try.

Conclusion:
It still is a fairly easy top to sew. I was able to sew the entire top, despite some fidgeting with the modesty panel and the stitching, in one entire morning.

Enjoying chicken soup at the home of grandma and grandpa.

Simone Cowl

From Spring 2010, DKNY's knit dress with a cowl neck that sold for $160 on Saksfifthavenue.com.

Now you can make your own DKNY dress with similar styling for less using Vogue 1250, currently a very popular pattern in PR:

Pattern Description: Close-fitting knit dress with cowl neck and cap sleeves. Vogue's simple description: "Close-fitting dress"

Pattern Sizing:
Misses' 6-14.  I used an "8" at the the shoulders, and a"12" elsewhere. I experienced an unexpected challenge of discerning my size's "hip dart" amidst the intertwinement of dotted lines representing all of the given sizes.  I nearly cut into the stitch lines! It helps to highlight the correct hip dart lines to be cut with one color and the stitch lines with another color.  

Fabric Used:
Poly textured knit in a "chain-link" print from EOS.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it did, even to the "wrinkles" at the bust and tummy.

Were the instructions easy to follow?For just a 2 piece dress, I thought they with the diagrams were superb, even for beginners. I had original reservations about the large piece that looks like almost the entire dress that includes the front and back skirt as one piece to be joined at a center seam. After one scan of the directions, things made more sense to me now.

 

The reinforced and clipped notches at the cowl front determine the location of junctions of the shoulder seams and neckline. The diagram shows the position of the cowl turned to the back neckline and sewn to the upper back piece forming the shoulder seams. One flip of the cowl to the front reveals the shoulder seam with no visible raw edges.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Being a fan of draped cowl necks on knit tops and dresses and after seeing the successes of fellow PR'ers with this pattern, I decided to hop on the DKNY 1250 bandwagon and join in on the fun.
Although I am not a fan of facings on knits, the strip for finishing the back neckline (a rectangular piece folded in half lengththwise, turned over and topstitched after sewing its raw edge along the edge of the back neckline) works well with the cowl neck.


My only dismay about this dress is that the front emphasizes my front pouch which I do not feel comfortable to be in full display. Although I like the pencil silhouette of the skirt, it just does not work for me in a knit. Vogue suggests a two-way knit which I did not use.


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I performed my usual petite alteration at the front and back waist.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes! I hope to find a more suitable knit in my fabric stash. I can see why this pattern received many favorable reviews: you get a fashionable dress in a short amount of time!

 

 

Conclusion:
As evident from the 40 number of pattern reviews, this DKNY is a winner!

Mc-Call of the Wild

Animal prints are still trending for the summer.

"Halle Berry" modeling a leopard print knit top from Boston Proper

The real Halle in a leopard print dress. She can wear a pillowcase and still look gorgeous.

Even Steven Tyler of Aerosmith/American Idol took a bite out of the leopard fabric!

"Mila Kunis" dressed in also an animal print knit top from Saks Fifth Avenue

The Real Mila K in a faux leopard coat

I returned to this McCall's pattern after my first unsuccessful attempt.  I stopped after topstitching the elastic unsuccessfuly and changed my mind about the gathered sleeves.

 Pattern Description: MISSES' TOPS: Pullover tops A, B, C, D, E, F have neckline and sleeve variations, stitched hems...

Pattern Sizing:
X-small-Small-Medium. I sewed a small at the shoulders and neckline, and a medium elsewhere.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, except I used a sleeve pattern piece from another pattern.

Fabric Used:
Rayon jersey from fabric.com.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes, especially if you have sewn any basic "front-back-sleeved" top.


What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
This is now one of my favorite knit patterns due to its scoop neckline and its flattering and comfortable fit. I originally purchased this pattern also for the ruched sleeves from views A and D, which are still trending. I abandoned my original version (view A) after not being satisfied with my careless topstitching on the neckline and the look of the gathered sleeves on me after trying on some tops with similar styling in a department store dressing room. So this top remained partially sewn. I might plan to use this fabric for a future project.

With a minor design change in mind, I returned to this pattern months later.  I used remaining fabric from previous projects and a sleeve pattern from another pattern.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
*Performed my usual 1" petite adjustment at the front and back at the
waistline.

*Borrowed the "flutter" sleeves from Simplicity 2181, view "E".

*For the leopard print top, I cut a nearly-waist-length lining for the front in the same fabric using the same front pattern piece. I pinned and sewing the lining piece, right sides together over the front along the neckline, stopping 1 cm before each shoulder. While attaching the back piece right sides together with the front, I turned the lining over to beneath the back, so that the shoulder edges align. I stitched (or completed) the remaining 1 cm of the neckline seam to the upper edge. Then I stitched each shoulder seam from the neckline seam to the outer edge. After turning the top inside out, the inside will have no "raw" edges from the shoulder seam.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes with other pairs of sleeves (long, 3/4 length) that I also liked from my currently favorite patterns. I recommend this pattern, especially if you like the sleeve variations and feel confident to wear the styles.

Leopard print with a scholarly twist. Heather ready with her backpack and a smile for school. 

Brigitte BURD-Deux

Ms. Bardot's iconic fashion style inspired Burda Style's June 2011 issue.

The necklines that BB wore that are still fashionable today. 

I searched for some "easy" but still distinctively stylish projects.  I sewed top #124A and after not being satisfied with that, I sewed #122.

Pattern #124A

 

Pattern #122A

This top (#124A) in a gingham print was also part of Burda's tribute to particular styles strongly associated with Brigitte Bardot, an international and legendary fashion icon.  A wide headband and a deeply scooped neckline look fresh today as they did more than forty years ago.

Brigitte in blue and pink gingham.  She was a gingham bride during her wedding ceremony with Jacques Charrier, her second husband.

 

Pattern Description:
"TEMPTRESS Blouse 124A, Burda Sizes 36-44, Tres chic - even on the way to the beach, and the French don't have a monoply on this! In the Gingham check blouse with scooped Carmen neckline and 3/4-length raglan sleeves you'll look great wherever you are..."



Pattern Sizing:
Burda Misses' 36-44. I sewed a "38" at the shoulders and a "40" elsewhere. I found the top quite spacious for me and probably could have gotten away with two sizes smaller.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, like the drawing, but not so much like the gingham top on the model because she has it tucked in, which conceals its "puffiness".

Fabric Used:
Some funky Michael Miller cotton called "Mezzanine Clover Dots" from fabric.com. My eyes deceived me. The fabric seemed to be more appealing on-line than in person...

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I only read carefully the sections that contained the list of pattern pieces to be used, the cutting layout and the first step of construction, "Stitch side and sleeve seams."

I did not pay too much to the rest of the steps after quickly reading them. Maybe something got lost in the translation. I wonder if the word "stitch" should replace "press seam allowance" to make a step more clear. If you are familiar with sewing tops/blouses with (a) raglan sleeves. (b) gathering edges, (c) a banded neckline (in this case, stitching a folded bias strip over a neckline on the inside or "wrong side" of a garment, turning it over to the outside and topstitching it very close to the edge), then you can sew the top without referring to Burda's notorious verbage, or what those with Burda experence referred to as "Burdalese".

Favorite Features
*There were only three main pieces to trace and cut (front, back, and sleeve) and also there were rectangular strips with specific measurements to cut (one for the neckband, two for the sleeve band, and one for the hem band). Corresponding to the size I used for the neckline ("38), I cut an 84 cm strip of fabric on the bias. I substituted the sleeve and hem bands with elasticized casings.

*Fairly easy to put together.

Not-so-favorite Features
*This style what I call a "ballooney blouson" does not work for me, being short waisted and not slender as the model.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
* Since it was somewhat a challenge for me to simultaneously distribute equitably the gathers while sewing the neckline band, I took a cue from the top displayed by itself, without the model, that appeared to have pleats situated in congruent intervals along the edge of the band. I strategically placed 3 pleats symmetrically as much as possible.

The pleats are more evident in this photo (even though it is somewhat blurry when it is enlarged). It is about time to get a new camera for blurry photos.

*Added 1" to the sleeve length and the low edge of the top.

*I added 1" to the length. It would seem that the top would be waist length or shorter for a person with a long torso.

*I used elasticized casings instead of folded bias strips for the sleeve
bands and the hem band.


Pour la Plage?
One top from this pattern is enough because its bagginess does not work well with my figure.   I prefer tops with more shaping.  After re-reading the description provided on the Burda page, "Tres chic, even on the way to the beach...", maybe this top in a lightweight fabric would make an ideal cover-up at the beach.

Next pattern, #122:
A nearly off-the-shoulder top with a bateau neckline:

Pattern Description:
From the June 2011 issue Burda Style, page 13:
"Beautiful Brigitte Shirt/top 122...A look that is typical for the young Bardot - and is just as popular today. The black fitted shirt of cotton satin with widthwise stretch features a chic, flattering bateau neckline."

Pattern Sizing:
Burda Misses' Petite 17-21. I sewed a "19" at the shoulders and neckline tapering to a "21" at the hips.


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it looked very much like the technical line drawing and the photo of the top without the model. It was hard to see the actual scoop of the top's neckline on the model because it was covered with what looked like a scarf.

My first version in a lightweight rayon jersey knit. 

Were the instructions easy to follow?

If you have sewn any top with three main pieces: front, back, and sleeve, then consider the directions as concise cues, especially if you ignore the directions for the front and back facing and the invisible zipper.  An invisible zipper and the given front and back facings are more suited for non-knits. 

The order that I used was
* Stitch the shoulder seams
* Attach the sleeves to the armscyes
* Stitch the shoulder seams and side seams as one continuous seam
* Topstitch the hems of the neckline, sleeves, and the lower edges of the front and back.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
*Appearance of streamlined side shaping in contrast to the "up, up, and away" blouson style of pattern #124A from the same issue of Burda Style magazine.

*Center back seam

*Although I like the front darts, I prefer them on wovens

*Very simple to sew, and even better with a coverstitch or a serger when sewing with knits.

*Nothing to dislike except for the bra straps peeping out due to the wide neckline and short shoulder seam. I think a bateau neckline is flattering on all figures.


Fabric Used:
A rayon jersey that contains 95% rayon and 5% lycra.


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
* I added 2" to the printed pattern's length.
* Replaced the front and back facings for the neckline with a topstitched hem.
*Sewed sleeves "in flat" instead of "setting them in" per directions.

*While pinning the sleeve cap to the armscye, there was excess fabric that extended beyond the seam. I graded the sleeve cap/armscye seams by trimming at most approximately 3/8" width of fabric beyond their edges.

*Omitted the invisible zipper at the left seam due to using a knit instead of the recommended "cotton satin with crosswise stretch".

*For the second top, I used the same front pattern piece, but with the vertical darts folded out, thus bringing in the side seams.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Most likely I would sew this again, but in a stretch woven as recommended. This pattern is also ideal for beginners and for first-time Burda Style sewists.