Posts Tagged ‘Simplicity patterns’
Snubbing Michael Kors
Posted on: 13 March, 11
- In: Project Runway | sewing
- 2 Comments
During Season 8 of Project Runway, Michael Kors was not a fan of Mondo Guerra’s polka dot dress. All season, I thought the judges were smoking crack because they consistently raved over the ugliest things and criticized amazing things. Mondo may have lost the competition, but he won my heart. If you have ever seen any of Michael Kors stuff in the stores, you would know that he is the last one who should criticize the designs of other people.
As soon as I saw this dress, I wanted a black and white dress with polka dots. But what chance did I have of ever finding that fabric? On a trip to JoAnn’s with C to buy fabric for his class, I practically knocked down two old ladies when I spied a black and white polka dot knit across the store. I bolted to grab the bolt, even though no one else was even near it. I couldn’t take the risk of someone else grabbing it before I did. It is a soft, soft knit. Oh, luscious knits, how I love thee!
As much as I adore Mondo’s design, a long, slinky dress does not fit my lifestyle. Instead, I chose an old pattern that I love, Simplicity 3775. It fits well and is so comfortable to wear. This is a great travel dress. I can crumple it up in the bottom of a suitcase and it still looks great. I have worn this dress to work, the theater, and out to dinner. Every time I get a compliment, I think, “Ha! Take that, Michael Kors!”
Your Cheatin’ Heart
Posted on: 16 March, 09
- In: sewing
- 5 Comments
My love for Ottobre Designs is no secret, however, there is another line of pattern vying for my affections. When Simplicity announced a line of patterns “inspired” by Project Runway, I had to look because anything remotely related to Tim Gunn gets my attention. Many of the designs are adorable. Well, this is the third pattern I have tried from this line and I am swayed. The fit is fantastic. The pieces went together beautifully. The directions could be a little confusing for a novice. The yardage requirements are confusing and grossly overestimated. Nonetheless, the jacket went together easily.
The pattern is Simplicity 2728. The fabric is odd, nubby woven that Hubski brought back from a trip. It does not photograph well. Sorry! This is one those fabrics that Hubski described as “hard to describe, interesting… you might not like it, but I’ll get it anyway because it is so weird.” The fabric is actually kind of cool in person. I am not crazy about the buttons. They will be replaced as soon as I have time to go to the fabric store.
There are some nice details to this pattern. The jacket is fully lined. The under collar and upper collar are two separate pattern pieces. The under collar is cut slightly smaller than the upper collar. This is called “favoring,” and causes the upper collar to pull under just slightly. This tailoring technique is not usually found in commercial patterns, but yields great results. The curved hem in back matched up perfectly. I think it is a cute detail that really adds to the jacket.
I plan to make the short sleeve version with the asymmetrical collar from a linen. When the weather warms up a bit, I will wear this jacket with white jeans. It is light enough to wear for a few more weeks, especially if the school turns on the air conditioners soon… like they always do. 🙂
Attitude Adjustment
Posted on: 15 February, 09
- In: gadgets | sewing | shopping
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It was touch and go there for a while yesterday, but my computer has come back to life. Nothing like a near death experience to inspire an attitude adjustment. My computer is behaving much better now. I took a little break from reloading software because J needed new shoes. Seems like we just bought him new shoes last week, but that is a whole different story. We made an afternoon of it with a nice lunch and a few other errands. The boys asked if we could stop by the video game store. I said, “No problem” because there is a video game store in the same strip mall as JoAnn Fabrics. As the boys looked at games, I looked at fabric and patterns.
It was a challenge, but I left with only two patterns. There was a lovely grouping of chocolate brown and aqua fabrics. I loved the brown with an aqua pinstripe. Ladies, we all know how a pinstripe elongates the leg. It would make such a great pair of pants, but I was strong. I resisted… but I might go back.
I love the collar detail on the white jacket. This might be the pattern for the black and white fabric from Mood. The collar would be solid black for emphasis.
The crossover detail of this one would be great for a couple pieces of knit in my stash. I also like the black and white version. I am not sure about the pockets. They would be handy (crackberry), but will they add too much bulk? It definitely needs a lightweight knit with lots of drape. I will try it with a fabric that is not one of my favorites. If the pockets are too much, it would be easy to eliminate them. The gathers might need to go, too.
After so much frustration with computer, I needed a little treat. Now, to find time to actually sew these.
Sewing News
Posted on: 30 October, 07
- In: sewing
- 2 Comments
Apparently this news has been floating around the internet since August. Nonetheless, it is still exciting to me.
Simplicity has teamed with Project Runway for a pattern line. From what I can tell, the patterns will be more “fashion forward” with an emphasis on mixing and matching pattern pieces so “you can be the designer.” This is nothing to me, but I am still excited about anything that might encourage others to sew. Besides, I am a fan of all things Project Runway. 🙂
The press release said the patterns would be out in the fall or early 2008. There was nothing about Project Runway on the Simplicity site. However, I did stumble upon something else interesting. To attract the teen market, there is a new line called “The Gretchen Collection.” Thus far, the collection consists of one pattern which includes several pieces. The pieces are designed for knits which wear well, however, can be challenging to sew for the novice. I want to peek at the instruction sheets to see the recommended techniques. With this pattern and a good source of knits, a teen girl could create an awesome wardrobe.
Throw and Go
Posted on: 3 July, 07
- In: sewing | travel
- 17 Comments
In every girl’s closet, there should be at least one dress that she can throw on in seconds and be ready for anything from running to the market to an impromptu luncheon with girlfriends. Since I never know what my day holds, I need a closet full of just such a dress. Simplicity 3775 is a great pattern for a “throw and go” dress.
The fabric is from my trip to Fabrix in San Francisco. I wanted a pattern that would play with the lines of the fabric. The waist treatment concerned me. Who wants that much bulk right across the midsection? The pattern calls for the twist pieces to be doubled to conceal raw edges. I opted to make them single layer with rolled edge hems. If you are at all preoccupied with your midsection, this might not be the dress for you. The waist treatment definitely draws the eye right to the middle. The dress is very close fitting and requires a knit with quite a bit of stretch.
Overall, the sewing was easy. The neckband is cut with a separate back neckband to achieve a nice curve. This would also make it easy to use a contrast fabric for the neckband and waist treatment. The wrap top stays closed quite nicely and is not dangerously low cut. Because it is a stretchy knit, the dress is easy to move in and would pack well for a trip. I wouldn’t mind another one of these in a wool jersey for winter.
This last photo is for those who are as obsessed as I am about matching stripes when sewing….
We won’t talk about how much time I spent laying it out so the stripes would make this chevron pattern on the sides. It was totally worth it for my peace of mind.
Be Honest
Posted on: 22 June, 07
- In: sewing
- 11 Comments
Be honest…..does it look less “maternity” than the first version of Simplicity 4176?
The blue band is a scrap from my scrap basket that just happened to be the same blue as the paisley. I am not sure it makes the top any more slimming, but I like the way it breaks up the paisley. I removed the lower bodice and added the 1.5 inch band of blue. The lime green top stitching made the alteration look more “intentional.” If I make this pattern again, the fabric will have more drape and the pleats will be reduced. It is not my favorite top, but it will be worn on very hot days because it allows air to circulate.
Trippin’ Fabric
Posted on: 5 June, 07
- In: education | sewing
- 8 Comments
….actually, I am tripping over fabric because I have so much in my sewing room. Sigh…but that is a story for another day.
Today, I had to chaperon the sixth grade field trip. This trip was for the entire sixth grade, all 240+ students. We went to a mini golf place that also has go carts, laser tag, arcade, etc. The bus ride was an hour long, with no air conditioning, with temps in the upper 80’s. Last night, as I pondered all these factors, I decided I “needed” a new top, something cool and cute enough to distract myself from the misery of sitting on an overcrowded bus with a bunch of twelve year olds. Of course, this thought did not pop into my head until *after* dinner. Of course, I could not use one of the zillion patterns I have already used and have already altered to fit. That would be simple and smart. We will have none of that in my sewing room!
My original plan was to use Simplicity 4176 with a bordered batik I bought in San Francisco. I was going for that sort of “trippy Sixties” look. Seemed appropriate for a field trip. Yes, my mind wanders down some rather strange paths. After wasting spending about 20 minutes trying to make the border fit on the hemline of the top, I conceded that the fabric was not wide enough. I quickly flipped through my swatch cards and decide upon a nice piece of quilting cotton with summery colors. A quick muslin of the bodice revealed that soft gathers would be better than darts so as to not look like I had two torpedoes sticking out of my chest. The back width also needed to be reduced a tad. I cut it out and sewed it up in no time. The gathers were definitely the right way to go. When I tried it on, my fear was confirmed. It has an air of “maternity” about it. Reducing the flare of the side seams helped quite a bit.
I wore it today with white pants that I made last week. (I didn’t post photos because they are not that interesting – simple white pants that will get worn a ton this summer.) It was definitely cool and comfortable. After we got home, C said, “Not to be mean, but that top makes you look sort of fat. None of your other tops do that.” Hmmmm. What do you think?
I do think I will use the pattern again, but there will be some changes. There might even be changes to this top. I might reduce the number of tucks to just one on each side and straighten the side seam even more. I love the neckline. Most of my tops are knit. This would be a good pattern for some cute woven fabrics in my stash. A trip through the laundry might soften this fabric so it drapes closer to the body. If not, I might remove the lower bodice to make alternations. If I reduce the number of tucks and straighten the side seams, there just might be enough of the batik fabric. 🙂
East meets West
Posted on: 3 May, 07
- In: sewing
- 6 Comments
Hello my bloggy friends! I have not forgotten you or forgotten how to sew. Because I am working every day this week, my very limited free time has been spent sewing rather than documenting my sewing. 🙂 I finished the swishy skirt from Ottobre and made a little sleeveless top from the leftovers. Love both of them, but not together. More about those when I get photos….
The subtle Asian style is what first attracted me to Simplicity 4020. Being drafted to a size 4 was also quite appealing. I did not have quite enough fabric to make the longer sleeve with the wide hem, as drafted. A contrasting neck band would have been pretty and solved the fabric shortage issue, but I had nothing that would work as a contrast. So, I shortened the sleeve a bit and used a smaller hem allowance. It required some very careful cutting, but I got it.
The top is extremely comfortable to wear. The close fitting lower bodice gathers up naturally to hide any little bumps in the midsection. The wrap top is not at all low cut and is not revealing when leaning over. Because the pattern is so close fitting, the fabric needs a good bit of stretch.
Because this style is rather distinctive and memorable, this pattern is not going to be used repeatedly. I don’t want a wardrobe of these, but perhaps I will make another one from velour from the colder weather. It could also be interesting in a sheer knit with a cami underneath….or the neck band and lower bodice in one color and the sleeves and upper bodice in another. I can also see expanding this pattern into a dress. So many options!
Abandon Ship!
Posted on: 27 February, 07
- In: sewing
- 6 Comments
While waiting ever so impatiently for the new Ottobre Woman to arrive, I decided to try a new pattern…Simplicity 4110, the “Built by Wendy” cargo pants. It is a cute, casual style. I have other pants patterns that fit well, but I thought it might be fun to try something new. Being short waisted, low rise pants are a good thing.
Thank goodness I don’t need directions because these are awful. I like where the waist band sits. There is some contour to the waistband, but I need more shaping to get a good fit. The fit in the front is fine, but the back…..ewww. I took in the center back seam quite a bit. Adding a center back seam to the waistband improved the fit of the waist immensely. Perhaps with some pin fitting and basting, the back could be improved, but, at this point, I am inclined to finish the waistband and donate them to the thrift shop.
Simplicity 4697
Posted on: 29 December, 05
- In: sewing
- 2 Comments
This is such an easy pattern to sew and such a flattering style. Although the pattern is for a sleeveless design, I’ve only made it with long sleeves. The top will look much better when I wear it with navy pants or jeans instead of the black pants I was wearing at the time. C has been learning to use the digi cam. I think he’s doing a fine job.
mermaids 
