Better than expected

There has been more sewing than blog posting lately. Mostly, that is because I'm soooo lazy about taking pictures, and the remote for my camera isn't working as it should, meaning that if I'm going to get any photos, I need to find someone else to take them. I hate to bother BF with it, so until the cats learn to use a camera, we'll just have to settle for Wilma as model.

One as yet unposted finish is Simplicity 2936, a button-front top with raglan sleeves. This pattern has languished in my stash for AGES because, well... the photos are decidedly unappealing. So bad, in fact, that every time I pulled this pattern out I couldn't begin to figure out why I had purchased it. The photo gives it a decidedly "home made" look that made me think more of a craft project than a custom-created garment. Really not my style at all, and something that I'm afraid of accidentally creating. Those of you who sew can probably relate to this. LOL



After giving the technical drawings a closer look, I decided to give the pattern a chance. It had nice shaping, courtesy of tucks in the front and back, and the raglan sleeves are great. I went with the non-collared view and decided against adding trim (though I did purchase some and may add it later).

Everything went together perfectly, and the tucks provided an opportunity to get a perfect fit through the waist. I loved the results and will probably make this again soon, in white. My ONLY complaint is the fabric that I chose. I used a cotton sateen. It would have been great for a different top, just not this one. It wrinkles badly in the wash, and the sleeves of this top are very difficult to iron properly. I've also had a hard time getting the neckline ironed just right. It was great when I first completed the top, but since washing.... well... just take a look at the photo, and you'll see what I mean.



Other than the issues with ironing, I was pleasantly surprised by this top. The full review is here.

M5857... and a lack of clothes

I've mostly been quiet about it, but... I've lost weight. Quite a bit of it, in fact. I felt like I was too heavy FOR ME and finally decided to do something about it at the end of July 2010. I'll admit, I was skeptical, not expecting much results. I have no will power and LOVE to eat, after all. Much to my surprise, it worked. Great news, but now, the warm weather is upon us again and I have no clothes. Literally. Until two days ago, I didn't even own a t-shirt in my current size. I'm at a point with my sewing where I'd prefer to make clothes rather than buy them, but there are only so many hours in a day for sewing, and I'm kind of slow. I purchased a couple pairs of capri pants and a few tops as a start, but I'm trying to fill in the rest of my wardrobe with my own creations as much as possible.

This brings me to M5857, Misses' Shorts in 4 Lengths. I really need shorts for summer, and had great hopes of this pattern turning into a TNT. Sadly, that was not the case. For starters, I have the wrong size pattern (purchased when I needed a larger size). I took it in quite a bit all over, which helped, but I think it created some problems with the pockets. The pattern is now OOP, so re-purchasing in the correct size wasn't an option.



Even if I had the right size pattern to start with, I don't think it would have helped all that much. The waistband of these shorts is just too high for me, sitting just above my natural waist. This gives a decidedly unflattering look to the shorts, giving an odd "3 months pregnant" sort of look, which is only acceptable if one is indeed pregnant. I'm not. I also felt like it would have been much better with a 2-piece, curved waistband. It would have made fit adjustments in the waist a lot easier, and I think the fit would have been more flattering.

The pockets don't lay perfectly flat. I think this is due to my down-sizing of the pattern. I didn't really do much adjustment for the pockets, and I think I should have. In all honestly, I could have taken the shorts apart and fixed it, but it's fairly minor, and I just don't like these well enough to spend any more time on them.

I will wear these, partly because they are my ONLY pair of shorts at the moment. I'll never love them, but they'll be okay if I don't tuck my shirt into them.

The full pattern review is here.