Stash busting: Asymmetrical T-shirt / Copying RTW with OOP Vogue 9057 / Reissued as Vogue 1733

Back in August, there was an attempt to recreate a copy of a favourite ready-to-wear (RTW) t-shirt.  It didn't work.  I have hope that it will.  It is the first week of Advent after all.  

This time around I used the pattern pieces from OOP Vogue 9057 (view A), circa 2014.  But don't worry about reading a review for an out-of-print pattern, it has been reissued as Vogue 1733.  I'm so close to having the perfect recreation of the En Thread t-shirt that I enjoy wearing.  So close.  

I laid out my pattern pieces and then laid out my RTW t-shirt to chalk outline the changes I wanted to add.  The one thing that I forgot to do to my Vogue pattern is to add an inch at the neckline.  Right now my bra straps show, that is how wide the neckline opening is on me.  Most of the other versions (there have been many) have the addition to the neckline and it works.  So, so, close.  Of course, I will give this one more try.  

The fabric has been in the stash for many years.  It is a cotton knit.  It wasn't pre-treated, if I'm not mistaken.  If I do wash it and it does shrink, I will still be able to wear it.  It has that much ease.  

UPDATE:  I was thinking about the neckline and decided to try and fix the width issue by taking it in at the center back and it worked.  It is a much nicer fit around the neckline.  On another shirt I will remember to make the changes before cutting it out.  I will add an inch in the front and taper to a half inch in the centre back along the neckline. 

Project Details

Seams:  Knit stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  2 metres

Knit 'N Stable tape:  1 metre

Pattern:  Vogue 9057 / Vogue 1733

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, tin of buttons (used as a pattern weight), clapper (also used as a weight), scissors, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, Janome serger, tweezers, screwdriver, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, iron, ironing board and tea.  

Happy Sewing!

November in Review...

Sewing

Most of the sewing finish off this month has been charity sewing or gifted items.  Nine hats were sewn for the church.  The scarves and black hat were gifted.  

Also gifted was the blue and white cotton knit top.  The rest of this month's sewing was for moi, mostly to replace items that no longer fit or were given away.  

Stash busting

This month: 9.9 metres of fabric, 2.6 metres of elastic, 2.2 metres of Knit 'N Stable tape, 1.4 metres of interfacing and several spools of thread were stash busted.  All of the patterns that were used for sewing these projects were previously loved patterns.  The pattern for the skirt, out-of-print (OOP) Butterick 5790 was a recently added pattern in my current size but has been sewn many times over the years.  

What's Next?  

I promise, I'll sew some new-to-me patterns.  That's all that I'm willing to reveal at the moment.  Stay tuned.  

And Happy Sewing!

Stash Busting: Wool Cardigan Sweater / OOP Kwik Sew 4192

 

If this cardigan looks familiar, it is likely because you have seen one like this before.  I made one, just like it, back in May.  And I recently gave it away to someone who needed a sweater with loose fitting sleeves.  

I missed that sweater.  It was made with out-of-print (OOP) Kwik Sew 4192.  That is why I made another one.  The first version I made, I mentioned that I would go down to a size small if I made it again, but I didn't this time.  This one is, again, a size medium because the wool knit fabric that I used did shrink a bit even though it was pre-treated.  I thought I would be on the safe side because I'm also revisiting the same fabric.  

I picked this fabric at Marshall's / Northwest Fabrics years ago.  It was what some call "deadstock" fabric.  I was told it came from a dress shop that went out of business and they were selling the fabrics for $3.99 / metre but if whatever was on the bolt was purchased, it would be sold for 99￠ / metre.  

Well, I bought what was on the bolt.  It's hard to find wool knit here, despite our cold winters.  And you don't see prices like that, even back then, except in this case.  I've made a few projects (dresses, socks, tuques and sweaters) over the years with this wool, it's lovely.  And so warm for winter clothing.  

The pattern, OOP Kwik Sew 4192, is an easy and quick make.  I actually do not have the original pattern.  I traced the pattern for the short cardigan before letting go of the pattern.  I do recommend it if you and Kwik Sew 4192 happen to cross paths.  It's a project that a beginner can easily whip up.  The only alteration to the pattern was shortening the sleeve length about an inch.  The cardigan was finished with a machine rolled hem done on my Janome serger.  

Project Details

Seams:  Knit / Lightning bolt stitch

Seam finish:  Serged 

Fabric:  1.6 metres 

Pattern:  OOP Kwik Sew 4192

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, assorted objects used as pattern weights, pins, pin cushions, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, Janome serger, screwdriver, thread clippers, iron, ironing board and coffee.  

Happy Sewing!

Pretty Warm in Pink: The Littlest Studio Tuques

This is a continuation of the charity sewing project that I am working on for the church.  I had a pink turtleneck dress that was a bit snug and even though it was in otherwise fine condition it made me sad that it wasn't get used over the winter.  I feel good that I was able to harvest the fabric to sew three new tuques.  

The other side of the tuques are sewn with a jogger's fleece that I found at Northwest / Marshall Fabrics many moons ago when I was looking for a wind blocking fabric for a winter coat.  

Project Details

Seams:  Serged and the sewing machine's knit stitch

Fabric:  One upcycled dress + 0.6 metres 

Pattern:  Free downloadable tuque pattern from The Littlest Studio

Additional Tools and Supplies:  Cutting table, clapper (used as a weight), scissors, pins, Janome serger, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, threads, thread clippers, hand sewing needle, pin cushion and coffee.  

Happy Sewing!  

Stash Busting: Knit Top / OOP Simplicity 2372

Another request for a cotton knit t-shirt came across the cutting table.  Since this project became a go-to item, I am revisiting the pattern, out-of-print (OOP) Simplicity 2372.  

OOP Simplicity 2372 belongs in the hall of fame for sewing patterns as it's been a much-loved pattern over the years.  This is a well-drafted pattern and an easy project to sew.  The pleats on the sleeve and front are quite nice.  The pleats are difficult to make out with this fabric in this photo.  

The blue and white printed fabric is a 97% cotton and 3% spandex knit that I found in the discount section at Fabricland.  It was pre-treated with a wash cycle and dried in the dryer.  

Project Details

Seams:  2.4 straight stitch

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1 metre

Interfacing:  0.4 metres

Knit 'N Stable tape:  1 metre

Pattern:  OOP Simplicity 2372

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, pins, pin cushion, tailor's chalk, measuring tape, measure gauge, scissors, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, Janome serger, threads, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, hand sewing needle, and coffee.  

Happy Sewing!

And Then There Were Two: The Littlest Studio's Tuque

It turned out that there was enough left-over fabric with some careful pattern placement to sew one more tuque.  Both will be donated.  

Project Details

Seams:  Serged and knit stitch

Seam finish:  N/A

Fabric:  Scrap busted

Pattern:  The Littlest Studio free downloadable toque pattern

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, scissors, clapper (used as a weight), Janome serger, tweezers, threads, Janome sewing machine, walking foot, iron, ironing board, hand sewing needle and coffee.  

Happy Sewing!

Knit Sweater and Tuque: OOP Simplicity 8529 and The Littlest Studio Tuque Patterns

This sweater is made with a tried and true (TNT) pattern, out-of-print (OOP) Simplicity 8529.  I actually picked up this fabric with thoughts of sewing a tunic with Vogue 1914 but after reading some reviews, I changed plans towards a pattern and fit I trust.  This wasn't fabric I wanted to use to test out a new pattern.  

I actually picked up this fabric with thoughts of sewing something to go with these pants.  The brown tweed used for the pants has pink and white specks.  And this pink knit has printed little brown horse.  I thought it would be a cute match-up.  I totally disregarded the fact that I once vowed to stop wearing petroleum-based fabric.  It is a 100% polyester knit.  My bad.  

I'm not expecting this fabric to perform well.  I'm expecting that it may start pilling during the winter and I do have a sweater shaver near if that happens.  The fabric was pretreated with a tumble in the washing machine and dried in the dryer.  It did lose much of its original body and has more drape post-washing.  

And it was a pain to sew.  Even though I changed the needle, used a knit stitch on the sewing machine and used polyester thread, it did not sew well.  I wouldn't recommend this fabric.  Sorry Fabricland, this fabric is not a winner.  Do I have buyer's remorse on this fabric?  Yes.  But I also like the final outcome and hopefully, I'll enjoy wearing this one more than I did sewing it.  

There was a wee bit of fabric left-over and made a matching tuque.  I cut this one a wee bit smaller than The Littlest Tuque pattern, it fits me better.  I like the slouchy style of this hat in this fabric.  It won't keep me warm during a prairie winter but it is cute to wear indoors with the matching sweater or in the seasons before and after winter.  

Project Details

Seams:  Knit stitch on the sweater, serged on the tuque

Seam finish:  Serged

Fabric:  1.7 metres

Knit 'N Stable tape:  1.2 metres

Patterns:  OOP Simplicity 8529 and The Littlest Studio Toque pattern

Additional Tools & Supplies:  Cutting table, clapper (for weight) pins, pin cushion, scissors, tailor's chalk, Janome sewing machine, universal sewing machine needle, screwdriver, threads, tweezers, Janome serger, thread clippers, iron, ironing board, tea, heating pad, a nap or two and coffee.  

Happy Sewing!