MADE: Colette Sorbetto 1.0

On to the details on my Sorbetto from this epiphany post...

Pattern: Colette Sorbetto - available free here
Fabric: quilting cotton from SWAP and turquoise cotton from Joann for binding
Cost: ~$3.25 = $1.75 (turquoise cotton) + $1.50 (turquoise thread)
What I Love: the turquoise binding!
Notes:

• Added 0.75" back darts
• Took in about total 1" at the side seams in the waist
• Need to shorten the bust dart by at least 0.5"
• Need to lengthen at least an 1"

Overall the top turned out ok, but I'm not loving it. The fabric is definitely all wrong for this pattern. It's way too stiff and just flares out at the bottom. I like how the back fits with the darts, but from the side it's not attractive. It also just reminds me of PJs, which could just be because of the print. I did wear it out one day, but I'm not sure if I'll wear it out again... it may just be my at home shirt. Who knows if there'll be another one... there are too many other things I want to make before I make another version.

Sorry for all the wrinkles! 

FAIL: Burda Blouse

Most things I've made have mistakes all over them... imperfect stitching, un-matching thread color, etc. It's not that I don't like to have things perfect, but I would never wear anything if it had to be perfect.  And then I have the "Too many things gone wrong and I just don't like it!"  Here this particular specimen:

From afar, it seems really innocent.  I know I could just go back and remedy all the minor things, but I'm just not feeling it for some reason.  One of these days, I'll go back and make this pattern again, but for this particular top... a wadder.

Pattern: Burda 08-2009-117
Fabric:  Navy poly chiffon from a fabric swap so it was free!

There is nothing particularly wrong with this pattern (other than the difficult to decipher Burda instructions, but that's with all their magazine patterns).  Actually, I love this pattern and this particular issue is one of my favorites!  So what's the problem?  Well when I list them out, they're all really minor...

• I wasn't paying attention (I had pretty much already given up on this top anyway...) and I attached the facing incorrectly in the front.  There's supposed to be a keyhole in the front, but stitched it all the way up.  My head barely fits through the neckline.
• This was the first time I've tried a rolled hem on my serger.  I did practice and it's not too bad but it doesn't help how I feel about this top.
• There's a "tape stain" on the front.
• The facing keeps flipping out even though it's understitched.

MADE: Peacock Taffy Blouse

A tale of fabric and pattern...

I fell in love with this fabric as soon as I saw it in the "silky" aisle of Joann. I originally bought it with the intent to make another Scout, but as I looked at the fabric it just called for something with a little bit more girly-ness to it and it sat on the shelf with the rest of the prewashed fabric waiting for the perfect match.  The peacock print is actually on the bias so, when I cut the pattern pieces on the bias it made the pattern vertical.

For Christmas I knew I wanted to get 2 sewing books... I was gifted with Gertie's and Colette's book. As I was glancing through the Colette book I noticed a particular simply blouse with just the perfect amount of frill. I knew this would be the perfect pattern for the long awaiting peacock chiffon.

Pattern: Taffy Blouse from The Colette Sewing Handbook
Fabric: Poly Chiffon with Peacock Print from Joann
Cost:  $18.58 = $3 (book $15/5 patterns) + $15.58 (fabric 2 yds @$7.79)
What I Love:  The fabulous fabric and only needing 3 pattern pieces!
Notes:

• Stabilize/starch fabric MORE! 
• Left off the ties because didn't see a need for them.
• Chiffon hem for the sleeve instead of bias tape.

This was the first time I worked with fabric on the bias, and it was a beast to work with!  When using shifty fabric on the bias, be sure to use full pattern pieces.  I read several comments about this on the blogosphere, but didn't heed their warnings... BAD IDEA!  I couldn't get the fabric cut correctly on the fold or get the markings accurate, but it was close enough.  :)

I was also super lazy and didn't switch out my thread when attaching the black bias tape on the neckline.  I have some trouble stitching in the ditch, too, and the lavender stitching definitely stuck out. (For some reason, the stitching on the this part was particularly wavy... not sure why.) I almost redid it, but someone at my local meetup suggested using black fabric marker to color in the thread.  What a genius idea!  Here's the below and after:

The black ink did fade a little after the wash, but it's definitely better than without it...

I do like the top, but in general I don't think I like clothing on the bias.  It's hard to describe... it just feels shifty like it's always moving around on you.  Haha... that just sounds weird, but it just feels funny when I wear it.  I will wear the top and will hopefully have some coordinating bottoms to wear with it soon.

MADE: Scout Woven Tee

One of my fellow sewists at a local meetup is in love with this pattern (actually several of the sewists from the meetup have made this top and love it!) and so I decided to give it a try as well. It is a loose dartless woven top, which is not typically my first choice because I tend to lean towards more fitted clothes. I was a bit skeptical about it so I decided to use fabric I got at a fabric swap.

Uploaded this to flickr using the flickr app with the mammoth filter.

Pattern: Scout Woven Tee by Grainline Studio

Size:  12

Fabric: floral print cotton lawn/voile from a fabric SWAP

Cost: $6.50 = $6.50 (pattern) + $0.00 (fabric)

What I LoVE:  Simple, easy pattern.

Notes:  Added tiny pointed pocket, which was traced from my Target Boyfriend Tee.

Overall:

I don't think that this is the most flattering top on me, and I'm not sure I made the best fabric choice.  However that being said, I wear this shirt A LOT... it's super comfortable.  It's been a few months since I finished this project and it's definitely grown on me.  (Thanks, Susan! :))  Overall,  I may make a few tweaks and try it again.

Potential modifications for next time:

• Take it in a smidge in the back
• Needs small FBA
• Use drapier fabric