Overall, this #itchtostitchpattern is pretty good. (Last photo is an epic #SundaysareforDerps lol!)
The sleeve is a little tight on my shoulder joint (not sure if that's because I'm boney or if that is just how it's drafted) and the armseye needs to be dropped 3/4". I suspect that the armseye is too high because the pattern was drafted without dropping it for a raglan sleeve - that should be the first step when converting a set-in sleeve to a raglan. Easy enough to fix if I make the top version later.
I didn't use any interfacing and the instructions call for it in multiple places but it would just add bulk where you won't want it. I also didn't apply the clear elastic to the waist seam the way specified - if I had cut it to fit my waist and stretched it to fit, the dress would be impossible to get over my shoulders and bust. Clear elastic is just meant for stabilizing seams as it doesn't stretch like regular elastic. So I just serged it in the seam as I attached the skirt to the bodice. That means the waist keeps its shape without stretching out but it isn't tight against my skin.
After wearing it, I realized I needed to take in the back neck on each raglan seam because it gaps quite a lot (more obvious when I'm sitting). I probably didn't notice that during construction because the tightness of the sleeves was throwing me off. I'll fix it this afternoon and post some pics later.
I'm not crazy about how the waist gathers sit on my bum center back. If I ever decide to make another dress with this pattern, I'll be changing the skirt. Luckily, the print is enough of a distraction that it's not the first thing you focus on, but it feels a little weird. It might hang better in a super drapey knit, but I'm not sure and that wasn't what the pattern called for.
I would also recommend cutting your neckband pieces longer than the pattern draft if you make one. I cut mine at the length of the measured neckline on the pattern and then stretched to the measured length and chopped off the bit that went beyond. If I had cut as drafted, my neckband would have been too tight for this cotton knit with good recovery.
I think once I correct the pattern, I'll really like using it for some t-shirts.
#GlenellyTopandDress #itchtostitchdesigns
I spent the day priming things for paint and then I remembered to shoot a quick video. #SewingStudioBuild
I started cutting all the edges while Janet was away yesterday morning. When she got back after lunch, she pulled out a roller and started filling in. I'll put a pic below in the comments. #SewingStudioBuild
We broke for lunch and then came back with a portal ac unit plugged in to an extention cord from the house. Can't wait until they finished hooking up all the electrical and we have the mini split cooling the room for us - it was stupid humid today! #SewingStudioBuild
Not bad for a first attempt at English paper piecing. I deliberately used a contrast thread so I could see if I needed to do anything differently.
I have a crazy idea in mind and this was just a test sample. It's going to take forever, but this should be the perfect mindless project to keep my hands busy when I'm listening to podcasts with my husband at night.
Triangle is 4" equilateral.
#epp
My husband sent me a "funny clothes" compilation video, and I actually kind of like this one, lol! I'm trying to wrap my head around exactly how to construct this so you could still turn everything! It looks simple but it's actually really complex!
I don't think it has any seams - looks like one giant circle. But to clean finish those holes, you'd have to sew them in steps with some burrito action. Definitely have to sew one and then the other.
I might have to make a half scale version to see if I can.
I made a patriotic 18th Century style skirt for and indie film maker to wear to her documentary premiere. Unfortunately, it has been delayed (she and her husband are still working on the final edit) and won't be out today as originally planned, but she'll have a skirt whenever it comes out later this year!
In true historical style, the skirt back ties around the waist and then the front ties around the back. This creates side openings that allow access to any pockets worn underneath. Modern women are always complaining about small or no pockets - they used to be separate accessories and as big as you wanted! (Example photos of me modeling it over my jeans at work because my coworkers wanted to see it.)
I couldn't help myself and matched the stars on the seams and even managed to hide horizontal tucks on the bottom layer that don't interrupt the stars (it's two layers of skirt). It can be worn with or without a petticoat, and the top layer can be draped with loops of red ribbon I stitched ...
