McCall's 4617 1975 Carefree For Knits Pattern

Vintage patterns are the BEST!  They are simple and usually with minimum pattern pieces.  I have been wanting a draped cowl neck top.  After a few evening of searching the internet and looking through all my patterns a few times, I decided that the McCall's 4617 was a perfect start.

McCall's 4617 Carefree Pattern for Knits

ITY Knit Double Knit Fabric 

I thought that the background fabric would make a nice cardigan style jacket and the two ITY knits would make nice cowl neck tops.  I purchased the fabric at www.fabricmartfabrics.com.  My favorite shopping place!

 

I thought that a muslin was a must for this project.  A perfect fit T-shirt!
I used the front pattern and made adjustments for a cowl neck.  I used the Threads magazine post. http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/33848/how-to-create-a-draped-cowl-neckline/page/all.

 The directions were easy and the drape was beautiful.  The only thing was it was really really low!

I'm keeping this muslin and wearing it with a tank under.  I just love the drape of it!

McCall's 4617 Knit to draped cowl neck top-muslin

McCall's 4617 Knit to draped cowl neck top-Front view

McCall's 4617 Knit to draped cowl neck top-Back View

McCall's 4617 Knit to draped cowl neck top-With Cardigan

I can't just make one when I really like a pattern so I had to whip up a second one.  And I changed the drape of the cowl neck from a 10" drape to a 13" drape.  It's a little low, but not too bad. 

McCall's 4617 ITY Knit draped cowl neck top-Front View

McCall's 4617 ITY Knit draped cowl neck top-With Double Knit Cardigan

We are going to a wedding tonight.  I am wearing a dress I bought>>>>>>>>>>>>I can't believe I found a dress off the rack!  Will try to get a photo.  

I am trying to get to the last two pieces of the fall wardrobe but pretty other things jump in front!  I found that if I sew what talks to me, it goes so much better.

Until next time.................

Bonnie

Simplicity 7243 Again Black & Print

I had to make the Simplicity 7243 again in a color block type print and solid mix.  I really like how this one turned out.  I let the sleeved come right above the elbow and I turned under the neck edge and used a twin needle.  I broke the twin needle while working on one of the sleeves so the other sleeve I had to use two rows of stitching.  It was so much easier than using the twin needle.  It has a mind of it's own!

Simplicity 7243 Ponte Knit Princess Seam Dress-Front View

Simplicity 7243 Ponte Knit Princess Seam Dress-Side View

I took this picture before I hemmed the sleeves.  I had to move it around a bit to find where I thought it was comfortable.

Simplicity 7243 Ponte Knit Princess Seam Dress-Back View

This was my first time sewing with ponte knit.  I L-O-V-E-D it.  I had to go back to FabricMart and get more!  It was so easy to sew and the stretch was forgiving.  I took the seam allowance off my pattern to make up for it being a woven pattern and I used knit fabric.  Worked out perfect!

I've sewn a few more nursing tops for my sister in law, and I still trying to get to the rest of the fall wardrobe fabric.  I also have to make a cheerleader outfit for a friends' little girl.  Never enough hours!

Until next time.........................


Bonnie

Simplicity 7243 Cheetah Print Knit Dress Fall Wardrobe Fabric 2

I think making a pattern the second time around is so much easier!  It only took a day to finish the Simplicity 7243 Cheetah print knit dress.  I could have finished it in 1/2 of a day but life gets in the way sometimes!

I feel like I can mix and match a lot of items with this dress.  A black belt, A black scarf, Turquoise necklace and shoes, a brown sweater, a tan cardigan, a black sweater, an orange cardigan.............. I could just go on and on and on!

Simplicity 7243 Cheetah Print Princess Knit Dress  Front View

Simplicity 7243 Cheetah Print Princess Knit Dress Back View

I hemmed the sleeves, neck and bottom with a 4.0 twin stretch needle.  I folded the fabric double to give it a little body and used a 4.0 stitch length.  On the bottom hem, I used my walking foot.  No puckers or wrinkles!

Simplicity 7243 Cheetah Print Princess Knit Dress Sleeve Detail

I have three of the five fabrics left to sew.  I am really interested in the beige/tan suede like fabric for my next project.  I'm thinking of either a 6 gore skirt or a straight skirt with a flounce at the bottom and a jacket.

Any suggestions for the plaid fabric?  I'm trying to mix and match a lot of the items.  I think the suede like jacket with the cheetah print dress will work too.

Until next time......................


Bonnie (Aunt B: going to see my precious nephew this weekend!!!!)

Simplicity 7243 Woven to knit pattern

While on a trip to Alabama I visited one of the largest thrift store EVER!  It was a Wal-Mart at one time, now it's Harvest Thrift.  It takes me and DD a good two hours to go through it.  My favorite place to go to while in Alabama!

I purchased a bolt of knit fabric (still in the wrapper).  Along the selvage edge it's marked for Jo-Anne's.  It's a little thin but I think it will make a great muslin for knits.

I found a pattern that I think will work for the leopard print fall wardrobe fabric.  I have the pattern it's just too big.  I decided to give it a try and used the thrift store bolt fabric.

Simplicity 7243 Dress Pattern

Simplicity 7243 Dress Pattern knit muslin

The dress turned out GREAT!  I only had to add 1/2" at the seam allowances of the hip area.  I wore it to church last night and it was comfortable.  The fabric is thin but it's always summer in Florida so I think I will get a lot of wear out of it!

Simplicity 7243 Dress Neck View

I did not use the neck facing pieces in the pattern.  I just turned the seam allowances in and used a double needle to stitch around the neck.  I did the same thing on the hem and the sleeves.

Simplicity 7243 Dress Back View 

I also cut the back piece on the fold so I didn't have a back seam.  

I'm cutting out the leopard/cheetah print fabric now.  Wish me luck!

Until next time...............................

Bonnie

New Look 6853 Vest & Butterick 5649 Skirt Fall is Coming!

Fall is my F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E time of year!

I thought that since it's only Fall about a week here in Florida I would just go ahead and make my own Fall season!

August 4th I decorated the house in all my Fall stuff, then I thought I would just go ahead and work on a Fall wardrobe too!

New Look 6853 Vest Butterick 5649 Skirt

The New Look 6853 Vest was super easy to make, I only had to add my usual hip increase.  I like the princess seams for easy increase.  I take my increase and divide it by 12.  It's usually only about 1/2" or less at each seam allowance.  

I found this orange t-shirt in the closet and I thought it went very well.  The fabric also has lime green and purple, yellow and a little beige too.  The fabric I purchased over the summer at www.fabricmartfabrics.com I'm sure it was on sale cheap, It was wonderful to work with!  Soft as a baby's bottom and just a little stretch and noooooooo fuzz everywhere!

The Butterick 5649 skirt was easy too.  The only trouble I had with the directions was for the fly front zipper.  I watched a few youtube tutorials and it came out fine.  The length was perfect too.  Not too short!

I did have enough fabric left over I made DD the Butterick 5649 skirt too.  I love it on her, she's just ok with it.

New Look 6853 Vest 

Butterick 5649 Skirt

I'm making a muslin of a woven fabric pattern to make for a knit dress.  I have hundreds of patterns and NOT ONE for a knit dress I had in mind!  I will make due!

Until next time...........................

Bonnie

McCall's 3588 Skirts

I found a skirt pattern that was not only easy but looks nice too.  It's a straight skirt with a back vent and back zipper.  My first attempt was about two sizes too big!  I know I measured myself but it must have been a fat day!  I ended up taking the skirt half way apart and taking in over two inches of the sides.  Now it fits perfect in the waist and hips but it's a standing room only length.  When I sit at church I feel it shows a little too much knee.  The second version I added length to it and it's soooooo perfect!

McCall's 3588 Skirt pattern

McCall's 3588 Straight Skirt Blue Twill

McCall's 3588 Straight Skirt cutting layout

McCall's 3588 Straight Skirt grey suiting front view 

McCall's 3588 Straight Skirt grey suiting back view 

I've been working (slowly) on a McCall's 5057 jacket pattern also.  I made a muslin and it's ok, I made the muslin out of a tan cotton fabric and I had to piece the lining of silk shantung? for the sleeves and a lightweight cotton woven for the body and the front body is of the tan cotton.  This baby is HEAVY!  Maybe it's the heat here in Florida but every time I try it on, I just want to get out of it!  I have planned on using a boulce woven fabric with a polyester type lining for the final garment but I'm not sure if that's what I want to do.

McCall's 5057 Lined Jacket Pattern Tan floral

I'm more exited about making a fall wardrobe.  I have a group of fabrics that I am very interested into making skirts, vest, jackets, and dresses.

Fall wardrobe fabrics

Starting from the left:  Cheetah Print knit (Princess or sheath dress with 3/4 length sleeves), Brown suiting fabric (Skirt, Dress, Bolero Jacket), Corduroy Print (Straight Skirt, Vest, & skirt for DD), Tan suede (gore skirt, jacket), Plaid suiting (skirt or dress and jacket).

That's a lot of sewing!  I'm so excited!

Until next time............................

Bonnie (Aunt B)

What a Summer!

The kids have gone back to school and Dear Hubby is at work today!  What to do with myself and ALL my free time?

Did 30 minutes of Pilates
Fixed two kids breakfast
Walked 2 miles
Took a shower
Took kids to bus stop & waited over 30 minutes for late buses
I've deep cleaned both bathrooms
Talked to my husband's uncle on the phone
Talked to my neighbor lady whose in a Rehabilitation facility with her husband
Cooked Dear Hubby Lunch
Washed/Dried/Put away 6 loads of laundry
Started dinner cooking...........................

And I wonder why I'm so tired at 2pm?

I'm glad to have the kids back to school.  I do miss them dearly but I need MY TIME!  I like the peace and quiet of no one home, no TV on, no one needing me to fix them something to eat!

We had a pretty good summer.  We went to St. Augustine for 5 days, played in softball All-Star games, did a lot of swimming in our pool, took a few naps.  The guys took a trip to Georgia to visit a friend of Dear Hubby who has retired, and one trip to Alabama to check on the hunt camp. Dear Daughter and I had a girls day out and had our hair colored & cut.  Couple of shopping trips.......  Lots of visits to my new nephew.  Who I am now "Aunt B", isn't that the sweetest!

July was a rough month for me, I had some back issues:  a bulging disc (I think). And that led to me walking funny and I damaged my meniscus in both my knees.  I am a Doctor dodger, but I finally had to bite the bullet and go.  I'm back to about 90%.  Knees are great, back still tires out during the day.  I'm getting older and it's no fun!

I did some sewing during the summer.  A dress here or there and a dress or two for Dear Daughter!  I couldn't believe she agreed to let me sew her something!  I made her the Butterick 5202 dress with a knit fabric I had bought from www.fabricmartfabrics.com.  The fabric was pretty slick to work with.  The pattern was easy enough, I will need to modify the top on the next version.  DD had to wear a tank top under it or a buttoned up sweater.

B5202 Butterick 5202 Knit Dress 

B5202 Butterick 5202 Knit Dress 

I didn't get a picture of DD wearing the dress.  It was just too much trouble to ask her.  12 year olds!!!

I did make the Butterick B4443 Dress for myself in a hot pink.  I really like how it turned out.  I also made the McCall's M5006 bolero style jacket to go with it.  

Butterick 4443 Dress

McCall 5006 Bolero

I made DD a dress from the same fabric as the McCall 5006 Bolero.  She loved the dress until she realized that I had something to match......................

McCall's 2442 Dress

DD wearing M2442 Dress

I'm planning on making some skirts soon.  Slim style at the knee.  Nothing fancy but basics to go with various tops/sweaters/jackets I have.  I am thinking a navy blue and a grey.  I already have a black.  I also have my eye on a beautiful blouce fabric from my dear neighbor that would make a lovely jacket.

Until next time......................................

Bonnie (Aunt B!)