TOP NUMBER THREE

This top is made using the Fearless T-shirt pattern from Material Things "The Classics" pattern line. I received this pattern as a gift from Julie at Timmel's for completing last year's SWAP and have used it at least a dozen times since. This is a great basic pattern for t-shirts, sleeveless ts and turtlenecks. You can easily alter the pattern to make a different neckline. The pattern is well drafted and the tips in the instructions are great. I think this pattern could easily be made by a beginner and would be agreat way to begin working with knits. However, it could also be a TNT for a more advanced sewer. I highly recommend it as an addition to your pattern collection and I believe Julie still carries it.

Again, the photgraph does not do the colour of the fabric justice. This is a lovely soft wool knit in a cream shade that works well with the browns I have chosen and would also do well with the numerous black pieces that I have in my wardrobe. I expect given its neutral colour, it will be one of those tops that goes with darned near anything I have. I have made this same top in this same fabric in black and it is one of my favourite tops - soft, lightweight, warm and comfortable.

SIMPLICITY 3634 WARDROBE PATTERN TURTLENECK

This is the turtleneck from my wardrobe pattern. The colours are much richer in reality that in the photo. The fabric is a soft rayon knit. The top was easy and quick to sew up. I wasn't sure if I would like the drapey turtleneck (knid of hard to see in the picture) but now that its made up, I think I do. Turtlenecks are a staple in my winter wardrobe and this just gives a tiny twist on the usual. I haven't worn it yet (that's tomorrow) but it looks great with my brown SWAP jacket and a black pair of pants.

STORYBOARD

Well, here my storyboard is at long last. Its not done in the most sophisticated style and I really am not ready for the big time photography-wise but at least it records the general idea of what I am doing. The picture below gives a better idea of what the print laid out on the cream coloured fabric actually looks like.

The brown swatch next to it is the fabric I used for the rayon doubleknit jacket. The brown fabrics everything is laid out on are the two pants fabrics I have chosen thus far. I think I will also make a pair with the brown rayon doubleknit. All the rest are for tops. The colours aren't that true on my monitor but even so, the burnt orange really stands out. I felt that this was such a neutral coloured wardrobe that it really needed a bit of zing. I have several other fabrics to go with the next stage of this SWAP and amongst them is a lovely pumpkin rayon doubleknit.

SIMPLICITY 3634 JACKET

This is my wardrobe pattern and the jacket is the first piece I am completing from this pattern. Its made of a chocolate rayon doubleknit (EOS) and I hope will it be quite a versatile piece. I have been reading all these articles lately about matching wearing black and brown together and have seen it as a suggested colour combination. I intend to try that out and will post the results later.

I made the short version first from an acrylic boucle as a wearable muslin and then decided to go for the longer version for my SWAP. I had to make the usual adjustments (FB, sloping shoulders, narrowed the shoulders, shortened torso, shortened bust are) but in the end, I am happy with the result. I need to do a final press and then I'm done.

It was a bit windy out when I was taking the photos so things are not looking quite right here. The jacket actually does hang properly and that's my Vogue top peeking out from beneath the jacket.

I have a matching turtleneck in this rayon doubleknit that I sewed up early this fall. Its great fabric to work with and to wear. It takes embroidery well as long as the stitch pattern isn't too dense. I highly recommend this fabric for comfort and ease.

I have

I now have completed my jacket and my first top. This is Vogue 8323, view A with long sleeves. The neck looks a bit odd on Madeleine, my dress form. Its meant to come up high and then drape but of course, Madeleine doesn't have enough of a neck to really accomodate this look. This is one of my print fabrics. I have chosen several and I think that my SWAP will be called "Out of print". I'm not really, being a great collector of fabric, but I liked the double entendre.Its hard to tell from this photo but the top has a nice drape to it and with the princess lines to the shoulder, fits well. The fabric is an EOS rayon knit.

One Down, 10 to go!

So here goes, my leap into the world of bloggers in an effort to keep a diary of my progress with the Timmel's 2008 SWAP. Thus far, all my tops and my jacket are cut out. The jacket is half sewn and I finished one top using Vogue 8323, View A. That's the sleeveless green top in the photo but I added long sleeves as this will be more functional. I made several alterations to the tissue pattern for fitting purposes and am pleased with the outcome. I finished the top in time to wear for a casual New Year's Eve party. My friends know I sew and whenever I have something new on, they always ask if I made it. I was pleased to receive several compliments on the top. This top sews up nicely, the instructions aren't bad if you ignore Vogue usual nonsense about double stitching everything and the finished version is flattering. I particularly like the shaping you can get with the princess seams all the way to the shoulder. Photo of the finished top to follow.

In keeping with this year's SWAP challenge of working one pattern, I will be making all three views of this pattern as part of my SWAP.