Floral Kwik Sew top goes out

So finally got a snap of my floral Kwik Sew 2643 being worn. We were on our way to the public library and I asked hubby to grab a quick shot before we left, not super "styled" but an acurate reflection of my day to day wardrobe :)

 This version was actually the first top I made from this pattern- you can see my original post here. Fabric is from Spotlight- $7 (or thereabouts) a metre on special. A bit thin for my preference as a single layer but I fell in love with the big fluro-bright flowers on the tan background. Plus having a $10 voucher that was due to expire helped cinched the deal (birthday voucher that is- thankyou Spottie!)

Now I'm not so sure what I was thinking picking a fluro/beige colour combination, I think I may have been swayed by all the pinterest boards I've been browsing lately. At least -if nothing else- it's a bit "unusual" ;) And luckily enough it worked out well for my first shot at this pattern.

Originally I made this this up with full length and full width sleeves. What you see now is the hacked and trimmed back version. I serged a fair bit off the width of the sleeves, chopped the length to near elbow and took it in a little more on main body seams as well. The neckline is the original neckline, I thought it was a bit too high on first wear but now I thinks it's OK. In fact -on reflection- it probably the ideal neckline for a work top (or for any other situation where accidental cleavage flashing is a no-no).

I've played around a fair bit with this pattern now and think I should probably put it away and try something new...

However with summer around the bend I find myself wondering what the short sleeve option looks like made up...and how hard it would be to alter it into something more "wardrobe friendly" if I don't like the original design.

Lots to consider ;)

Happy Sewing!

Kate :) 

Three tops

A pic of the three tops together that I made from the Kwik Sew 2643 pattern:

 

The striped version is about an inch longer than the other too. It's hem is straight, it's just the angle its hanging on...

All up I'm pretty happy with how these turned out :D

 Now to get some summer clothes sewn up...

Kate x

Striped cowl neck Kwik Sew 2643

Another bathroom mirror shot, maybe I should glam it up a bit if I keep using it as background ;P

Anyhoo... I made this top up before the blue cowl neck version, but it's been in the wash (cold weather here so it's seen a bit of use).
 The neckline is the original pattern neckline, with a 8 inch band (folded to 4 " wide) sewn on to form the "cowl":

I did have a more drapey cowl neck in mind when I started making this, but now realise that the cowl/collar extension probably needs to be curved not a straight rectangle or at least wider at one edge. 
I'm not sure if I'll be making any more of these for a while as I feel a bit burnt out after making four in a row, plus with warmer weather around the corner it's probably time to start pulling out summer patterns (or at least complete my half finished summer projects from last year!).

Happy Sewing

Kate :)
 

Blue Kwik Sew 2643 (modified) top finished!

Excuse the pyjama bottoms and bathroom shot but I've finally finished my blue version of the Kwik Sew 2643 :)

This is the forth time I've made this top up. I'm still catching up on taking photo's of and posting about the other versions, but you can read about one of them here.
This time around I decided to add a cowl neck collar to my widened neckline and bands to the sleeve ends.
The bottom hem I had to redo four times - this fabric was just a real doozy in this area for some reason. After trying to twin needle the hem (my usually easy and favorite method ) -and then having to rip it out- three times, I gave up on the twin needle and sewed it down using a blind hem stitch and then top stitched over that with a triple zig-zag stitch from the right side. The hem finally behaved after that ;P

Oh I forgot - this was also after trying to add a band to the bottom hem (to match the sleeves) and then taking it off as it made the length funny. Not quite long enough for a dress but too long for a top, might work on a willowy teenager but just looked wrong on me.
So that makes it FIVE times I redid the bottom hem - crazy!!!!

I guess you could say I've really been practising my stretch fabric hemming techniques with this top.... Hopefully my next project (jeans) will require much less unpicking *fingers crossed*.

Happy Sewing!

Kate x

White Kwik Sew tee muslin

Sorry for a terrible bathroom mirror selfie shot (hey my camera skills are at the very least consistent) but I thought I'd show you all a "wearble muslin" I made:

(FYI that weird lump is my pants waistband rolled down and the fastenings bit jutting out. Never notice these things til after!)

And a side view:

 

It's the same Kwik Sew 2643 pattern I used for the floral top I made last week.

Close up of envelope illustration,I used view A:

 

This time I've made a few changes to the pattern before cutting: raised the armhole a bit, taken in the sleeve width a bit (the original pattern gave me lovely tuck shop lady "wings"), made the sleeves 3/4 length (I just hacked them off on the floral top, this time I folded back the pattern piece to the length I wanted) and lowered the neckline (to be more like the RTW scoop necks I buy). 
Think I may have gone a bit too low with the neckline this time, but am guessing that if I retrace it somewhere in between the two depths I've tried it should be close to spot on next time!
 Walking that wobbly line of trying not too look too frumpy while also avoiding accidentally getting the "girls" out for all and sundry to see the first time I lean over :O 
I'm enjoying playing around with this pattern and really hope that I will end up with a very usable TNT t-shirt pattern at the end of it.

My review for this pattern on Sewing Pattern Review can be read here.

Happy Sewing!

Kate :)

Floral Kwik Sew top

Just a quick pic of something I've made recently to let you know I'm still alive and sewing! 

It's school holiday's here (or technically end of them) so I've had the last two weeks off work- yay school based jobs! I had planned to make this whole "mini" wardrobe with all my free time, but as life happens it didn't... 

Still did get a few items made, and a bit of tidying up around the home done, so all up not a bad term break :)

The top is an OOP  Kwik Sew (2643). I'm still playing around with the fit - tweaking the armhole and shaving a bit of the seam allowances here and there- but so far it's looking good for a basic tee pattern. 

Fabric was brought from Spotlight, possibly the quickest ever turn around I've done on a purchase!

Happy sewing!

Kate :)