Day: 23 August 2016

adult's clothing, sewing

Style Arc Simone Knit Cardigan

The Style Arc Simone Knit Cardigan is an excellent pattern.  I love it so much that I’ve sewn it four times.  These are versions three and four.

Style Arc Simone cardigan in printed ponte from Rathdowne Fabrics

Style Arc Simone cardigan in striped ponte from Spotlight

The Style Arc website describes this pattern as follows: SIMONE KNIT CARDIGAN: This clever cardigan pattern has been designed so as the drape creates the pocket. An easy every day must have cardi. Make it with or without buttons.  FABRIC SUGGESTION & DESCRIPTION: Knit jersey, Slinky or any drapery knit.

simone-cardigan

The main feature of this cardigan is of course the drape pocket.  It’s all cut in one, and with a couple of folds and a few stitches you have a pocket hidden inside a draped fold.  I love it!

Style Arc Simone cardigan in printed ponte from Rathdowne Fabrics

Style Arc Simone cardigan in striped ponte from Spotlight

Both these were sewn in soft ponte. I wouldn’t want to use a much heavier fabric than a ponte, as there is quite a bit of bulk in the hemline where the pockets are formed. I used plenty of pins when I was hemming it and it all sits well.

Style Arc Simone cardigan in printed ponte from Rathdowne Fabrics

Style Arc Simone cardigan in striped ponte from Spotlight

I sewed size 12. Construction was on the overlocker, with the machine used to twin needle hemlines and to secure the front band. The printed fabric came from Rathdowne Fabrics, and the stripe from Spotlight.

Style Arc Simone cardigan in printed ponte from Rathdowne Fabrics

Style Arc Simone cardigan in striped ponte from Spotlight

adult's clothing, sewing

Simplicity 1198 top

Simplicity 1198 is described on the Simplicity website as follows: misses’ v-neck knit top has sleeve variations, optional contrast yoke and panel with asymmetric hemlines. the scoop neck knit top has sleeve options and a beautifully draped hemline.

simplicity-tops-vests-pattern-1198-envelope-front

simplicity-tops-vests-pattern-1198-front-back-view

I bought this pattern for view E, with the side tuck/drape (although I am likely to sew view A/B/C at some stage too, I suspect).  There are a few reviews of it online, many mentioning that it runs large.

Simplicity 1198 view E in knit from Darn Cheap Fabrics

Because of the reviews, I decided to delve into scraps and hopefully make a wearable muslin. I sewed size Medium, which is a 14-16, dubious about going down to the Small (size 10 – 12) given my weight gain. As it turns out this is quite a roomy top, but not inappropriately so. Except for the neckline – it is wider and deeper than it needs to be, but not unwearably so.

Simplicity 1198 view E in knit from Darn Cheap Fabrics

This is much easier to sew than you would imagine! There are only four pattern pieces – front, back, sleeves, neck band. The drape is created by taking a fold at one side of the pattern – just follow the instructions and you’ll have no issues.

Simplicity 1198 view E in knit from Darn Cheap Fabrics

Construction was on the overlocker, with the machine used to twin needle hems and secure the neckband. The next time I make it – there will definitely be a next time – I will make the neckline smaller. It is quite wearable as it is, however. I also like the tunic length and asymmetrical hemline. I’ve also seen this pattern lengthened to a dress, and would like to give that a try as well.

Simplicity 1198 view E in knit from Darn Cheap Fabrics

By the way, the fabric is from the Darn Cheap Fabrics $2 table a couple of years ago, the scraps left over from this dress. I didn’t have many options for how to place the print, given I was working with leftovers, but it still worked out okay!

adult's clothing, sewing

New Look 6330 jacket

I have had New Look 6330 in my stash for a little while. There are a few reviews of it around the blogs, but not many. I bought it because I fancied sewing the jacket.

New Look 6330 in ponte from Darn Cheap Fabrics

There’s not a great deal of information about this pattern on the website. Misses’ knit pattern includes top, pants with elastic waist and long sleeve cardigan in two lengths with front closure. Pants can also be made in wovens. 

newlook-sportswear-pattern-6330-front-back-view

newlook-sportswear-pattern-6330-envelope-front

I had only seen view C sewn up, the cardigan/jacket with the more conventional hemline, whereas I (possibly unsurprisingly) wanted to sew the version with the pointed front and back corners.  After reading some reviews and checking the pattern piece measurements I decided to sew size 14, but I petite-ed the body pieces by folding out some body length at around waist height throughout.  Now that the jacket is finished I think that maybe I overdid this part.

New Look 6330 in ponte from Darn Cheap Fabrics

Actually, I think that the fit overall is pretty good – I just might need to unpick those closures and buttons and move them down a little. I wanted them above waist height, but think that they’re a little too empire line where they are.

New Look 6330 in ponte from Darn Cheap Fabrics

This was easy to construct. I used the overlocker for most of it, and the twin needle for hems and to secure the front bands. The fabric is ponte from Darn Cheap Fabrics, and I found the buttons in stash. The closures are a simple loop on each side, one threaded through the other, and looped around the buttons. Much simpler to do than it looks.

New Look 6330 in ponte from Darn Cheap Fabrics

It’s an interesting silhouette. I’m surprised that more people haven’t sewn this one, actually. I really like jackets in stretch fabrics for work.