I’m back! And finally with something fully to show, ha. It took my birthday (09/21) for me to finally rouse myself to posting on Instagram. I’d been lurking around for this last year, watching all the amazing makes, and actually sewing myself, but honestly it’s been a struggle. I’ve spent this time since my last post seriously struggling with patterns, fit and design issues and I didn’t get my break through here recently until I made the executive decision to start making muslins (toiles). Making muslins eats up extra sewing time, which these days is precious and few, but I’ve found this last year that I simply cannot get around this step. It’s actually lead to me wanting to have some serious sit down talks to the major pattern makers in general about the pattern testing process (Do they actually pattern test these garments on real people?). Mostly I’ve found myself having to put my own pattern making skill set to work. I’ve also done far more pattern grading and pattern drafting than I’d cared to do, but all of this goes with tailoring and sewing, so while it can be time consuming, I have to admit it’s been an interesting and fun process.
PROJECT DETAILS:
Classic Button-up Top: Simplicity 1538. This is considered a tried and true Simplicity pattern staple. I’d had this pattern in my pattern stash for a while, but had never gotten around to using in until now, and now I’m a big fan. I made the rookie mistake of not double checking the width of my buttons before I sewed the button holes and realized when I’d started photo shooting that I couldn’t button my shirt. All I could do was laugh. I will be switching the buttons out for smaller ones, just as soon as they arrive in the mail. I plan on making many more versions of this pattern in different colors. My next one, I will add a sleeve placket for a true traditional button-up. Also if you need a great sew-along for this pattern, Mimi G has included one in the women’s Sew It! Academy.
FABRIC – For the top I used this Telio Tencel Pique Woven in Wine from Fabric.com. This has been in my stash since March of this year. I saw the color and the fact that it was 100% Tencel and flipped head over heels in love with it. Once it showed up in the mail I fell even more in love and knew it would make a beautiful button-up. It comes in other colors, which I have also purchased. The only down side is it can be a little delicate. You have to be careful with this fabric, as you can over work it pretty fast in terms of ironing or sewing. I had a few spots where I got a couple of runs.
High-Waist Trousers – Vintage (OOP) Style 2398. I stumbled across this pattern incidentally on Etsy during one of my many vintage sewing pattern shop-a-thons. I think it came up in my suggested items that Etsy put on your home page when you login. I am so glad I bought it. I made two muslins of this very easy pattern, just because I wanted to get the fit perfect, as I had a feeling at the first muslin that this was going to turn into a tried and true sewing pattern. I liked it so much that I started collecting other vintage Style patterns and I hope those too turn out to be great tried and true patterns. I even hand sewed the hem, as I want these pants to be able to do double duty with work and casual. Buiness and more formal trousers typically have a blind hem stitch, so these pant got the loving hand sewn technique.
FABRIC – I bought this Latte colored 100% Tencel twill fabric ages ago from Joann’s Fabric, during one of my many “For the love of Tencel” runs, and it’s been there for a while, waiting for the right pattern.
STYLE – Almost zero styling here, since I was just trying to get some quick photos. I had on a pair of Steve Madden burgundy colored sandal heels, which are scheduled to go to donations since I never wear them out anywhere.
Nikki Nicole Sew 