Vogue 8151 - Grey Knit Top

Pattern Description: Pullover tops with set in sleeves. A: wrapped front, band, shirred sides and long sleeves. B: top with three-quarter length sleeves and optional tie front. I made view B.

Pattern Sizing: 32" to 55". I used 32" (A)

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I found it very quick to construct.

Fabric Used: A grey rayon knit with 80% cross grain stretch.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:

* Round shoulder - I added 5/8" to the back shoulder and took 5/8" off the front shoulder

* High round back - added 3/8" at the centre back reducing to zero at the side seam (FFRP page 124)

* Gaposison the front neck line - took out 3/8" tuck via slash and pivot method

* FBA - added 3/8" (FFRP)

* Sway back - 1/2" at centre back to zero at side seams

* Full Arms - I added 1" (FFRP page 169).


Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes it is quick to make, and feels very comfortable to wear.

Conclusion: I will be making this up in other fabrics and will try some different necklines and finishes.

Fabric Shopping in Melbourne

Last weekend my sewing buddies and I headed to Melbourne for 4 days.

We stayed in the city and caught trams and trains and did a lot of walking and had a wonderful time.

Arriving lunch time on Thursday we booked into our accommodation and caught the #19 Tram from Elizabeth Sreet to visit Brunswick Fabrics, Anne's Discount Fabrics, Hahn Fabrics, Spotlight and Unique Fabrics (which are unfortunately closing down).

At Spotlight I purchased a 100% cotton called Blossom Printed Khaki for a blouse and then at Unique Fabrics I purchased this beautiful burgundy wool, enough for a suit. It wasn't until we got back to our accommodation that night that I noticed they also worked well together.



On Friday morning we caught the #8 Tram from Swanston Street, for our first stop at GJ's Fabrics where I purchased this colourful mesh for a top.




Next stop was Clegs where I fell in love with this Mongolia Pattern Acrylic Knit, I'm not sure what I am making with it yet, and any suggestions are most welcome, but I just couldn't leave without it...



We then went Rathdown Fabrics where this natural wool/cotton jumped out at me and I'm thinking of making BWOF 131-10-2008 Jacket




After lunch we caught the tram back to the city and then caught the train out to Darn Cheap Fabrics at Heidelberg and then back one train station to The Cloth Shop at Ivanhoe. When we got back to the City we still had time to go to Clegs as I had been thinking about the Picadilly Cocoa Lace I had seen earlier and had decided that it had to come home with me after seeing the wonderful lace garments at Stitchers Guild.




We woke on Saturday to a very wet day but this didn't deter us, we caught the #70 Tram from Flinders Street and headed to Richmond. Luckily we were a bit early for Dancing Queen to open so we just had to check out all those wonderful shoe stores and I found chocolate brown shoes, what heaven.

We then wondered up the road to Astrotex and drooled over all the wonderful fabrics and then headed to Bridge Road for lunch and more retail therapy.

Sunday saw us go to Victoria Markets where there was even more fabric :)

We are all back home and are busy planning what we are going to do with our fabrics.

Thank you my buddies for a wonderful time in Melbourne.

McCalls 3132 (OOP)

This is my first completed “bottom” for SWAP 2009 the brown cropped pants.


The pattern was fitted for me by my sewing teacher before she moved to Queensland.



I found one of the adjustments interesting, it is a diagonal tucks across the front leg (I have drawn it in blue to highlight it but the actual tuck is not quite as straight as the blue line).

The other adjustment was on the back pattern piece, a 1cm tuck was taken from the bottom of the waist dart all the way down the leg to the hem and then this was tuck further increased from just below the crotch curve and back to the original tuck for a length of 26cm.












And now, the back view ....