Cardigan - BWOF 04-2010-117

This was supposed to a quick project and I have evidence of it its initial construction back in September 2011, not so quick!

My stumbling block came about when I tried to use my Coverstitch to stitch down the very thick seam allowance along the band edge due to the thicker cotton knit and interfacing I used, I ended up with a very thick seam here.  After spending quite a few hours trying to get the tension to work, it was then left for time out on my sewing table.

So the other weekend it was packed with this top and taken to my guild meeting.

When I was in the USA last year, I purchased a number of different sewing machine needles and I thought I would have a play with the Schmetz Drilling needle to see how it would work on this band.

I used two matching thread colours and a olive colour for the 3 threads and I am very happy with the way it has turned out.

I then used my Coverstitch with the triple needles to sew the hems.  Unfortunately the stitches disappeared into the fabric as it isn't interfaced, but you can still seem them just.

Last weekend was the first time I have been able to add the Snap Source Espresso size 16 Open Prong Ring Snap Fasteners.

For some reason I didn't do my usual adjustments to this pattern, and the only change I can see that I did do was to try and reduce the sleeve cap height.

This was a toile and after seeing these photos I can see I need to do more pattern adjustments e.g. reduce the shoulder length, do a better job of the sleeve cap height, add some width to the sleeves, they very snug with a long sleeve top underneath, and those pull lines?

I'm heading to the ASG Convention in Adelaide at the end of the month and have booked myself into the Fractured Knits Cardi workshop and I plan on using the Jalie 2566 cardigan, so it will be interesting to see the differences between the two cardigans.

I love cardigans but have found it difficult over the last few years to get them at the length and colour that I want them to be, so this is a pattern style that I really want to have as a TNT.

Cosmetic Bags

On Friday night I realised that I needed something to take to my ASG meeting the next morning and seeing I have so many garment ideas running around my head I have ended up with some paralysis as to what to cut out next.  This is when I spied this project that had been sitting on my sewing desk since earlier this year.

I purchased a kit for a Laminate Cotton sew-along thinking it would give me some practice for sewing my rain coat trench that is one of the garments on my sewing list.

I chose the Orchid Fiona Panel by Riley Blake Designs.  The kit was packed up so nicely with samples of the different cotton laminates, a Wonder Clip as well as the fusible Pellon, zips, cord and cord holder to make the 2 cosmetic bags and a sunglasses case.  I cut out all the pieces on Friday night and fused the Pellon to the cotton laminate - on the ironing board I had the Pellon face up, the laminate cotton on top and a muslin press cloth on top, iron on cotton and no steam and it worked perfectly.

I used a size 14 needle and a Teflon foot for my sewing machine and normal Gutterman thread for the construction.  All pressing was done with a dry iron on cotton setting and my muslin pressing cloth.

Here is the completed set:

The larger cosmetic bag showing the interior:

The smaller case showing the interior:

This was a good quick project and I am surprised at how well my travel sized bottles fit in them!

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There were a couple of questions on my last post about KS 3740.

shams - the neckline is the cowl from this pattern, it falls very softly in this fabric so is hard to see it in any detail.

mary - I do a round shoulder adjustment which moves the shoulder seam 1.5cm forward and when I lined up the sleeve head with this point the cap height of the sleeve is not in the correct place causing my sleeve to twist.  I normally place the sleeve cap notch 1.5cm behind the shoulder seam then the sleeve cap height is in the correct position and my sleeve doesn't twist.   I hope that makes sense.