Handmade Batty Top for Halloween

I am waaaaay too excited about this little top!  :-)  I was at JoAnn Fabrics to get who-knows-what, and I saw a display of Halloween fabrics.  The cool thing was that these were not quilting cotton fabrics but knits!!  Now, the designers may have envisioned some cute pjs for little ones, but that's not what I saw.  This bat-printed interlock spoke - no - screamed at me to become a top for moi.

  

To make this basic raglan-sleeved top, I used a pattern so old that it doesn't even show up on Vogue's out-of-print archives.  It is Vogue 8670, and I used it once before, 3.5 years ago, back in the final days of the old blog.  One thing I didn't like about that original top was that the sleeves are 2-pieces, with a seam running right down the outside of the arm.  This time, I did some creative taping and eyeballing to eliminate that seam.  It worked out great!

I sewed this top mostly on my serger, but I did use my regular machine to sew the neckband and the hems since I would be covering them up with non-stretchy trim anyway.

Please excuse the dog hair right in the middle of my hip here, but here is a closeup of two fun trims that I used to jazz up this top.  First, I machine stitched the top edge of this narrow velvet ribbon right on top of the hem stitching.  Next, I lined up some lace underneath to be caught in the second row of stitching at the bottom of the velvet ribbon.  I also bought the black lace at JoAnn, but unfortunately, I can't find it online.

So there it is!  My fun new Halloween top.  When I want to be a little less conspicuous about it, I wear a black cardigan on top so it's more subtle, but I love that it doesn't scream orange Halloween.  It's like classy Halloween.  

Simplicity 8019 Skirt in Corduroy

Here is a simple little skirt to help ease you into the weekend!  This is Simplicity 8019.  The envelope says it is a "Vintage 70s skirt" but I think it looks totally modern for 2017.  The shape is a bit fuller at the hem than a standard A-line skirt, but it isn't a full-on trumpet skirt shape either.  It is basically my perfect skirt shape.

I made my skirt in a floral corduroy fabric from JoAnn fabrics (it isn't on the website now, though).  I also used this fabric to make an adorable dress for one of my nieces for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I did a truly terrible job of documenting my Christmas sewing this year.  The best I can do is direct you to this image from Instagram (the dress on the left!).

I think this skirt turned out great in the lightweight corduroy.  It would also be nice in a lighter-weight cotton.  I could even see this cut without the button-front and a simple side zip.  Lots of options with this simple, flattering shape.  I see more in my future.

If I remember correctly, I cut the knee-length version (not the shortest) and ended up cutting off a few inches when I tried it on.  I found the buttons in my stash. I think I had bought them years ago, from JoAnn as well, for some other project.

This is a truly versatile skirt.  I have worn it with tights and without, with a simple tee and with different sweaters.  It won't work in the summer, but sometimes I need a new winter skirt, too.

Teen Titans Go Starfire Costume

Happy Halloween, everyone!

I hardly ever dress up for Halloween, and I have only made one other costume for myself, ever (Tinkerbell, which took about 20 minutes of cutting and sewing a knit tube).  Somehow, I got it in my head that I must be Starfire from Teen Titans Go this year.  Unless you have a kid between the ages of 6 and 12, you probably have no clue who that is, but we watch a fair amount of Teen Titans Go here, and I like her sunny, quirky personality (and also her pink hair).

Here she is, for comparison.  I made this to show as little midriff as possible while still being true to Starfire's original costume.  :-)  Haha I sound ridiculous.  

I bought the fabrics at JoAnn.  They are from the Yaya Han line.  They are both polyester pleather-type fabrics.  The purple is quite stretchy while the white is thicker and does not stretch.  The piping I used to mimic the drawn outlines is a dark silvery pleather piping from Mood.  I totally am the one who made it "sold out."  :-)

As for the patterns, they are a mix of Franken-patterning and making it up as I went along.  The skirt was the easiest.  Simplicity 2564 has no darts and a nice yoke, so I was able to color-block it and add a big circle for the buckle.

I used McCalls 7387 for my boot covers (my pattern envelope says MP281, which is odd), adding the white section at the top.  These came together quickly and stay put over shoes.  The only opening is for the heel of the shoe.  They are quite tight and are a bit of a pain to get on, but they fit well once they are on.

The top is the strapless bodice section of Vogue 8766 with the white section just kind of added on.  I used the shoulders of the other bodice views of the same pattern to get me started on the white section.

My arm thingys are basically just tubes with curved edges and stiffened by glueing plastic canvas inside.  The black lines and the big black circle on the bodice are fabric puff paint.

I am so proud of how this came together.  I kind of can't believe how much time I spent on this considering how often I will wear it (maybe 1 or 2 times more ever) but it was a fun challenge, and those Yaya Han fabrics are fun!!

McCall's 7319 Knit Dress

I can't decide how I feel about this.  I mean, I know I don't LOVE it.  I can't quite decide if I even like it.  One thing it has going for it is that it is SO comfortable.

The pattern is McCall's 7319.  My fabric is a very lightweight oatmeal-colored knit from JoAnn Fabrics.  I made a double skirt because of the sheer fabric, and that worked out well.  I left the hem and bottom edges of the wraps raw instead of hemming.  This knit fabric doesn't fray or curl at all, and it is so lightweight that the less I do with it, the better.

I do really like that the crossover detail continues on the back of the dress.  I find it really annoying, in both sewing and ready-to wear, when a detail on the front just stops at the side seams with nary a hint on the straight back.  My knit has only a little stretch, and it does make it challenging to get on and off.  Once it is on, though, it is super comfortable.  

I did a lot of tacking down at the neckline to keep everything just so, and now that I have worn it a few times, I think I need to tack at the waist as well.  The crossovers have a tendency to ride up and show the waist seam underneath.

So yeah, I don't know about this one.  I have been wearing it, but it's not one of my favorites.

McCalls 7391 Lace-Up Shift Dress

Hi there.  Remember when I said I wanted to make McCalls 7391 after I finished my lace-up tee?  Well, I did it.  The fabric is a navy linen/rayon fabric from JoAnn Fabrics.  The laces are a braided rope-like trim, also purchased from JoAnn, but I can't find it online.  I also stitched the trim right on top of my hem stitching, and I love the extra pop.  The eyelets are the exact same ones I used for my tee linked above.

Ok enough talking.  Here it is:

 I found the fit to be ok for me.  Of course I did not make a muslin.  :-)  I ended up adjusting the side seams a bit - taking them in at the bust and letting them out at the hips.  Taking it in at the bust made my armholes a bit smaller, and they are perfect now.  If I hadn't needed the adjustment, I may have found the armholes a bit low.

This design has a subtle shirttail hem.  Very nice.

This has a loose fit, but I don't think it is unflattering.  It skims the curves and is very comfortable on a hot day.

I machine-stitched the trim at the hem with a simple straight stitch down the middle.  I am so glad I didn't hand-stitch it on.  It looks just fine and was much faster!

Simplicity 8059

So I thought this outfit from Simplicity 8059 looked really comfortable and Florida-chic on the pattern envelope, so I went for it all-the-way.  I'm not so sure now, though.  It looks a bit "madame" on me (meaning mature, not French).  Like I could see this on one of the fabulous retirees that live down here.  While I have no problem dressing a bit more mature as I get older (rompers not withstanding), I'm not ready to jump ahead that much yet.

I think it all comes down to the top's hem line, and I am thinking of remedying that this afternoon with a little snip snip and sew.  It's funny because that detail was what drew me to the pattern in the first place, but on me, I'm not loving it.  

I do love the fabrics, though.  Both are from JoAnn.  The top is made with this rayon spandex fabric which is no longer at my local store, but is for sale online, and I am seriously considering getting two more yards for a fun dress.  It starts to pill pretty quickly, but I don't mind so much for a simple top, and I just love all the shades of blue.  The pants are a linen/lyocell blend that I can't find online.  They drape beautifully, and the linen look is nice.  They do require a quick ironing after washing, but it is very fast.

The pattern and instructions for the V-neck are excellent.  These are great results, and I will definitely use this pattern for all my future V-neck needs.

I tried the top with some jeggings to see if I preferred that look to the whole outfit together, but I'm still not convinced on the shape of the top.  I think it is getting a snip.

Butterick 6021

I don't know about this, guys.  I am not loving it - fabric or pattern.  :-(

This is Butterick 6021.  How cute is that pattern envelope?  I was really drawn to the light blue version.  Flowy and flouncy and just so cute for summer.  The reality on me, though, doesn't quite translate, I'm afraid.

For starters, the narrowest part of my waist is pretty high.  Post-baby-making gut, I guess.  The elasticized waist just naturally creeps up to the around the bottom of my rib cage, and I think it makes the proportions look different on me.  I can pull it down, of course, but it just climbs back up.  The second fit issue is the straps.  They are a hair too wide-set for me, which is surprising since I have pretty broad shoulders for my size.  Also, the armholes are a bit tight and uncomfortable.  Of course, all of this could be easily fixed with a second version, but I'm not sure this dress is for me.

I do still like the hem on the skirt section, and the side view is cute.  Actually, maybe this just wants to be a fun skirt.  I could hack off the bodice easily enough and have a fun elasticized spring skirt.

 The skirt is very full...

 And it was very clever of Butterick to add a "lining" to the skirt, which is just a little pencil skirt to keep you covered during those inevitable windy moments.

With the wide set shoulders, I'm surprised they covered my bra straps in the back long enough to take a pic!  The fabric is from JoAnn Fabrics.  I really like the floral print and overlooked the 100% polyester content.  Oh, Jennifer, will you never learn?  I feel not unlike I am wearing a plastic bag.  :-(  No breathe-ability, which is kind of essential for a spring/summer dress in Florida.

I tried some accessorizing options.  Here it is with my Lesley Pullover.  These two pieces are a great match, but it was a bit bulky to wear.  This is making me really consider turning this into a skirt, though.

Here it is with a belt.  Not bad, but this particular belt is way too small for me.  Time to donate.  I am also accessorizing with a lovely skein of yarn I am planning to make into a little shrug.  

Finally, another skein of yarn.  I have enough of this for a full blown cardi, but I am thinking of some type of sleeveless top to wear with this once it becomes a skirt, because I'm pretty sure that is happening.

What do you think?  Should I go with the skirt option, or does this have redeeming qualities I am missing?  :-)  I am going to wear this with a cardi today to do the music at a casual wedding, so I'll see how it feels to wear for longer than a little photoshoot.