A Lockwork Purple

Over the last few weeks I have been getting to know the overlocker I won at the Canberra Show. I did the overlocker basics class at Needlewitch followed swiftly by the performance costume class (which used an overlocker). Then I set up the overlocker at home to make something by myself.

Overlocked leotard from the performance costume class - mine is actually swimming togs.

I looked through my patterns for a project that would be appropriate for an overlocker. I've wanted to make Vogue 8323 for ages but never had enough fabric in the stash for view A, nor could I find something I liked in the shops. But I had just enough shiny purple left over from my Misery costume to make view C which would test whether the fit was right.

At first I planned to line the shirt to make it a bit warmer and because I anticipated the fabric would be uncomfortable against my skin. I made the lining first and it fitted reasonably loosely but my outer fabric was less stretchy and the fit more snug. I decided to make the lining into a second top. It's a bit thin but will be good for layering.

I don't like how the sleeve inset on the purple turned out, but I think that has got more to do with me not knowing how to construct stretch garments than any fault of the overlocker. I'm making more and more of my everyday clothes as well as costumes and that means more stretch clothes so I'm going to need to improve my skills. The sleeves on the black shirt worked fine. The neckline and wrists of the purple shirt are finished with topstitched foldover elastic. I edged the black shirt with rolled hems. The first cuff worked well but the second cuff and hem both have some missed spots. I went over them again but I'm not sure how to solve the problem neatly.

My overlocker is a Toyota SLR4D which I'm told is a good one but at this point I have no way to judge that myself. When I finished the second shirt I packed the machine away and I'm not sure it will be brought out again soon. I have a couple of stretch projects planned but the thing that always put me off overlockers was the permanent cutting of fabric and that still bothers me. The purple shirt is a close fit and I wasn't able to redo the sleeves for a better fit because too much of the seam had already been trimmed away. Also, I can't leave the overlocker set up ready for use because the sewing room is already full with sewing machines.