A very productive week

Over the last week I made three tops and a skirt.

Saturday before last I went to Spotlight and while I was generally disappointed by their lack of nice fabric, especially in my price range, I did find a few things that I liked. Apparently grey is very 'in' for me this season.

First to get cut was a grey, hot pink and lime floral jersey – a sale table find. I used this to make McCalls 6608 view D, which turned out to be a really lovely skirt. I mostly left the pattern alone except for the waistband. Rather than using the folded over rectangle I used the shaped waistband from the woven skirt (views A, B and C) to have a more fitted shape. Instead of threading the elastic through after everything was sewn together I slid the elastic into the detached waistband and used the zipper foot to make a very closely fitted channel. I then ditch-stitched through the elastic on the side seams. I don't think the line through the waistband looks too bad and it is certainly the most comfortable elasticised waistband I've met.

After making the skirt I had a metre of fabric left over (plus a few patches from in between skirt pieces) so I decided to do a trial run of Vogue 8323 view A. Finally! I started laying the patterns on Sunday morning and by bedtime had everything done (skirt and shirt) bar the hemming. The jersey is a bit too jelly* for this top and the neckline flopped open way too low but once stitched in place I think it turned out well enough. And I'm not going to complain about a wearable mockup made from leftovers.

I hemmed the skirt during the week and on Saturday was ready to finish the top and begin another. View B this time. The pattern recommended 1.2 metres and there was 1.15 on the roll. So close to perfect... The only problem was that the pattern was for 3/4 sleeves whereas I wanted full length ones. 'Twas an easy fix. There was just, only just, enough leftover fabric for two cuffs (cut with the stretch in the wrong direction).

The fabric has a lovely subtle sparkle to it.

The collar does take a bit of convincing to sit in a non-weird way but I really like the top.

I finished the light grey shirt by mid afternoon. I think that's the first time I've taken a garment from fabric to finished in one sitting. I've expected it to happen before but something always comes up (that and I’m really bad at estimating how long sewing takes). Turns out there’s something to be said for using one fabric, a pattern as is, and no detailed embroidery or painting or hand-hemming. Working with knits also cuts out a bunch of time consuming steps that wovens require.

On Sunday evening I decided to lay out the pattern for another top. Once that was done I realised that it was only 7.30, not 10pm as I'd thought, so I cut it out then. And then I sewed it up too, because, you know, it's nice to get things out of the way. The top turned out really nicely. This fabric was actually sturdy enough to support the neckline.

Unlike the first two shirts I made from this pattern I used the sewing machine instead of the overlocker. I was much more comfortable with this and felt a lot more in control – I could always tell how wide I was making the seam allowance. (Although in a postscript to my overlocker thoughts my mum has decided that they're wonderful and the overlocker ought to be set up all the time. We just need to find the space.)

* Means slinky, wobbly, difficult fabric. Technical term. At least, it is in my house.