Schoolhouse Tunic

I remember reading about the Schoolhouse Tunic YEARS ago, but it didn't strike my fancy at the time.  For some reason, it popped into my mind a few weeks ago and I became obsessed with getting the pattern and sewing it.  I love my first one which is my wearable muslin.

 I made come changes:
-I added interfacing to the neck/bodice facing.  That wasn't in the directions, but it seemed necessary. -I lengthened the sleeve to give it a full length sleeve.  My personal message to pattern designers?  Enough with the 3/4 sleeves.
-I eliminated the top stitching around the front of the bodice and collar.  This fabric has such a clean, modern look to it and I thought the top stitching would mess it up.

Overall, I think this a great pattern.  It was easy to understand the directions and it didn't take too long to sew.

Washi With Long Sleeves

I made this dress over the summer, but I never blogged about it.  It is the Washi dress in blue linen.  I made a bias bound neckline and I used the same bias tape for the elastic casing in the back and the cuffs.  The pattern calls for shirring across the back, but my Brother just won't do it.  I know some people have solved this by fiddling with the bobbin case, but I am reluctant to try that.  I added a long sleeve- I used the free 3/4 sleeve Rae released a while back and I lengthened it to full length.

I am very happy with it!  It works well with tights and tall boots.  I just cut another in fine-wale cord and I can't wait to sew it up.

Great pattern. . . Bad photos

Here are 2 Washi Dresses I made this summer (I have made a few dresses from this pattern before but I never took pictures).  One is in light blue linen and the other is in dark blue double gauze.  They are comfy and they fit wonderfully.

Lisette B6168 in linen

I really wanted to make the other view, the tunic view, of Lisette B6168 (I made the dress version at the start of the summer).  I used a really nice medium weight linen.  I really like the pattern, but if I were to make it again, I would use a lighter weight fabric.  The linen is great, but it got quite bulky when putting all the mid-section pieces together.  

Cappuccino!

I just made the Liesl and Co Cappuccino dress from a pattern I bought a LONG time ago, but I never got around to making.  I loved the picture on the cover (first page) of the pattern so much and I wanted to replicate the dress shown there.  Usually I look at a pattern and immediately think of a different color or fabric I would like to use but not this time.  While browsing fabric.com, I came across this Art Gallery voile that had a similar look to the fabric on the pattern cover.  The dress is lightweight and a little sheer, so I will always need leggings with it but I don't mind. I really love it!  When my seven year old saw it she gasped in delight and said, "Mom, you look like outer space!"

Another Beatrix

I made another Beatrix top this week.  The fabric I chose is a light weight yarn dyed plaid - is it a gingham?  It has a very soft feel and great drape.  It was on a shelf of assorted out-of-season fabrics.  When I saw it a light bulb went off in my head.

I made view A again, but I added length to the sleeve.  I was torn between adding a button cuff (like the Oliver and S Gallery tunic) or making an elastic cuff.  I opted for the elastic cuff because I like being able to push my sleeves up and down with a minimum of fuss.

I love this shirt.  This morning was cool in my area and so I kept it on for quite a while!  This will definitely be in heavy rotation this fall!

Beatrix top

On the day it was released, I purchased the Beatrix pattern.  The teasers posted on Made By Rae had me hooked!

I opted to make view A with the 3/4 sleeves.  I tend NOT to like 3/4 sleeves, but the pictures of Beatrix tops with 3/4 sleeves Rae posted on her blog were the ones I like best so I decided to give them a chance.  I figured I could always change to short sleeves down the line if I was so inclined.

I used an Amy Butler voile that I had been saving for the project.  The fabric is buttery soft and very light.

I selected the C/D cup bodice with the size medium.  Here is my advice to anyone thinking of sewing this pattern - READ THE MEASUREMENTS SECTION.  My top ended up being too big and I had to adjust it to get the right fit.  I based my bodice choice on the cup size I usually buy, but if I had looked more carefully at the finished measurements of the garment, I would have made a better choice.  Next time I will either make the small with the C/D cup or the medium with the A/B.  I am leaning towards the latter because I can always play with the darts if needed.

The directions for this pattern are fantastic and the illustrations are very clear.  To me, it felt similar to working with an Oliver and S or Liesl and Co pattern.

For anyone who may be concerned about sewing a curved hem, it is really no big deal.  With a curve, you are working with the fabric on the bias so it is easier to manipulate.  Also, when  the curved hem is very narrow, as it is in this pattern, there are fewer issues of puckering.

I love my Beatrix!  It is so comfortable and it is a great pattern to highlight fabrics I love.  I think voile, double gauze, or linen would be best with this pattern because it is not super fitted.  A stiffer quilting cotton or heavier fabric would look awkward.

Here it is:

The bottom of the button placket is tucked under a little in the picture, but it is not usually like that! Below is another picture of the back, but the photo quality is TERRIBLE!  

One thing I need to point out is my pattern matching on this garment. The tips of my darts end at the EXACT same point in the pattern on both sides.  I also managed to match the pattern the button placket.  I am pretty proud of that!