Sew What It's Summer - Week 2

Week 1 Challenge: Polka Dots

I really enjoyed this week's challenge: Polka Dots - one of my sister Margie's choices. In a rare coincidence I had a couple of polka dot fabrics to choose from and in an even rarer occurrence I was able to use a pattern with the fabric I bought specifically for that pattern. That never happens to me! I always change my mind between purchase and execution so this was a nice change.

After last week's epic failure, this week was a welcome success. I used McCalls 6550 to create a short sleeved, high necked shirt with a button up back and slight gathering in the front. The brown polka dot material I used was a lightweight polyester with a silky feel to it.  I'm very happy with the way this shirt came out and will definitely be using this pattern again.  Below are are a few pictures I took of the finished result.  It has been extremely hot here in the northeast this week, hitting the upper 90's with 80% humidity,  so the 10 minutes I had this outfit on nearly killed me but it was worth it :)

Remember to checkout my sister Margie's blog to see what she made this week.
         

Sew What It's Summer - Week 1

Week 1 Challenge: Work & Play

I am lucky enough to work at a place with a corporate casual dress code that loosens up a bit during the summer to allow for capris, sleeveless shirts and cool summer dresses. We're Mainers - we can withstand 9 months of freezing cold and snow while maintaining a dress code but when the summer heat and humidity comes along our wardrobe goes straight for comfort.

This lightened dress code in mind - I planned to make a dressy t-shirt. Long in the back, short in the front made from a lightweight knit and covered in the front with a sheer panel using Butterick Pattern #5754. I was thinking breezy, cool and comfortable while in style and easy to construct.

It should have been such an easy project to complete but instead it turned out absolutely horrible! I've been making clothes for years and it has been awhile since I have messed something up this badly. I knew immediately after I cut out the pattern that something was amiss but I kept thinking I could fix it.  I cut out an XL - what I would buy in the store but it was huge.  I should definitely have cut a L or even M. The sheer panel never matched up correctly so I kept compensating or altering the cut on the hem, neck and even sleeves. The sleeves were also a horrible mix of long and short in all the wrong places. Once hemmed is where the real tragedy happened - totally uneven and rolling all over the place.

While I was sewing I knew it was turning out poorly but figured it would be more play that work. I hate to say it but I think this may be one for the "never going to wear, send to the scrap pile".

So I'm going to take this week as a lessons learned and move on to next week. Polka Dots up next!