Cashmerette Concord T-Shirt // View A - B ish // Short Sleeve

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Completed
Started	October 2021
Finished	March 27,2022
Pattern Name	Concord T-Shirt
Designer / Company	Cashmerette
Size	2 E/F cup
Fabric	Rayon/Polyester Knit Fabric; lest than 1 yd.
Notions	Thread, Twin Needle
Machines	Sewing, Serger

NOTES

I originally made this t-shirt as a muslin, but it ended up being far more wearable than I expected. After rediscovering this almost fully made t-shirt in my discarded muslin pile, I decided to finish up the loose ends and to add it to my wardrobe.

Resources Used

• Concord T-shirt Sewalong // Cashmerette // Website

• Grading Between Sizes // Cashmerette // Website

Modifications

• I decided to make the cropped version, but to extend the length so that the shirt sits just above my hipbone.

• I graded down slightly for the waist and then out a bit for the hips. After this wearable muslin; however, I ended up removing the flare outwards towards my hips and making the seam line straight

FINAL THOUGHTS

• This was a super simple top, and now that I have fine tuned it, I expect that I will be making more of these simple tops soon. I also look forward to experimenting with the different sleeve variations.

Simplicity 9267 // ViewC // Button Skirt

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Completed
Started	October 17, 2021
Finished	March 23, 2022
Pattern Name	Simplicty 9267
Designer / Company	Simplicity
Size	Sz. 12

NOTES

Materials / Notions

• Fabric (Remnants - est. 2yds): Polyester Twill, Thrift Store

• 6 LaMode 3/4” (19mm) Wooden Buttons (Made in Haiti), JoAnn

• Thrift Store Blue Serger Thread

• For Buttons: SimFlex Sewing Gauge; Fray Check, Button Punch & Button Pad

Machines

• Sewing Machine - construction, buttons

• Serger - seam finish

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Resources Used

• How to Understitch // Tilly and the Buttons // Youtube Tutorial

• How to Stitch in the Ditch - Sewing Machine // Howcast // Youtube Tutorial

• The Hows and Whys of Underlining Fabric // ClosetCore Patterns // Website Article

• How to Sew a Curved Hem // Professor Pincushion // Youtube Tutorial

• How to Use An Automatic Buttonhole Foot // Sewing Parts Online // Youtube Tutorial

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Modifications

• Omitted the pleats at the waist due to the heavier weight of my fabric, I did not want extra bulk at the waist.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I like this pattern a lot. The curved waistband was an added bonus.

"Soldotna Crop" Sweater // Boyland Knitworks

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Finished
Started	1/2/2022
Completed	1/24/2022
Pattern Name	Soldotna
Designer	Boyland Knitworks // Caitlin Hunter
Yarn	Spun Right Round Tweed (Kit) // Ink (CC1), Moondance (CC2), Call Me Ale (CC3), Bone (CC4)	6 balls, 231 yds. each
Needles	US 3 (3.25mm), US 5 (3.75mm), US 6 (4.0mm) - colorwork only	32" & 40" Circulars
Size	2	To Fit: 35" Bust

NOTES

I really like the colorwork pattern. It is graphic and unique; however, I had some trouble with a couple of areas with this sweater.

• The Neckline: A lot of Ravelers talked about how the neckline - as written in the pattern - lends itself to a funnel neck. I found this to be very true. Also, the neckline is very close to the neck without any modifications.

• Colorwork Joins: The pattern is written so that the start / end of the color work is center back. Some of the colorwork patterns can leave a noticeable jog if a strategy is not used to avoid it.

• I knit a size 2, but at various times I found myself flitting between the directions for Size 1 (for the number of short rows) and larger sizes (for the neckband).

MODIFICATIONS

• The Gauge: I ended up using US 4 needles (for the collar, the hem, and the sleeve bands); US 6 for the neckline body; US 7 for the colorwork portion.

• The Neckline: I cast on a 120 stitches to try to widen the neckline. I used other Ravelry users to guide me along for this. It requires adding a column of colorwork stitches that are barely noticeable.

• I did the short row back (switching to German short rows) for the smallest size, Size 1.

• The Sizing: I had to do some math to get from a 120 stitches at the neckline start back to a size 2. I increased on plain color rows until I hit the number of stitches needed for Size 2.

• I used 1x1 tubular cast on for the collar and hem. I did not use it for the sleeves due to limited yarn. For the hem, this meant I modified the colorwork pattern to be a 1x1 versus a 2x2 color pattern.

RESOURCES

• Helpful Notes on Ravelry /

  • WoollyBear99’s Soldotna Crop Notes

    The colorwork chart modification for a larger neckband is brilliant.

  • Larochelle’s Soldotna Crop Notes

    These notes were useful and led to other helpful notes - a true breadcrumb trail of helpfulness.

  • Diveblue’s Soldotna Crop Notes

    Helpful for understanding the pattern repeat numbers for different colorwork sections, which allows you to have more freedom in modifying the pattern to accommodate any changes you’d like to make.

• The Perfect and Easy Knit Jogless Stripes - no jog stripe color work knitting // Marly Bird // Youtube Tutorial

• How To Knit: German Short Row // Brooklyn Tweed // Youtube

• Tubular CO in the Round (1x1 Ribbing) // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

• Tubular Bind Off in the Round // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube

Final Thoughts

• KIT COLORS

  Overall, I like the colors for the kit.

  C1 Ink; C2 Moonbeam; C3 Call Me Ale; C4 Bone

  For the lice pattern on the body, C4 does not have enough contrast with the main body color C2, so if I could do it again I would only use C3 for the lice pattern.

  For C2, I alternated skeins for the body. I had some left over of C2, C4 (the most), C3, but not much of C1.

  Played a bit of yarn chicken with (C1) ink, though I did do a bit of modification to the pattern (not much).

Tulle Skirt // Emily Hallman Designs

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Completed
Started	February 26, 2022
Finished	March 20, 2022
Pattern Name	Pink Tulle Skirt
Designer / Company	Emily Hallman
Size	N/A

NOTES

I am glad that I came across Emily’s blog post. I would say that I needed to find more resources to explain the more detailed bits around drafting, lining a skirt, zipper placement / techniques, and zipper allowance (I ended up using 5/8”).

Notions:

• 9” Bright Pink Zipper

• 3 Hook & Eyes

Fabric:

• 54” Bright Pink Tulle - 100% Nylon (Joann Fabric & Crafts)

• 4 yds. Bright Pink Kona Quilting Cotton - 100% Cotton (Joann Fabric & Crafts)

• 4 yds. Pink and Peach Thrifted Fabric - Content Unknown (Goodwill)
  

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Resources Used

• Emily Hallman Designs // How To: The Tulle Skirt // Blog Post

• Emily Hallman Designs // How To: Draft a Circle Skirt Pattern // Blog Post

• How to Pattern Any Kind of Flared Skirt // Mariah Pattie // Youtube Tutorial

• How To/How I: Drafting a Curved Waistband // Kittenish Behavior // Youtube Tutorial

• Circle Skirt Pattern Making [full skirt @ 9:23] // Sew It With Brit // Youtube Tutorial

• Zippers Made Easy // New Mexico State, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES // Website

• DIY Half Circle Skirt // Paige Handmade // Youtube Tutorial

• How to Sew a Zipper In a Skirt // Professor Pincushion // Youtube Tutorial

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Modifications

• I added the waistband from S 9267.

• I had to amend the waist size due to not measuring the height of the waistband correctly.

• I used the 54” Tulle, I am 5’4” so I did not think I needed the 108” Tulle (and I saved some dough)

FINAL THOUGHTS

• I’m not completely satisfied with my version, but it is wearable.

• Next time I would:

  • use a circle skirt pattern I already own

  • use shiny fabric for the waistband

  • ensure a tight fit at my natural waist

  • work on ensuring that the closure works - I didn’t completely love the zipper and hook and eye construction I used

Butterick 6214: Blouse(s) // View C // Size XS

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	On Going
Started	July 6, 2021
Finished	(Latest Update) August 26, 2021
Pattern Name	Butterick 6214, View C
Designer / Company	Butterick
Size	XS	To fit: 32" upper bust, 35" full bust, 26 3/4" waist, 30 3/4" High Hip
Fabric	Mauve, Lace, Crepe, Stretch Satin Knit, polyester silk	(leftovers) 1.5 - 2yds.	pre-washed, wash cold, lay out to dry
Notions	All Purpose Thread, 1.5 yds. 1/2" Single Fold Bias Tape
Machines	Sewing, Serger

Notes

This shirt is intended to mimic a ready-to-wear (RTW) work blouse that I wore to death - despite having 3 of this blouse in three different colors: white, navy, and lilac.

I also thought that this shirt could be a stash buster.

There is one final version of this blouse that I want to make to completely clone the RTW work blouse. That version will split the back piece of the “no hem band” version of this shirt at center back and create a keyhole at the back neckline.

And with that, I will have made B 6214 into my workhorse blouse. Tried and True (TNT) status for sure.

Adjustments

• Full Bust Adjustment

• Rounded Back Adjustment; took out 1 1/2” (back)

• Gapping Front Neckline; took out 1/2” (front)

• Curved the front hem on all versions

• For Silky Shirt Versions: Combined shirt front and back + hem band to create 1 front and back piece w/ no hem band; used short sleeves from version D and hemmed them 1.5 - 2”

Construction Modifications / General Tips for Future Sewing

• The instructions have you complete a lot of steps in the round. On the second go, I decided to stay stitch and add bias tape in the round. It did not go well, but I also realized I didn’t fully follow the steps. So, I unpicked and went back to following the pattern instructions.

• I modified the front hem so that it is curved versus straight. I loosely followed the curve of the back, but kept the front shorter. It required some fiddling. But what a difference that made. Instead of highlighting my hips right at their widest point, the eye seems to move on and up to whatever print steals the show.

• What Worked:

  • Used size 60/8 universal needle for polyester silk fabrics and 60/8 microtex needle for polyester crepe for sewing machine; used 70/9 microtex needle for serger for both polyester silk and the polyester crepe fabric

  • Increased presser foot knob for polyester silk fabric

  • Used walking foot for polyester silk fabric

Resources Used

• How to get a fabric on grain // Threads // Youtube Tutorial

• How to Make a Gapping Neckline Pattern Adjustment // Katrina Kay // Youtube Tutorial

• How to Make a Pattern Adjustment for a Full Bust Without Darts // Threads Sewing // Youtube Tutorial

• How to Sew a Bias Tape Finish // Professor Pincushion // Youtube Tutorial

• (Sleeve Views C & D) How to Sew an Inset Sleeve // Professor Pincushion // Youtube Tutorial

• How to Sew a Curved Hem // Professor Pincushion // Youtube Tutorial

Final Thoughts

• I knew I would be making this pattern a lot. For some reason, that is how I sew now. I take one pattern and I make it over and over again. (No, I do not get bored - I’m an advanced beginner so each sitting at the sewing machine brings new adventures, mistakes, and breakthroughs). Here my current versions of this blouse:

  • Version 1 // Muslin

  • Version 2 // Wearable Muslin with modifications - mauve and lace hem band; polyester crepe

  • Version 3 // Blue shirt with shiny hem band; polyester crepe

  • Version 4 // Silky Flower Shirt, Wearable Muslin with redrafted front and back pieces (no hem band)

  • Version 5 // Black Dots on white fabric

  • Version 6 // White Background with colorful dots (red, blue, yellow, green)

  • Version 7 // White Background with blue / gray clouds, peach blobs, and black dots

Virevolte: Espace Tricot // Shawl // Fall 2021

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Completed
Started	5/24/2021 ish
Completed	8/23/2021
Pattern Name	Virevolte
Designer	Espace Tricot
Yarn	Malabrigo Lace Weight // Pearl	2-3 skein // 3rd skein needed for tassels
Needles	US 7 (4.5mm)	40" Circular

NOTES

GAUGE: 23 stitches & 34 rows = 4 inches; I had to go up three needle sizes to get a swatch near gauge, I erred the side of creating an oversized shawl.

CONSTRUCTION: This shawl is constructed from side-to-side. Due to the lace yarn and large needles, any mistakes are very noticeable.

RESOURCES

• No resources used except the free pattern.

Final Thoughts

• I only added fringe on one side of the shawl.

• This is now my most worn shawl. It is cozy, very large, and warm. The neutral color goes with almost every outfit.

• Next time:

  • I would omit the fringe - for variety sake.

  • I would consider knitting in lace weight Alpaca (update: yarn purchased for 2nd Virevolte shawl, Knit Picks, Alpaca Cloud, Jane, 2 skeins).

Lace Sweater // Clover Pattern

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Completed
Started	1/27/2020
Completed	2/9/2021
Pattern Name	Lace Sweater - Clover Pattern
Designer	Me
Yarn	Malabrigo Lace // 100% Baby Merino Wool // 17 Pink Frost	3 skeins
Needles	US 4 (3.5mm)	40" Circular

NOTES

GAUGE: 30 stitches & 43 rows = 4 inches

CONSTRUCTION: Bottom-Up

RESOURCES

• Tin Can Knits // Strange Brew Sweater Pattern - I did not follow this, but I used the tips and tricks to help inform the construction.

• Clover Pattern // Leisure Arts Learn to Knit booklet

Final Thoughts

• I really enjoyed this project, and I love how light and airy the final sweater is.

• Next time:

  • I would aim for a looser drape.

  • I would use tubular cast off / cast on for neckline, sleeve and hem (though, the seed stitch was interesting and different).

  • I would make a 3/4 to long-sleeve version.

Unicorn Shirtdress "Kalle, Closet Case Patterns"

IMAGE CREDIT: Closet Core Patterns

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Completed
Started	March 2019
Completed	December 2020
Pattern Name	Kalle
Designer / Company	Closet Case Patterns
Size	6	34" x 27" x 36"
Fabric	Polyester and Cotton Mix	1 yd.	pre-washed, wash cold, lay out to dry
Notions	All Purpose Thread, interfacing, zipper, 9 (1/2") buttons - used 8
Machines	Sewing, Serger

NOTES

This dress pattern and fabric was originally purchased to be worn on a trip to Italy. The trip was amazing, but unfortunately I did not have this dress finished in time. The material is most likely a polyester mix (?), I remember purchasing 4 yards due to the lovely unicorn pattern. It is certainly a busy, playful, and boisterous fabric design. Perfect for my “around town” wardrobe. I also am finding that I love, love, love denim look fabric. More please!

RESOURCES USED

• How To Make the Shirtdress | Closet Core Patterns (formerly Closet Case Patterns) // Sewalong // This resource was worth its weight in gold. I was able to use it for assistance in the areas that I was bound to get hung up over in the pattern. My only suggestion would be to add an “adding buttons/buttonholes” tutorial.

• Button and Buttonhole Positioning | American Sewing Guild // November 8, 2019 blog article

• Button and Buttonhole Positioning | Threads Magazine // How To: [10/17/2008] The Most Important Button Position Is the One on the Bust Point Line

• Button and Buttonhole Positioning | Sewaholic // 2/25/2015 Shirtmaking: Button Placement & Buttonhole Tips

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Important Tip: Use Fray Check before cutting open buttonholes with seam ripper.

Light & Dark Blue "Strange Brew"

PROJECT DETAILS

Status	Completed
Started	November 1, 2020
Completed	November 17, 2020
Pattern Name	Light and Dark Blue "Strangebrew"
Designer	Tin Can Knits
Yarn	Knit Picks Palette: Jay, Bluebell, White	4 skeins / 2 skeins / 1 skein
Needles	US 3 3.25 mm / US 1.5 2.5mm	40" Circular

NOTES

I modified the fair isle pattern from the St. Remy sweater pattern, but after multiple attempts at getting the shoulders correct, I decided to give the Strange Brew pattern.

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Modifications:

  • Bottom-up sweater / XS size

  • I did match the pattern gauge (26 sts. / 32 rnds): my gauge was 28 sts. / 33 rnds.

• Make Again?

  • This is the best fitting sweater make for me so far. The color, ease, and overall fit are flattering.

  • Despite being a budget wool, I did not over heat when wearing the sweater.

  • I will use this yarn and pattern again.