Pink Shell Top

Here are a few pictures of a pink shell top that I recently made, using Simplicity 4368:

I needed a top to wear under the tailored jacket I made, so I decided to borrow the shell from this pattern :) These pictures were taken before the top was hemmed, but the finished garment doesn't look too much different. Here's a picture of the front. . .

. . . And a picture of the back.


I've also been making an apron using a vintage pattern that Simplicity reprinted (pattern number 5961; it has already gone out of print, however).

I'm making view A, which is the green apron on the upper left, and I really like the way this pattern is coming together so far! All I need to do now is sew on the shoulder straps, finish binding the top edge, and sew the hem (sorry, no pictures yet).


-Rebekah

Pictures of the Velveteen Jacket

I have finally taken pictures of the velveteen jacket that I finished after Christmas. This is the third jacket that I made using McCall's 5058 -- this pattern has gone through so much use that it is nearly in shreds!

Here is a view of the front:


A view of the side/front:


Another view of the side/front:


Back view:


Bound buttonholes. Unfortunately, they gape a wee bit.


I found these buttons at Wal-Mart.


I'm sorry the details aren't very evident in these photos -- it can be difficult to capture them all when the jacket is black! This jacket has all of the same details as the other jackets, though, so if you look at the pictures of the other garments that I made using this pattern, you can see what shape the collar and lapels are.

This jacket was made using a 100% cotton velveteen, and it is lined with black cotton batiste (cotton/polyester blend). If I were to make this jacket again, however, I would not line it with batiste. I didn't really realize how how it tends to cling to other fabrics or articles of clothing that I wear under the jacket! It is comfortable if worn over a sleeveless top, though.

Another thing that I learned while making this jacket is that it is probably best to use a heavier interfacing. You can't really see it in the picture, but the side/front princess seams on the jacket pucker slightly, and the roll line of the collar and lapels isn't quite as smooth as it should be. I'm under the impression that it isn't recieving enough support from the interfacing, becuase the interfacing that I used is very light-weight and is really only suitable for light-weight fabrics (my velveteen would probably fall under the catagory of medium-weight). The fusible interfacing that I used on the denim jacket was quite heavy, but it was compatible with the weight of demin and it worked very well.

I had originally intended to top stitch all of the seams with a single line of stitching a 1/4" away from each seam, but after trying it on a few seams, I found that I liked it without the top stitching, so I left the seams plain.

I followed the instructions in the pattern without making any changes, except I sewed the side seams after sewing the collar to the jacket, rather than sewing the side seams first, in order to make the collar application easier. I also added a little extra width to sleeve from the elbow area to the sleeve hem, to yeild a little more room for movement.

If you have any questions, let me know by posting a comment. I'll post again soon with more projects.

-Rebekah