New Look 6217; silk and lace tee

I don't have much to say about this top.  It was one of those times when I woke up in the morning thinking I need to make a top from some silk and lace bits in my stash, add to this a free pattern from sew magazine and it ended up being a really cheap top, though not without its challenges.

 

 

The pattern is NewLook 6217

 

 

 

The silk is a gorgeous colour, teal but with a black back  which sort of shows through.  The front has a layer of stretch lace with silk behind it, and the back is just the plain silk.  There is a back opening, but in the end I stitched it together at the top because it's so loose it just pulls on over my head.

Overlaying the lace over the silk was quite tricky (possibly because the lace was stretch lace), and I had to keep rebasting it to keep the two fabrics together without them moving about.  I used bias for the neck, sleeves and hem, which I think will look better after a wash or two.

 

 

I won't be making this one again.  Too shapeless for me, but I will wear it, probably with jeans on a warmer day, and for what it cost I could garden in it!

 

It's been a lovely day, gorgeous weather and my favourite walk, sunshine and snow on the hills, what could be better, and I've another nine days off work to go, so lots more sewing to come.

.... and just to finish more puppy photos!

... and a reminder of how unfair life is when you are too small to get up on the settee to play with the big girls!

A lacy Linden

I've been deep into making a Grainline duffle coat which will hopefully be finished this weekend (there are 61 steps!) and making a tailored jacket at my sewing class, so I felt like a quick make, enter the Grainline Linden sweatshirt as I could definitely do with something warm and cuddly in the Cumbrian weather we are having.
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 I cut a size 12, but a pin fitting showed it was too big, so I sewed all the seams at 5/8" rather than the 1/4" as set.   I think this makes it easier to handle than the 1/4" which would make it impossible to overlock the seams.   I still think it's too big.  You can see a lot of room in the sleeves, the back ....

and particularly at the tummy area.  I think next time I might even go down to a size 8.

I made the view B with view A sleeves (though just folder over the sleeve hem rather than using the rib).  I would prefer the neckline to be a little higher.

I added 2" to the length, I might even add an extra inch next time (I'm only 5'4" so it would be very short without the added inches on a tall person).  I wanted to make it a little different so just added some scraps of stretch lace to the shoulder seams.  I just topstitched around the scallops and basted to the shoulder seam then sewed as normal, I think it adds a little individuality.  I decided to use some black rib to match the lace.  I think the rib could be a little wider.  Just as an aside I ordered 1/4 yard of ribbing and I only used a tiny bit, I think it would last for lots of projects.  The ribbing and fabric came from My Fabrics.

 The fabric turned out to be a bit disappointing.  It's lovely a warm with a fleecy inside, and a really nice shade of teal, but when I washed it it ended up patchy and half of it had a strange self-stripe which made it look like seconds.  I should have returned it really as it wasn't cheap for sweatshirt fabric.  My Fabrics have a great range of fabrics, but perhaps the attention to quality isn't as good.

The final sweatshirt is very wearable and warm.   I want to make another from Liberty Fleece as  have been really inspired  by Karyn's 3 liberty sweatshirts.  Rather extravagant, I know, but what a treat!  Karyn's blog is great she uses such lovely fabrics, have a look!

I can't believe we are at the final stage of the Great British Sewing Bee already (wonder why this series is 2 episodes shorter).  I've really enjoyed it and I've taken some inspiration.  My walkaway dress should be finished next weekend, I've used up some more of my lace oddments on a silk T which has just been cut out, and I really am fancying trying a leather jacket!  I liked Lorna's jacket with Neil's collar.  I've managed to track down Lorna' pattern, so who knows maybe I will be brave if I can get hold of some leather, or better still some really high quality faux leather.

Have you made a Linden or have any recommendations for some quick makes?