This pattern was tough to make, but I love the out come.  I will be making another one as soon as I can get my hand on some dark japanese cotton.  I felt like the instructions left something out for the crossover neck band.  I wound up having to painstakingly handstitch the last two inches on each side so that it looked right, which was frustrating.  Also, you have to hand stitch (slip stitch) the inside waist band to the front, which actually looks nice, but took forever.  My only other complaint was that seam edge of the neck band isn't tucked in.  Since this fabric was slightly sheer, you can see it when the shirt is against skin.  But again, I LOVE the outcome despite all this, so I wll make it again.  Sewing Workshop has some of the neatest patterns out there.  Next up, Purrfection poet's blouse!

Front view 1:

Front view 2:

Back view:


Link to pattern (I bought mine off of thesewingplace.com):  http://www.sewingworkshop.com/pattern_detail.lasso?SKU=91

Ok, this is my last pattern review for a little while, I swear!  I've just wanted to share some of the patterns I've done recently. 

I love this shirt (New Look 6483)!  It fits perfectly, doesn't show my bra strap (great for work!) and is slightly fitted at waist (not too much to be showy, not too little to look boxy).  In other words, its a classic piece.  You can make it classic or trendy by varying the type and look of the fabric you use.  This pattern is easy to make, takes hardly no time to finish (around an hour) and only uses 1 1/4 yd (for the sleeveless version), which meant I made three of them for under $20 for the fabric!  I will be making more this summer.  Buy this pattern!

view D

I made this pattern twice, but that's only because I cut the fabric at the same time.  I didn't like this pattern at all.  It has a crossover top that I had to sew shut because I kept flashing people at work.  It fits OK - I feel like the sizing was a little unrealistic... for women with out hips, which makes it a little snug around my waist.  Its not terrible, its just not as flattering as on the pattern cover!  I probably won't make this again.  You may like it if you are slim with an average chest ( I wouldn't bother if you are  C cup).

  View A

I've done both view B and view E.   I love the gathered neck 3/4 sleeve top and have done it in two different fabrics.  It was quick, easy and only takes about 1 1/2 yds. fabric.  View E has a split neck with darts and I didn't like that version nearly as much as view B.  I think it was a little boxy (it looks much better in the picture than in real life).  It also came out a little short (hence the lace on the bottom) but that was due to a miscalculation on my part, not the patterns.  I would reccomend this pattern if you are looking for something quick and cute.

view B

  view E

This was much harder than I thought it was going to be.  It didn't help that I was working with a silky a fabric and was rushed, trying to finish in time for a holiday party.  I never could get the sleeve right and one of them I put on backwards and the fold over for the top part (so you don't have to line it) was a little confusing.  I think I have it down now that I've done it once.  I will probably do this pattern again, but I think I'll only do the sleeveless version.  I reccomend this pattern (or a similiar version) because it looked great on and dresses up or down very easy.  Just make sure you have plenty of time to play with this pattern!

I like the style of the vest but it came out larger than I anticipated.  I suggest making a size smaller than you think you need, even after checking the ease.  The finished product was also very boxy, so I added four darts about 6" long and at its widest, about an inch wide, one on each front panel and two in the back.  Its still really big, but it is better.  This was really quick to make.  It was a nice afternoon project.


The bottom hem IS even, It just doesn't look it in the picture.

I've got all these crazy detailed sewing projects going on and I thought I'd try something quick and easy and kwik sew 2805 was it!  It took me 45 mins, including cutting out the pattern and sewing!
It is slightly "flared", a-line really, and has an elastic waist, which I don't usually like because they look to bulky on me, but I'll just wear sweaters with it.  I made this out of 1 3/8 yd cotton (45" wide).

I've recently started to purchase independent deisigners for my patterns and I'm loving it!  I've gotten The Sewing Workshop, Purrfection and Favorite Things (which I keep buying off of http://www.thesewingplace.com).  I made the obi handbag and I love it.  I made some patchwork ones for my boss and recently, I made an Asian inspired purse:



Here's a link to the pattern:  http://www.sewingworkshop.com/pattern_detail.lasso?SKU=95
It was a little difficult to figure out at first.  I did have to rip a few seams and start over the first time, but once I got one done, it made sense.  Take your time and make sure you label all the letters correctly, other wise your wasting your time (like I did on the third bag - had to rip almost all the seams out and start over because I didn't mark everything).

I made this mini poncho with a pattern I changed a little from The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville (page 48 in the book).  Instead of only knitting in the round, I added three rows of eyelet after every 9 regular rows (row 1:  *k2tog, yo*; row 2: K all).  I used two skeins of TLC Essentials yarn - yeah for another cheap poncho for under $10.00!  This was knit in the round on size 8 needles.

This book has excellent descriptions and photographs on how to do things, although there are only a few patterns that I find interesting.  I think it was a valuable buy just for the tutorials. 



link to book on amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1893762130/qid=1106512868/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-4485012-9536137?v=glance&s=books

A while back I said I'd post the pattern to a zig zag cabled scarf I was working on.  I got the pattern from Knitting and Crochet Stitches from Reader's Digest.  It was a great buy.  The zig zag cables were a great starting project for first time cables.  They are on a garter stitch background.  You can not see the cable on the back side, but that's why I added a key hole to the scarf.  Here's the pattern:

1st row (rs):  K1 *c2f, k4; rep from * to end
2nd row:  k4, p1 *k5, p1* to last 2 sts, k2
3rd row:  k2, c2f *k4, c2f* to last 3 sts, k3
4th row:  k3, p1 *k5, p1* to last 3 sts, k3
5th row:  k3, c2f *k4, c2f* to last 2 sts, k2
6th row:  k2, p1 *k5, p1* to last 4 sts, k4
7th row:  *k4, c2f* to last st, k1
8th row:  k1 *p1, k5*
9th row:  *k4, c2b* to last st, k1
10th row:  same as row 6
11th row:  k3, c2b *k4, c2b* to last 2 sts, k2
12th row:  same as row 4
13th row:  k2, c2b *k4, c2b* to last 3 sts, k3
14th row:  same as row 2
15th row:  k1 *c2b, k4*
16th row:  *k5, p1* to last stitch, k1

Repeat these 16 rows, multipes of 6 stitches + 1 stitch



I hope the pictures show up okay.  This is the first time I've posted using the craftster upload thingy mabob.

edit:  fixed row 7.  Sorry about that!