McCall 6841 v. 2 Pink

I basically love this pattern. I'm also discovering how tricky it is to choose just the right kind of fabric for this drapey design.  My first version was made with rayon/poly jersey knit which was so thin, and it was difficult to handle. So, I wanted to make it with a bit thicker fabric.

I chose this magenta pink knit. Appropriately finished right before Valentine's Day. This fabric came from my friend's late mother. I don't know the exact fabric content. Definitely a stretch knit. It feels like it has a little wool, and synthetic material. It's definitely more stable than the rayon jersey knit I used before, but it isn't as thick as sweatshirt weight.  Especially since I couldn't confirm the fabric content, I did my usual swatch wash test before I cut the fabric.  It came out without any shrinkage from washer/dryer.  So, I guess its wool content is very low and it's mostly polyester.

I usually use my main machine for sewing garments, but since I knew I either didn't have to finish seams or I'd serge them, I took out my Featherweight, Esther for this project! Just a straight stitch machine was all I needed.  Giving my main machine, Bernina 1230 a little break.

Since it was an easy fabric to handle, it went very quickly.  Soooooo, here is the learning moment. The fabric, this time, was a bit too thick (ugh!) so that the drapey design could appear rather stiff depending on the angle.

Like here.  See?

Mmmmm. What do you think? Do I look like I'm going to carry a baby in this built-in sling?!

It is still very wearable.

Love the dolman sleeves.  But I forgot to make them longer! I'd like the sleeve length to be just a bit longer, maybe by 1, even 2 inches. Well, NEXT TIME! 

This garment is made of only two pieces of pattern. A front and a back. With the drapey design, the front is a very large piece and it is hard to see where the sleeves are on the pattern piece. (Really. At least to me. It's like a gigantic puzzle piece!)

So, this leaves me with the feeling of wanting to make yet another one ~! Until I get it right -- picking the right weight fabric for this design, so the finished garment will truly shine.

I like the top. I wore it on the Valentine's Day Eve. 

Besides, I got to have a sewing date with Esther, my Singer Featherweight 221-K.

Experienced garments sewers out there, share with me your secrets, tips and wisdom on how to pick the right fabric for the design you are sewing--?

McCall 6841 Drapey, Flowy Top, Done.

There's nothing Urban Recyclist about this top. New fabric, new pattern. That's how I roll sometimes.  That's why I'm an "urban" recyclist, and not a purist.

I found the fabric that was perfect for this top. Rayon/Poyl/Lycra blend knit. It's pretty with a little shimmery gold tone on the right side of the fabric. The actual color of fabric is, mmmm, pretty close but somewhere in between these two pictures below and the finished pictures.

The only thing was that it was a very stretchy and very thin knit and that I knew it wasn't going to be easy to handle. Bhhhhhuuutttt, I didn't anticipate it to be THAT hard to handle just to lay on a flat surface to cut! The pattern consists of just  two large pieces. So the fabric absolutely had to lay neatly flat on a huge surface, in double layer. I think I spent more time laying out the fabric and pattern and cut the fabric than actually sewing it.

Here is the back collar. The fabric was tricky to sew. I really felt the need for a walking foot.  I have a Singer walking foot, but I was using my Bernina 1230, and I don't have a walking foot for her (yet.... the price tag......!!). The last time I sew knit on her, it was just fine. Then again, that knit fabric was a bit thicker and more stable. I did carefully chose the needle, but that wasn't enough.

This top has dolman sleeves.

This fabric is feather light. Feels so soft on my skin. It is quite comfortable. I love the way the fabric drapes and forms the neckline. Again, the stitch on this knit didn't come out completely right. Oh, well. Still wearable, and I'm just going to move on! I did have to raise the neckline for about 2".

See the hem pucker?  In retrospect, I could have left it unfinished. The fabric doesn't fray or roll. I did have to chop off a good chunk on the hem because it was way too long for me. I shortened it as much as possible without sacrificing the draping design.

Next time I make this, I'll make the sleeves just a tiny bit longer. I like it that way. Because the sleeves were barely long enough for me, I decided to leave it unfinished -- which was the right decision!

 
I've done something brave. I've joined the 2014 RTW (Ready-To-Wear = store bought clothes) Fast movement initiated by Sarah of Goodbye Valentino.  I thought it would be a great way for me to make a commitment to sew garments regularly (otherwise, you know, I love free flowing, easygoing, improv sewing - not that there is anything wrong with improv sewing. I just want to improve my garment making skills.)

I was inspired by a fellow RTW faster's project and immediately decided that I wanted to make one myself. McCall 6841. (Copy ca~t. It's ok, as long as I'm sewing)  This was an easy sewing - except for the fabric I chose made it difficult.

Anyway, I love the feel and the look of it.  It's a very forgiving design in terms of fit. I'd like to make one again with a different, easier-to-sew, fabric next time.

But for now, I like the one I made.