Flatlocked spots - another KwikSew 2867

I flatlocked the edges of this KwikSew 2867 top to give it a bit more umph - the beige/milk coffee colour was a bit boring even with the maroon spots. It has a velcro placket to make it easy to get on/off for my Mum whose limbs are very stiff.

The button was purely to give it some colour as I couldn't overlock over the thickness of fabric at the placket.

Stripes for Me

I have been trying to break my old habit of keeping every small bit of material. There was enough left from the tank top to make a pair of undies.

Kwik Sew tank pattern

Velcro placket for ease of wear

Button placket

In order to make it really easy for the nursing staff to dress Mum without causing her pain, I wanted to add buttons to the kwiksew tank top to increase the opening size.
This is the site I used to create the button placket - it works http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-mans-shirt-with-mandarin-collar-and-button-placket/2009/04/17/ once on the site click on the tutorial link and you get to a google docs slide show.

100% cotton knit, size XS, Kwiksew2867

Close-up of placket, I hand stitched the buttonholes.

Sewing goal progess

Sewing Goals 2012
Dot point 1. A singlet style top for Mum

• Using KwikSew2867 I cut out both a XS and S top from blue knit fabric.
• I cut a thin band of light weight interfacing to go around the neck & armholes to prevent them stretching out of shape.
• I did the same for the shoulders.

Tank dress triumph

Sometimes you just get lucky. I had a stretch fabric remnant printed with ladies, some with parasols, some walking a dog, it has flowers and trees too. All in blue, cream and outlined in dark blue. I thought it might make a sleeveless top. Today I placed the pattern pieces from KwikSew2867 on it. There was about 34cm extra fabric length left so I measured it equally off the bottom of both pattern pieces and cut it out, adding another 1cm to the width at the hips.

I reinforced the shoulders with a strip of ribbon and overlocked it together. The armholes and neckline were then folded over about 1cm and sewn down with a straight stitch. The hem was roll hemmed using an overlocker.

Leopard KwikSew2867

I've had a piece of polyester stretch leopard for several weeks now. When I bought it I was too excited to notice that the stretch went down the hide so to speak not across it. Anyway I still like the colour and pattern of it.

Today I cut out a sleeveless top using KwikSew2867 but without the drawstring. I added approximately 1.5 cm to the width at the hem and graded it toward the waistline so that it would side smoothly over my hips.

 I've overlocked the shoulders and sideseams together as well as around the neckline, armholes and hem. I tried both a ball point and stretch machine needle and settled for using the stretch needle with nylon invisible thread.

The completed top modelled by Mary

Kwik Sew 2867 progress

OOOPS

I used the wrong guideline for locating the drawstring and didn't realise until I had made the buttonhole - Oh dear! Put another one in the right place, sewed on the casing and inserted some ribbon for the drawstring.

Played around with using buttons or applique to cover the other buttonhole. After trying the top on I think I may just ignore the mistake as I doubt most people looking at me will see it.

I have overlocked all the raw edges on the neckline, armholes and hem. The side and shoulder seams were overlocked together. I am very glad I added a little bit to the hip measurement, next time I will either add a small side split or another cm of width.

Kwik Sew 2867 Misses' top view C

The pattern and fabric

A smoother pattern is easier to trace.

Tracing the pattern.

Checking the accuracy of my trace, had to adjust it a little.

I used sticky tape not pins to attach the pattern to the fabric.

I've added a little extra width to be sure the top is wide enough at the hip.

Today I've started making this sleeveless top from Kwik Sew 2867. I'm using a remnant that was in a box of fabric I tendered for at the TenderCentre.