stitchinandbitchindotcom

Okay…here’s my very first 2 items o’wearable clothing. I hope I get better at this because right now–I just suck at it **(buries head in folded arms and sighs deeply)**.

Here’s the jersey top. Sewn completely on the new Serger. New Record!!! Not only was every single seam sewn, ripped out and re-sewn multiple times (overlock/twin needle combo serger seams, no less) but this top was cut out, sewn, seams ripped, resewn, thrown away, re-cut, sewn, seams ripped and re-sewn. And still, I do not expect this top to survive the washing machine due to some waffling on the seam lines. But I learned a lot. I also noticed…boy howdy do I have a set of sweater zepplins or what??? Why would some women pay to have those huge things implanted? They just get in the way of a good fit. The only reason I mention this is in looking at the picture here, I’m wondering if darts around those pumpkins would have helped to give a better shape and create a smoother fit.

I liked the twin needle seams a lot and plan to be using that more and more, although I noticed way too late in the game that I probably would have liked it more with a better coordinating color thread than white…

Also, I made an alteration in the shoulders. Had to sorta guess at how much to alter and I see that the boat neck rides up too high in the back. Not sure how to fix it without taking it apart and that is just not going to happen. I’m done with this.

I LOVE what replacing the back pleats with darts did for the fit. Now, the front view:

I want to say, I do not have the right figure for this jumper and I blame the pleats in the front. My bust is too big to be able to pull front pleats off but again, this is just one of the things a beginner learns. I did create my own darts on the bodice which helped a lot. If I was not so eager to put this project to bed and get on with the next pattern on my list, I would go back and take the pleats out and replace them with darts just to see what would happen as I’m really pleased with the darts in the back, but this project is officially done.

Of course, if I come across a classified want-ad for milk maids on a Wisconsin dairy farm, this jumper should meet all uniform standards.

Still, even though I think this jumper may be too “young” for me to wear, I’m proud of my beginner’s effort on it. I had a flash of brilliance last night that I should go back and look through some old pictures of Jane Russell and the like, when that full figure was in vogue and look at the styles they wore. Luckily at my age, I still have a shape. It’s curvy-wurvy but it’s a shape.

Lessons Learned: Garments look better when matched to your shape, which is why I need a dress form. I can’t make the necessary corrections while I’m wearing it so I end up making guesses about where alterations should be made. Also, I would have seen during the early stages of construction that the front pleats were wrong for my body shape. But, don’t despair…good news! I found the one I want: Fabulous Fit ®. My husband is going to kill me because I will never, ever do a buy like I did with the Serger again. Which means I have to tell him beforehand. Which means…it was really nice knowing all of ya’ll.

ADDENDUM: The Husband looking over my shoulder reading my blog~

Him: Yeah, I can understand how a dress form would help you. Go ahead and get it if you think you need it.

Me: Thanks! You’re the greatest.

Him: You better be careful about what you put online. Those other girls reading it are going to come here and try to steal me away from you.

Me: But I get to order the dress form, right?