M5523 & KS3179: Complete

McCall's 5523 (skirt)

Let us all welcome the newest member to the town of Waddervile.  Don't worry, dear discarded garment, you'll find plenty of company along with many other less desirables.  I had high hopes that we would get along well, but you didn't want to play nice with your wrinkling and all.  It's a shame, too, because I think you really would have enjoyed meeting Judith's offspring.

On with the review...

Fabric & Notions:

• 1.5 yards of rayon-poly-lycra stretch woven suiting
• 1.5 yards of beige (more like gold) stretch polyester charmeuse
• 1.5-inch wide beige petersham cut to waist circumference plus extra
• 7" invisible zipper

Fitting & Alterations:

Having made the skirt in 2010, I didn't need to make any additional adjustments.  The pattern has a 1.25" wedge at the center and side back for a full seat. 

In more recent applications of the wedge alteration, I straighten the seam above the alteration and take off the extra width from the side seam.  I didn't do that with this pattern and don't see any negative affects.

Construction:

All seams were sewn on my machine and then serged together.  For the next project using this fabric, I'll finish the edges first, sew the seams, and then press them open.  I added a rolled hem to finish the bottom edge.  I tried to turn up a hem, but the curve of the flounce too deep and, by this point, I was beyond done with this garment.

Conclusion: 

The rendering of this skirt to Wadderville has nothing to do with the pattern.  The pattern is fine and I intend to sew it again..  The fabric's not even that bad, really.  At least, I hope it isn't since I have yards upon yards of this stuff.  I just can't get the wrinkles out in a way that makes this...um...less wrinkly.  I think the color of the fabric only exacerbates the problem. I also think the problem might be with the type of needle I used.  I switched to a 75/11 microtex midway through the project because the 90/14 universal needle made big holes in the fabric.  I don't have any wrinkles in my Jalie jacket and I used the microtex needle from the very beginning. 

The big question is, will I wear it?  I don't know.  It's hanging in my closet for now.  If there comes a day when I haven't done laundry and have nothing else to wear to work, it might make an appearance.

Kwik Sew 3179 (top)

Pattern love is in full effect with this one.  This is the fourth time I made this top and don't know why it's taken me so long to make it again.  There are four pieces (back, left front, right front, tie extension) all cut on the bias and can almost be completely sewn on a serger.

Fabric & Notions:

• 2 yards of purple-ish cotton solid
• regular sewing thread for sewing/serging seams and rolled hem

Fitting & Alterations:
I cut large and took out a half an inch of width from the neckline, tapering to nothing at the hem.  Aside from that, I didn't make any other alterations. 

Construction:
I cut this out a couple of days ago and finished it in about an hour.  It would have taken even less time, but I decided to sew the seams on my machine first and then serge them together.

Conclusion:
This is a great instant gratification project.  It's what I needed to get back in the groove after the McCall's skirt.  I'll take pictures wearing both garments when I get all prettified. 

Up next:  A BWOF skirt in the same rayon-poly-lyrca fabric.  Oy vey.

L