Wednesday, December 12, 2007

I don't usually post reviews here, but in order to make the people who are not PatternReview readers happy, I will start.

Christine Johnson 426. Princess Seamed Shirred Top

In advance- sorry for any lack of continuity in this review. I began this review when I made the first(brown top). It has been languishing in draft form until I made two more and decided that I really needed to get this finished.

There are no photos of the #1 top - the brown one. It is nice - Really! If you do not yet have this pattern - stop here and order it NOW! I know there are a myriad of reviews for this top, but wanted to add my 2cents (Canadian).

Pattern Description: Close-fitting, pullover, wrap top with gathered waistline detail and sleeve variations

Pattern Sizing: XS to XL. I made a Small and tapered to Medium at the hip.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? OMgoodness - yes! I actually hugged myself I loved it so much!

Were the instructions easy to follow? Easy as pie! I actually used them as I wanted to know if they made sense. They did!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love that it fit me right out of the envelope. The neckline hugs just as it should and is low but not too low.
I can see that a few more situps are in order - get thyself to the gym more often Connie- but I think a medium would have ended up too large in the bust area. A note to the very tiny people here- I am not a small boned person and I used a small- I think even the XS may be too large for my daughters who wear a RTW 4. I have the feeling that I am going to find out though!

Fabric Used:
I've made this top 3 times now.
#1 was a luscious thin chocolate brown knit that I either got from EOS or Wazoodle. I think it was EOS. I wish my fabric stash was organized! (in fact I really should just make that a priority as I just discovered that I have 2 identical green linen pieces of fabric - both purchased recently for pants- I do not remember buying EITHER!)
#2 was a cool geometric print from EOS
#3 a lovely graphic knit from Metro Textiles in NYC. This must be my personal best in the "NYC purchase to garment" category! I have Christine Jonsons wrap dress cut out in this fabric already as well!

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
#1 In order to make the neckline a bit more interesting, I added some elastic with a very pretty picot edge. As well as looking "pretty" it helped to keep the neckline tight. I turned the neck edge under and hand basted (I do like hand basting) then topstitched the elastic on with 2 rows of stitching. I am embarrassed to say that I looked at my new coverstitch machine while I used my sewing machine to sew the elastic on- I am still not as confident with it as I should be mainly because I would rather sew than practice - bad Connie - practice makes perfect. I make the excuse that I wanted to get something actually SEWN, as there has not been much time for that lately.

The Two New Tops

#2 was made straight from the pattern with no alterations.
#3 I trimmed the neck edge with some black very very narrow fold over elastic. I got this last year in NYC at MJ Trims (I think!) I serged the edge first, then hand basted both sides on individually. Very finickity but well worth it in the end. Oh I almost forgot to mention that I coverstitched this baby - Yeah finally made friends with the machine! Looking closer I can see that my grain line was off a bit- I was pretty careful so I may check the grain line on the pattern piece next time.




Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Oh yes! I love, love, love this pattern! Easy and looks good too!
It took about 2 hours from start to finish. Did I mention that I think this pattern is wonderful?


Conclusion:
Fast, easy to put together and looks fantastic on so many body types! This was just the pattern I needed to shoot me out of my sewing slump!

5 comments:

Summerset said...

Very nice - such a flattering style and would work for many women. I like the addition of the picot edge elastic for a change of pace.

Lori said...

These are so pretty. I like the idea of the picot and thanks for reminding me to get my pattern back out.

Erica Bunker said...

Both tops are very pretty and such great styles!

Kat said...

Connie, They are such lovely tops! I bought this pattern about 2 or 3 months ago and keep eyeing the pattern lovingly. When I'm finished with my Christmas outfit, I'm giving this pattern a shot. Thanks for the sizing info.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

What amazing tops! And I recognize the Metro fabric...very kewl!