Wednesday, January 22, 2014

My Sewing Retreat: Chevron Back Tunic



My super fantastic husband sent me away on a self-defined sewing retreat! He booked a great hotel for four days and three nights and promised to keep the kids alive while I was gone. Oh, the thought of waking on my time, eating what I want and not having to share, and having the entire bed to myself was divine! What a great gift! I love you, see you in a week! Oh wait, I mean, see you in four days!


I packed my serger, my machine, some patterns and fabrics.  I pretty much took a mini sewing studio without clutter! 

Sewing area

Workspace
Some of what I hoped to make

Patterns I bought on the way out of town ;)
I will write about the many things I made in future blog posts, but today I will review my chevron back tunic made using Vogue 8962. I made two of these on day one!
  
                           
                          V8962

 Here is B.I.R.A in the finished tunic.



Pattern Description from Pattern: 
Pullover top has yoke back, bias back extending to side front, no side seams, and shaped hemline, wrong side shows.
 
Pattern Sizing: 8-16, I made the 10


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? 
Yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow? 
Super easy!
 
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? 

I really like the look of the chevron stripes in the back. I love the large and loose cowl neckline and the curved hemline. I am not crazy about the shaping in the front. I know horizontal stripes make you look wider, and I think the angled front is supposed to minimize that effect. I feel that the angle may taper to a tummy pooch. I made two and plan to make more, so this is not a deal breaker, but I would have been happy with straight sides.

Fabric Used:
A rib knit in a narrow stripe for the muslin 



and a lace and jersey stripe that has a bolder stripe for the actual.

Right sides together matching stripes.
Both fabrics have more stretch than the pattern suggests, but I really liked the fabrics so I was willing to take my chances. I needed 2 ¼ yards of fabric 60 inch to match my stripes. I found it easiest to match them right sides together using one cut side as the pattern. Starting at the bottom stripe, I shifted the fabric to the left to the next stripe until they were all aligned. I pinned aggressively then cut it out. From there I took it right to my machine to sew.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I did all of my sewing on my serger with the exception of the hems which I stitched using my machine and a twin needle.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
 

I will definitely sew this again! I want to try with a ponte knit stripe (2-way stretch) as suggested. I may experiment with color-blocking or a contrast cowl.
 
Conclusion: 
I loved the pattern image and am super pleased with my result especially my stripe alignment! My preference is for a bolder stripe over the thinner stripes. The thicker stripes were also much easier to align.

Here is B.I.R.A in the finished muslin


Check back this week for more projects from my retreat. I have an Alabama Chanin shirt for my husband, another tunic, a pair of pants and a retro dress.

Happy Sewing,
Bianca

6 comments:

  1. Ohhhh! How nice! Look at your setup - so fun! Did you rent a movie and have room service too? Fantastic, and I love that tunic. Alabama Chanin is doing a weekend at Blackberry Farm in June, and my husband offered to let me go with my sister, but first she has to agree to fly, which may be the deal breaker....

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    1. Thanks, it was so much fun! I listened to Matched by Ally Condie most of the time. On Sunday night I indulged in Downton Abbey and the much anticipated season premiere of Sherlock!

      So jealous about Blackberry Farm that looks awesome! Will you go without your sister? I understand the fear of flying, but...

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    2. I wouldnt go by myself because I would be lonely, but I'm also thinking it would be cooler (not to mention cheaper) to do a weekend in Florence with all the supplies handy....

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  2. Your Hubby rocks. Very nice work. You match up those line very nicely.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! My husband is awesome!

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  3. What a brilliant idea for a sew-cation! Your husband is a gem. Sounds like you had a fantastic time. Looking forward to seeing the rest of what you created,

    Love your new tops, if I had a body that could wear tunics, I would snap up this pattern. Alas, no.

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