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!
  
                           
                         

 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