I Sewed Something!

Ain't it the way: I make my first garment in months and there's no freakin' natural light with which to photograph the results. I don't know why I'm surprised. It's January in Southern Ontario. So begins the endless dusk. This morning, Scott opened the blinds and chirped (as he does, daily, from January to April): Another gorgeous day in Toronto!

So you are consigned to view some fairly crap pics of my latest (4th, in case you're counting) version of Vogue 8790:

This is what the colour actually looks like (sort of):

I have no idea why this looks pilled in the photo - the fabric is a very smooth bamboo jersey with great recovery. I suspect I got so granular with the camera, we're seeing cells here...

At any rate, it's a true fuchsia which is something we could all use right now, if colour-therapy is anything to go by.

OK, some deets:

• The instructions on this pattern continue to be as crap-ass as ever. You think I'd have figured it out by now - and written some good notes. Alas, I've got notes all over the place, notes written in a sewadelic daze, 2 and 6 and 12 months ago. They're still not explaining to me how the fuck to attach the back to the front at the neck and shoulders simultaneously. I'm improving, but you can still see where I fucked it up on the right shoulder. Damn, I wasn't going to talk about the error. Ignore what I just said. Perfection is a myth and no one's going to notice a little blip on the shoulder - especially when my boobs are part of the equation. (Furthermore, I think I can fix it.)

• I substantively altered the size this time around - well, I've altered it every time, but last time, I got bold and realized that the shoulders were 3/4 of an inch too wide. It's wasn't as relevant when I made the sleeveless version (though I felt this width was too extreme in that version too. Remember, my shoulders are narrower than the dress form's). Thing is, that alteration isn't easy till you really understand how the pieces fit together. 

• A propos of that, I also reconstructed the sleeve to fit quite a bit higher in the armscye than the pattern calls for. I believe my original pattern size was 14 (to fit in bust). My sleeves would accord with a size 10.

• I also narrowed the fold over surplice neckline and tacked it differently at the neck (I think the instructions expect a double turn over, not that the tech drawing clarifies it). Not sure yet if this was a good idea. At the original width, I felt there was just too much fabric to organize around my chest. And remember this top can get a bit bulky below the breasts because it's a double layer of fabric.

This thing still isn't perfect, but it's improving every time I make it. I got so much use out of the sleeveless version, I do hope I can eventually master a great fit in a version with sleeves.  Word to the wise: Do yourself a favour and work with REALLY slim fabric - like almost too light. This fabric is fine (it's actually very nice), but I wouldn't mind it a bit thinner. Thing is, tissue-thin fabric is hard to find (without looking totally cheap and see-through).

Miraculously, this venture took a mere 4 hours. That was a) my outer limit of energy in time and b) less long than it takes me to make anything, knit or no. I must be cottoning on to the instructions, despite my mid-sewing frustration.

So, there you go. Can't say how long it'll be before there's another craft installment. Things are pretty slow going here on that front (as I'm trying to do less and chill more). I do wish I could knit but I'm not going to take it on until I'm sure it won't trigger pain in my upper back.

Whatcha think? Have you made this before? Do you like the colour of the fabric? Let's talk!