Cashmerette Concord - part 1

I was delighted when I won this PDF pattern from Carolyn of Diary of A Sewing Fanatic, a part of a giveaway for National Sewing Month in the US. I wanted to sew up a simple pattern after my recent hair-tearing makes!

This is a tee shirt with a choice of necklines, sleeves and sleeve lengths and body lengths. It is designed for fabric with 20% stretch and is described as having a ‘modern RTW fit’. There is over 2” of negative ease at the bust,  and minimal ease at the hips, about ½” - this is described as just skimming the hips.

The first step was to decide what size to make. Cashmerette patterns are sized by full bust size and come in cup sizes C/D, E/F and G/H. That's great, no full bust adjustment! After you take your bust size, you check that size on a chart which gives you the size to make, or a choice of two sizes. If there is a choice of two sizes, the one closest to the size containing your waist size is used (smaller cup size if your waist is bigger, as mine was). I understood this. With a 42" bust and larger waist, I needed to make a 14C/D. I would, however, need to grade out significantly at waist to a 16 and hips, to an 18.

However, I wasn't keen on that much negative ease at the bust. I wasn't sure whether to increase cup size,  bust size,  or both. I contacted Jenny, who responded very quickly (thank you) suggesting, after getting all my measurements, that I cut the 18C/D, changing to a 16G/H if the shoulders were too wide. My measurements are, for the sake of completeness - 42 - 36/38(!!) - 47 and I'm 5'11"

I needed to know this before printing as the choice at home is to print C/D, E/F or G/H - all sizes 12 - 28 are on one printout but not all cup sizes. I therefore printed out the 31 pattern pages, after checking that the test size square measured correctly. It did.

When I went to start taping my pattern together,  I realised that a thin sliver was missing from the side and top of each sheet. I couldn't work out what was going on and again contacted Jenny who hadn't had this problem previously. Again she responded very quickly indeed despite it being a weekend evening.  Just before I sent off the screen shots she requested, I discovered that changing a particular orientation setting solved the problem. The pattern now printed centred on the page from side to side and top to bottom, instead of being skewed as previously. I have never had to use this particular setting on previous PDFs. I don't know to what extent this was related to me printing on A4 paper, which is our standard here, when the pattern is sized to letter size - though it can certainly print on A4 paper, just leaving quite a large margin around the printed area. Another 31 pages printed.

Putting the pattern together was fine. There is a 1” grid throughout the pieces which helps with alignment. I like trimming my edges using a trimmer.

I cut out a straight 18C/D and went ahead and used this to cut out the tee with long body,  side slits, high neckline and long sleeves. Actually,  I changed to short sleeves (less fabric) when I realised I probably needed a full biceps adjustment and I hadn't done that. This was not intended as a toile as I used some pretty nice fabric. I didn't have any suitable cheaper fabric for a toile. (I'm doing a stash tidy and have discovered some fabrics...)

I started to make up the top but found that it didn't fit as I would like. The neckline was too wide. I felt the whole top was a bit tighter than it should be. There was gaping at the front of the armhole (no sleeves attached) suggesting the need for a FBA. I should say, though, that this was in class and the try-on was less well done than it should have been! Over a tee-shirt...

I had read a few reviews but none was particularly critical. After starting to make up my top and finding it didn't fit as I would like, I looked at further reviews. I found that in general the necklines are wide, the fit is very slim, many of those who made it went up in size or in cup size or both. These are not criticisms but I do need to know that as this affects choices. Clearly, too, the fabric used impacts on that. Personal taste comes into this,  too. At my age I don't want a body-hugging tee. I'm not sure I ever did!

Marianne of Foxgloves and Thimbles reckoned it's worth persisting through initial fitting issues, which she also had, so I decided I would.

I reprinted the front in the G/H size,  have narrowed the neck a little, though I could get away with the width without adjustment (the shoulder fit is fine), did a nearly 2” full biceps adjustment, which involves the sleeve, sleeve cap and the armscye; this amount of change caused a marked dipping in the sleeve cap, which had to be restored - amount decided by drawing original cap before the manipulation and comparing.

I made the adjustment on the full sleeve length but then cut the pattern pieces to the short length I wanted

For this, I used Palmer Pletsch Fit for Real People, but Jenny also sent me a link to a tutorial on the Curvy Sewing Collective. I compared  the sleeve to the armscye (walked) to work out how much that required to be adjusted. I will/may add a touch to the hip circumference for the next tee (depending on how successful my cake fast is!!) I found that not much in the way of length adjustment is required. I made a 1" lengthening but am not sure whether I really need it. I'll leave that to see how it looks when made up.

Comparing the two fronts,  I can see the extra space that I feel I need at the bust level. Jenny told me that the sleeve doesn't change. That's why I only printed out the pieces for the front.

The purple mark and arrow between purple and orange lines shows the difference between the C/D and G/H cups. The extra marks were where I was deciding to add to armscye following the sleeve adjustment

The actual sewing will be quick.

However, in the meantime, I wondered about salvaging my fabric, for me. I'm planning to add a gusset. The options I had -

1. I could re-cut the short sleeves, wider by the extra 2” I need. The sleeve band would also need to be re-cut wider (I haven't already cut it in the smaller width). I would then add a triangular shape in the top of the side seams. Although I think the underarm could benefit from being raised, I won't alter at this stage.
2. I could add a gusset extending from bodice up through into sleeve. Triangular in bodice, parallel sides in sleeve.

I decided the first method would be easier easier for this hopefully quick fix.

The triangular addition to the bodice will also give a bit of extra space at the bust,  provided I make it long enough

Both methods involve a different stitching order. The original instructions have you put the sleeve in flat and then sew up bodice sides and sleeves. I would have to do this differently and set the sleeve in after the bodice is sewn. No problem.

I'm planning to leave this until my next sewing bee so that there is advice on hand if I need it. Mid term break is next week, so that's this Thursday with Lyn (This was on Thursday past, so I will update with a post later) or in two weeks with Dan. Yes, I attend 2 bees weekly,  when I can (I do miss quite a few because of other commitments) . In addition, I'm attending a tailoring module with Rory - again, I'll have to miss some sessions but I can catch up in the sewing bee. I'm very lucky!

Any comments?

I hope to do the update post later in the week

Some thoughts while lying on a hotel bed; and some planning

I've stopped gaining weight thank goodness.  Just over 3 weeks ago I attended a funeral and my suit jacket was too tight. I'm glad to say that I've lost a couple of pounds and it fits much better. Easily acceptable. I do still plan to make a new version, though, as I'd like the jacket a couple of inches longer to cover tops better.  We're here because we're attending DH's uncle's funeral tomorrow. There wasn't enough time to travel up tomorrow especially in potentially difficult road conditions. We didn't leave home until the afternoon and by that time the roads were okay. We've managed to travel after one weather warning expired and before the next comes into effect. DH hadn't seen his uncle in a few years, probably since his mother's funeral - she kept connections going. There will be quite a few reconnections tomorrow.

I do get emails and internet on my phone but the screen is too small to read comfortably. Fine in an emergency of course.  Talking about which - has everyone got an ICE contact on their phone?  ICE = In Case of Emergency and lets those who need to know which of your contacts should be notified first in an emergency. I also have ICE 2.

This is my second attempt to write this post.  I completely lost my first when my tablet fell out my hand. I didn't know that could happen - losing the post that is. (Strangely, I found it on my PC when I decided to post this - so I hadn't lost it after all, but I might as well have done when I couldn't find it!). I'm lying in bed in a hotel in my DH's teenage stomping ground; it's still famous due to its Burns' connections, though that wasn't what he was reminiscing about - that was more about folk heroes. There was a great Folk Club,  with visits from the likes of Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl, Archie Fisher and Billy Connelly when he was with the original Humblebums and would play for his supper and stay with one of DH's pals. I can't get the hotel internet on my tablet for some reason, which is irritating as I was going to read a book on it. I decided to start this blog post instead. 

Earlier I got an email from the Curvy Sewing Collective publicising their focus on separates over the next 3 months, combined with tutorials etc - pants in February, tops in March and skirts in April. I love separates as they are so versatile. I think I'll try to push my current pants make ahead a little to try to fit in with the February time scale. That'll be pants, not jeans and probably not the US definition of trousers, though of course they're all trousers to me! I actually fancy making a pair of pants with an elasticised waist as I was reading a tutorial about this earlier. They'll be useful for working around the house and for sitting sewing. I think I'll need to make them in stretch fabric and know I have a choice of grey or fuchsia - I'll choose grey! Grey is also a versatile colour, goes with so much.

After I've made these casual pants, I'll go onto a pair of dressy trousers and a pair of slimmer fitting jeans. This to fit in with my trouser class at college. Probably not in February, of course, but certainly by the end of term, at Easter. You've heard of fast food, and of slow food, I read of fast sewing, well I'm promoting slow sewing! My object is not merely the finished object but the enjoyment and learning in the journey.

I'm back home. Exhausted!  I'm just making a quick update before going to bed, early. Travel was fine.

The funeral went well. It was lovely to meet up again with some of DH's relatives, despite the occasion. I think he'll keep in touch. His cousins are interested in some of the photos DH took including his uncle when he was younger. DH was the family photographer.

I decided to look through some jeans reviews on PR while having some supper before bed. It looks as though the Ginger jeans from Closet Case Files might best meet my needs as they are drafted for a pear shape and have online tutorials.

I've ordered the Palmer Pletsch jeans, too, as McColl's patterns are half price at present and these get quite good reviews. Some people complain that they are too high at the waist but I'm looking for a high rise so that will suit me fine.

Last week I notified my interest in 2 patterns being sold by a US PR member at $1 each. Although patterns are often cheap in the US, that's not the case here. One is a Vogue,

the other a Butterick.

Postage is pricey ($12.75) but it's still worth it, particularly as I could pay by PayPal. Interestingly, the reviews on the Vogue pattern are rather negative, with some people saying they were just going to junk the pattern after reading all the bad reviews. There were enough positives, however, to make me decide I wasn't going to opt out. Update - I received a $4.90 refund from the seller as postage turned out to be cheaper than she had been quoted. That was nice.I'm looking forward to getting the patterns.

I hear my bed calling! Truthfully, I'm tired mainly because of viral illness rather than travelling. I'll try to add a couple of photos to this blog and post tomorrow. Tomorrow I also plan to modify directly on the skirt toile I made last week (I need to understand what the problem was) and make up a new toile as the next class is on Monday. I still have a cough but am recovering from my virus, so I might also get my colour photo swatches done, if my skin loses its pasty grey-green colour and the weather holds up. We won't be playing golf as I'm not well enough for that yet, sadly.

Update - well, I didn't get the photos added and didn't post the blog the day after my return. So I'm doing it tonight. I added the photos but didn't edit the text. I haven't got my colours done yet. I still haven't completely recovered. I still look off colour and feel 'wabbit'. I'm hoping I start to feel better this coming week - and get some sewing done. I did repairs though - I put faux hems on two pairs of trousers to lengthen them (not enough grosgrain for the third), repaired the waistband closure on a pair of jeans and - more difficult - repaired the lovely sewing zipped pouch I got from my sewing buddy. The strap end had started to fray and come loose. I didn't see how to repair it and asked advice from my sewing tutor who said it had been bagged - just like the jackets I had done. After that, no problem - repaired!!