Tuesday, April 13, 2010

HotPatterns 1108 Revealed

I've got no more energy today except to post some pics and write a few short comments. I'll write up a proper review when I'm not as tired. I took these photos this morning, when my hair was still dripping.



So, here it is. You can see better in the photo on Zillie how much more fabric there is in my shoulder area compared to my usual style of shirt. I'm probably being too hard on it. It's not a completely unflattering shirt, but it's not my best look either. I made the elasticated sleeves, which do help reign in the general baginess in the upper arms.



The yellow line below denotes the shoulder seam. It's very dropped, isn't it? ;-)



You can see the poof of armpit fabric better in this pic.


On the bright side, I made absolutely NO fit alterations except to cut the pattern bigger heading toward the hips. There is a lot of ease in this style so it just wasn't necessary. I did not make a true shirttail hem per the pattern because I don't like them on me, but I did curve the hem and ended up cutting off the 2 inches of "just in case" that I added to the hem length.

It's still a very comfortable and temp-cool shirt and I got to test that out today chasing the dogs into the neighbor's yard as a cat ran by. They want to be friends with the neighbor's cats in the worst way and of course the cats know this and torment the dogs to no end. Cats are good at that. ;-)

Even though I used the "new" 6010 for all of the construction, sans serged seam allowances, I did revert back to the D1 for the buttonholes and buttons. Ever since it came back from the sewing machine hospital, its buttonholes are things of beauty again and are back to being reliably automatic. And can you guess what was the first thing I reached for on the D1? Yep, the presser foot lift bar! In case this makes no sense to you, Designers don't have lift bars — they have a sensor that raises and lowers the foot with no hands. It's one of my favorite D1 features, but it's funny how quickly one reverts to "old school." ;-)

Off to watch the new season of Deadliest Catch on the DVR before heading to bed. Does anyone else watch that show? It looks like there's going to be lots of sadness this year. :-(

22 comments:

  1. Yes, I love Deadliest Catch! I got to meet Jon and Andy Hillstrand a couple years ago at a book signing and they are twp of the sweetest guys ever. It will definitely be a sad season. I do love your new shirt though. I think it looks nice and flatters you actually.

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  2. I've been debating on this pattern and am really glad to see your post about it that I ran across just googling around. I'm thinking maybe I think it looks pretty cute! I've got the HP knit pattern coming to me soon, and that one I'm pretty sure I'll like. Thanks for sharing!!--cathy

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  3. I also like the top on you! I think it looks great.

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  4. If you didn't have armpit bagginess with a dropped shoulder, you'd have... a straightjacket. So it's good, really..

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  5. Sometimes, how a garment "feels", our own perception, is different from the way it actually "looks". It looks great in the photos. I have a jacket that I love except for the extreme dropped shoulder. I am going to draft a new armsythe and sleeve and make another.

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  6. I like this shirt on you very much. Thanks for the sizing info.

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  7. Nice print and actually, it looks great. I love the D.C., watched it last night. I love the plan to switch the Jake boys.

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  8. Cute shirt! I had to comment because I made a skirt in that same fabric. Makes me feel all-Florida when I wear it! :)

    The dropped shoulder would bug me, too, but it still looks good on you!

    ~Bev

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  9. I think the shirt looks good on you, but I do understand feeling a bit disappointed when something doesn't fit the way you're expecting it to. At least it will be good during the hot summer months. :)

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  10. We haven't had dropped shoulders in fashion for a long time, so maybe you aren't used to this look, but it really does look nice on you :)

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  11. I like the shirt too, but especially the fabric. Good color on you (when your hair is dry :-)

    And yes, cats treat all of us like playthings. Their family, the neighbors silly dogs, each other. At least they aren't in your house, sewin' on your machines, or draping themselves in your fabric ;-)

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  12. Debbie I like this shirt and it looks good on you. I love Aloha Shirts but they're always too boxy on me. But this another way of doing one; very cool.

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  13. Debbie your shirt does look great on you. I love the print and the length/fit is perfect.

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  14. Sorry, a little OT....
    Debbie, I've followed your post for a while now, and I love it, a real inspiration. I also loved your coverstitch tutorial pages. When I was researching CS machines, yours were just the best reference around. Have you taken down those pages? Do you know of any others?
    D

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  15. Great, colorful top. We've been known to watch Deadliest Catch, too. I guess it has a strange universal appeal!

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  16. haha, cats ARE like that. Little buggers.

    I kind of like the top, but that ploof of fabric under the arm would bug me too. (Ploof is a new word. I made it up. Are you surprised??) :P

    Blogger accommodates my amazing grasp of language by giving me this word ver in honor of your Ploof:
    snogfusp.

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  17. I was stuck in a bar (not a bad place to be) at the airport last month and I sat beside a kid who told me he was an Alaskan King Crab Fisherman. His flight to Michigan (his home town) had been postponed all day long and he was completely lit!!
    BTW, I nearly fainted when you left a comment at my site (the naming of our sailing blog) as I've been reading you for years! Do you by any chance live anywhere near Tampa? I have a friend here in the north whose niece lives near Tampa (Wesley Chapel) and wants desparately to learn how to sew, and no one can find a 4-H club with a sewing chapter. Any thoughts on this????

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  18. Debbie, I think this top looks great on you and I'll be looking forward to your review and some more pics...thanks for the sneak peak. :)

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  19. You are being far too kind to this pattern, it is not your best look. Big bust - dropped shoulder NO.

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  20. Whoa, that dropped shoulder harkens back to the eighties :) Am enjoying your fabric choice, a perfect example of regional styles. It looks like fun to wear (with a pair of capris! ) in subtropical Florida. But here? In Brussels? I am seriously washing heavy corduroy pants now, that are just slightly getting too warm for the weather. (As I type this wearing knee socks instead of regular socks, and have a ls sweater over a tee shirt.) Thanks for the breath of fresh air :)

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  21. I see what you mean with your criticisms of the pattern - but I think it looks great on you! Got to add that you and I could be Soul Sisters - my first machine was a Husqvarna (Viking to you) 6370 - loved it to death. Well, not literally of course, it's still going strong. Now I love my D1 but even more so! I have deviated along the quilting path so let my dressmaking go somewhat, but it still calls to me. Love reading sewing blogs and wishing I had a clone so I could quilt and dressmake at the same time.

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  22. Yes, I watch it too. I was heartbroken to learn Captain Phil died while they were offloading one afternoon. At least he died doing what he loved, though. It would be great if we could all do that.

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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