Sewing Poly Silkies & McCalls 5469

We've all seen them. They are seductive. Their brightly colored synthetic shininess reaches out for our pocketbooks.I mean, they sure look like silk charmeuse. And the price! Can't beat that with the proverbial stick! Oh, you're right. They make horridly uncomfortable linings. They don't breathe and they are hot. I've tried too many hopeful times to repeat that mistake!  But hey, for a flowey, open sleeved, billowy little top - perfect! I caved.

First I'll make some comments on the construction and then go onto the pattern.

Here are some hints gleaned from Fabric Savvy by Sandra Betzina and some from my own experience.

* These suckers ravel. MAKE SURE you serge before proceeding to any part of the construction. I didn't with this because I forgot the necessity of it all. You really need to do this.

* Use fine machine thread, the kind recommended for heirloom. Use it in both the bobbin and the needle. I mark my bobbins with a red sharpie and an "F" for fine.
 * Use a #10 Microtex needle.
* "Taut sew" pulling the fabric taut as it flows under the presser foot.
* Use your single hole presser foot. My 1/4 inch quilting foot is my single hole foot.

* Press on synthetic with low steam. DON'T move the fabric until it is cool. I get the best results if I press with the iron and immediately continue pressing with my point presser tool until cool. I go back and forth till no heat is left in the fabric. I find this sets creases, which you need for a nice looking hem and cools the fabric faster. If you move that fabric before cooling it will hold the folds and creases from where you touched. Really.
* Use French seams and bind the armscye.
* For your hem you can topstitch, not particularly that great looking in fine thread, do a double needle, what I would do in hindsight, or hand stitch. Use a regular whip stitch if hand hemming. I did the sleeves in a catch stitch, my usual, but the whip stitich I tried on the hem looked much better. I swear I never picked up more than two threads with each stitch. The stitching shows and there is no way to get around it. A good press with that point presser really helps though.
* Use silk pins, aka, fine pins. I only used my yellow heads to secure the pleats. 
On to the pattern, McCalls 5469:

* I cut off a good 6 inches from the length of the top. For one, that length would have my body cut right in half, not a good luck when you are 5 ft tall, or for anyone for that matter. You can see I lost a lot of the border but that's OK.. I knew that was a big possiblity.
* This pattern is very easy, but this fabric will cause you to fiddle a lot and take more time.

* I did the view that has the pleats opened and "fluttering". They are secured by stitching which is covered with the little grosgrain bow. I kind of like this. If I were to do it again I would make the pleats face the center. In my minds eye the above configuration could never look symmetrical due to the nature of the pleats and that bugs me.
* I also would place the ribbon and the stitching it hides higher up, maybe 3/4s of an inch from the edge. I am very narrow in the upper chest and the advised location of the ribbon just pulls funny above my boobs. I will live with it but next time, higher up.
* Do you see how the stripes are distorted? I flat pattern measured and am very narrow on top, front and back so did not think their would be any fit issues. Clearly there are. Raising the ribbon stitching would help that as well as a wider bodice. I suggest that if you need to do this to this easy pattern, just adjust your pleats so there is more fabric in the neckline. Make sure you adjust the facing piece as well. This did go over my head easily.

* That facing piece is interesting. The neckline is bound except for the pleat area. That is covered with a square piece of fabric. Binding and square are stitched and then flipped to the inside. I then topstitched them to keep it all down.
* The entire time I sewed this top I just KNEW that the neckline would be too big and low. It isn't I always take out a half inch between shoulder and apex and didn't this time. No decollete here. 
* I wanted fuller sleeves than the pattern. It looked too narrow to me. I added 6 inches to the width and raised the cap one inch. To echo the pleats in the bodice I pleated the sleeve caps.

I would definitely sew this again, possibly in another cheapy pseudo silky. I think it is a fun look and will go with black work pants as well as jeans. I recommend it with the suggestions made above. So don't feel guilty about giving in to the sirens of pseudo silk. They can be pretty rewarding if attention is paid.....Bunny