Sewing Vloggers

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Vogue 8962, not a tunic for me!

What a lively convo about the malapropisms! Thanks to all who contributed. It was fun to get our grammar and spelling rages out!


Knit top number two in the three pack is done! I love this fabric and am pleased with the final results. It fits nicely.

Pattern:
This is Vogue 8962, a tunic pattern. Its life as a tunic did not last long. The back is cut on the bias and has a center back seam. It then wraps around to the front and meets the bodice front piece.
Bias does not work on big bums and I've got a big bum. It  just wanted to cling and look not so good. The pattern also has a hi-lo  hem, not a favorite of mine, and that hem just emphasized the hip action even more. I ended up cutting off the hi-lo hem and it is now all the same length as the original front bodice. It looks much better  and my butt looks normal now.  The bias does look good in the back and I like the way it drapes and swings out.

I cut the size 8 with only my usual petiting length adjustments. I flat pattern measured and felt the bust would fit and it is just right, whew! I get nervous when I don't muslin.  I did not put it on to model as today was one of those no hair/no makeup days and I just preferred to spend time sewing instead.

Fabric:
Another ITY knit. I think this is the one that is rayon with spandex. It is a crepe texture, feels thin but doesn't look thin. The texture made this extremely slithery and I had to be careful it didn't slip under the needle or serger knife.

The pattern is interesting. The stripes match perfectly on the selvedges and then wave all over irregularly. They cannot be matched, only pointed in the preferred direction. I did not have enough fabric to cut the yoke  so added a center back seam.. I like the vertical stripes better and the seam is pretty well hidden.



Construction:
This was put together in a few hours. My first seam, the CB, was serged and I didn't like the bulk that showed when pressed so I went with the suggested two seams of straight stitching and it looked fine. It layed  (or is that lay, educators?) flatter when ironed. Everything fit together beautifully despite the bias edges and neckline. I chose not to add the cowl collar but made a separate cowl to wear like a scarf with it. It shows a bit of skin and looks cute with the top, sort of peekaboo.  The hems were all done with the fusible batting tape and it worked great. 

In the end I think I got a really cute top to wear to work, much needed. But hi low hemlines on the bias ARE NOT for me.

My third top in the trio will be a Marcy Tilton Tee shirt out of the royal blue and black snakeskin. I may finish that tomorrow. We'll see how it works around some much needed bra shopping. I hate bra shopping.....Bunny




28 comments:

  1. Love that fabric! (That would be laid, I think. LOL!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Nurse Bennett, greatly appreciated!

      Delete
  2. I love th fabric. I am still on the fence about the high-low hem. I feel self conscience about bias on my waist, so I completely understand the desire to shorten.
    I didn't comment on your last post, but I have had some Kindle Fire auto correct issues that embarrass me. In my college, I had the highest score in my Intensive Grammar class, in the history of the school(at the time) I really embarrassed when my tablet changes my spelling or words. After working with middle school kids from around the world, I know my grammar has suffered, but I have my personal pet peeves.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oops. "Its life as a tunic" not the contraction "it's (short for 'it is') life as a tunic. :)
    (Although I had a heck if a time correcting spell check to get that typed.) Perhaps you had the same struggle.

    Beautiful top--more to the point!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always have trouble with that one. Thanks, Elle. I wish I knew a website for grammar corrections, not the auto bunk in Word. Is there such a thing?

      Delete
    2. I wish I knew of one too! I find it difficult to argue with Word, especially on the IPad.

      Delete
    3. Grammar Girl (Google that term) comes highly recommended by my daughter, who is an editor.

      Delete
  5. This does look lovely with your changes to the length and shape of the hem. The back drape on the bias is gorgeous, does it hang the same way when worn?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does and I really liked that. When it was long and the bias cupped my bum that same drape looked awful. It needed to be cut.

      Delete
  6. Beautiful tunic! Love the fabric-- such pretty bright colors..

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely top, I really like the fabric. Those high low hems don't work for me either. Maybe they are better on taller people?

    ReplyDelete
  8. This top looks like liquid silk, Bunny...Beautiful!! I love the look of the back & I think your changes were spot on!

    Re grammer...I think it should read "It lay flatter when ironed"

    This page might help: http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/lie-lay.html



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Rett. I am off to search for the grammar police before they arrest me!

      Delete
  9. I WANT THAT TOP! It looks like it will turn heads and produce compliments for sure! I think the yoke feature will certainly stabilize the back from stretching out and pulling towards the back like so many other tunics with high-low hems like the ones I altered lately. Surely wearing this vest will bring Spring along more quickly??? We can only hope!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That bias seam is lovely, and you did a remarkable job with the stripes matching as much as they do! I think I would've just given up trying to match, but your work is unsurpassable, as always. The double straight seams you used to replace the serging - is that just a second seam in the seam allowance, or a top-stitched seam?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just a second seam an eighth of an inch away.

      Delete
  11. Beautiful Bunny, and by the way, you do NOT possess a big bum!!
    Fabulous and faultless as always. I am still waiting to use my new serger; have to complete the Marfy dress before I purchase any ITY knit.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The high lo hem is not friendly to many people I think, but big bum? No you do not have one! This is a crazy print but it makes your simple t stand out.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the top and the fabric is fabulous! Love the way bias cut stripes and yoke look on the back and the way the back wraps around to the front. I hadn't paid much attention to this pattern but I think I should.

    Big bum? I don't think so. I think the key to a high low hem is getting the hem length right in the front and adjusting the back up or down. That's what worked for me. I figured by the time the trend is over I can rehem evenly and still have a top!



    ReplyDelete
  14. I love your version. I've made it twice now and I didn't want to make it again since the mullet hemline was so distinctive. But now I'm going to cut it off and make it again. The extra swing gives me the body space I need. If I want it to swing, I have to add it. I guess I have a big butt too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'll find that once you remove that extra length it will swing nicely.

      Delete
  15. Hi Bunny...I'm so glad I came across this post. I am getting ready to make this top and the pattern's lack of finished measurement notations is a pain. The drawing looks like the top is fairly close fitting but the flat tissue measurements seem to indicate otherwise. My full bust is 35" but I have a narrow upper chest so I'm thinking that a size 12 should be okay. Hmm. Anyway, quick question: I'm doing the view without the cowl, as you did. Were you satisfied with finishing it off with just a turned and stitched hem instead of a thin band? Also, the envelope drawing makes the neckline look extremely wide and deep. Did you encounter any issues with that? I think I'd prefer something with a bit more coverage on the shoulders. (PS - I love your fabric. Am not too crazy about photos I have seen showing the top in a plain black/white stripe. Your print makes it much more interesting.) Cheers...Kate

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kate, my bust is 35 1/2 and I am very narrow shouldered, c cup. I flat pattern measured after I did my petite adjustments. I just cut the size 8. Unless you are very full in the back you may find the size 12 way too big. I go by my upper chest measurements when deciding what size to cut but always flat pattern measure first. Usually I do an FBA after that but did not with this. I felt the bias back cut like a triangle would give me any extra necessary ease. As far as the neckline, I am not one to show my cleavage in my every day clothing and this does not do that. But keep in mind I altered the length of the pattern between the apex and shoulder seem taking out a half inch and thereby lifting the neckline a half inch. I did use fusible tricot at all the hem edges, neckline included, and just turned and stitched. HTHs, Kate!

      Delete
  16. Hi Bunny...Just following up with my results with 8962. Like you, I concluded that the tunic length was not for me. In fact, none of the pattern was for me! I think the fabric I used was too light, but I also think the bias back was really strange. Maybe if I had cut the front with less slope it would have been drapier. Here's a link to the review I just posted: http://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/103309. What a disappointment! Oh well...on to something else. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Good morning! I'm cruising reviews of this tunic, found yours, always reliable. I've had the pattern for ages - never made it. The wrap to the front/tapering at the hip is a little scary. But the drape in the back is good news! Thanks for that pic. BTW - I love love this fabric, had some myself, and would buy it again!

    ReplyDelete

Engaging commentary:

Had to Refurbish This One!

    About  6 or 7 years ago , during the dawn of the Zipper Trend,  I bought one of my rare retail items. It was a blush pink and black bord...