Ocean Wave Renfrew

Wow, the first day of September and I made a new top!  Things have been pretty quiet here on the sewing front this year.  With one thing and another life just got in the way (as it so often does) and I haven't made anything since the coat I made in May and haven't blogged about as yet.  I'm really supposed to be stitching my major piece of embroidery for the Intermediate Surface Stitchery course I'm doing and I'm so over it, but we wont go there.)  Anyways I just needed to do something else.  I wanted something quick so I pulled out my faithful Renfrew pattern.  I chose a knit fabric from my ever growing stash 'coz, like, I don't need to buy any more fabric.  (Sorry about the squinty photos, it was early and very sunny but the only chance I had to get pics.)

Enjoying the sun for a moment

I can't tell you how great this pattern is.  I've made it many times before and it works every time, however fabric choice can make a huge difference.  It's not that I don't like the fabric I chose nor the design on it but how often do you get a fabric that is not printed on grain.  That was the case with this one.  I tried to match the pattern but it was near impossible.

I got one side to match pretty well.  The sleeves, well, I don't think I could get the match (at the sleeve seams not the bands) any better with this design.  The stripes appear to be running straight across my body but oi, what about the other side. It was way out.

I don't usually take photos of the back of my garments.  Clearly I should, as I can see that I should have made a sway back adjustment that I've never noticed before.  I'm not sure if it's because the fabric is very thin and drapey or not but the fit is not as good as in my previous makes.  Also the shoulder seams want to slide off my shoulders even though I stabilised them with firm elastic.
 

With this fabric I thought it would look better if I didn't use the bands on the sleeves and at the bottom but in my haste and the frustration of trying to match the pattern I forgot to lengthen the body to allow for it and then it was too short. Grrr!!  So now I had no choice but to put the band on it which also meant the sleeves were going to need them as well. For balance, you know how it is. 

I cut the bands from what I had left knowing that the stripes wouldn't be straight but what I didn't think about was lining up the rise and fall of the zigzag and I got it totally wrong!  Completely opposite! Grrr again! 

In the end I'm not completely happy with this make so was it worth the effort?  Should I cut the bands off and try to get it right or just live with it the way it is?  What do you think?

'Singin' in the Rain'

I started writing this post back in June, aaaannd... I have finally gotten (Is that a word?) around to showing you.

I made another Renfrew!  Did I mention how much I love this pattern.  Oh. Yes. That's right.  I did.  Well I made another one.  The first one was so easy to sew I made a second one immediately after.  I wanted long sleeves this time around and was thinking of using a cotton t-shirt knit in a solid colour but when I saw this jumper knit in my stash it called out "Pick me! Pick me!"  I've had this fabric for a couple of years now waiting to find the right pattern and this was it.

This is my first attempt at sewing with a jumper knit which in itself wasn't too bad.  Being a lacy knit the fabric was very loose and stretchy and I feared it would stretch out of shape.  It did a little around the band on the body, however it didn't really seem to anywhere else.  I'm still worried that it will lose it's shape when I wash it though.  Mmm... we'll have to wait and see, I guess!

I know as sewists that we are always learning new things and the first thing I learnt with this project is that I really need to buy some T pins, U pins or at least something that will stay put in lace type fabrics.  I've only got regular dressmaking pins and it was a nightmare getting them to stay put while I was assembling this top.  Marking notches was an absolute waste of time too, I couldn't see where they were so I just went with it and matched the seams as best I could given the amount of stretch I was working with.  So the second thing I learnt - I need to use different methods of marking.  How do you pin and mark your lace fabrics?  Any helpful hints for sewing lacy fabrics would be gratefully accepted and appreciated.

The end result.  I still love the Renfrew pattern, it's easy to sew and the fit is fabulous even in this stretchy knit fabric.  I do like the colour and the appearance of the fabric but not the fabric itself so much.  Another plus, I can count this towards my Stashbusting goal which is going along slowly and it also fills my Sewlutions in the Jar commitment, neither of which is being fulfilled completely but at least it's keeping me sewing.  Yay!!

The sun was out the morning these photos were taken but by the time I got around to taking them it had started to rain.  Then the inevitable happened, I started dancing around like Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds in the 1952 musical 'Singin' in the Rain' so I leave you with a few snaps of me being silly :-)

Animal Print Renfrew

Last weekend we had a most glorious mid winters day which was perfect for giving my new top it's first outing.

I couldn't wait to sew up the Renfrew after it arrived in my mailbox.  I was looking through my stash wondering which fabric I should use thinking about all the great versions I had seen but the one that I just couldn't get past was Tasia's cowl neck made in animal print.  I do love a cowl neck and add animal print to the mix; I mean what more could you ask for.  It's so awesome and I really love it, so when I saw the same fabric just waiting there calling out "pick me" how could I refuse.  My first version of the Renfrew was destined to be the cowl neck style in animal print just like Tasia's.  Yeah I know, kinda copycat!  Hope you don't mind Tasia. You know that copying is the best form of flattery. don't you :)  

Usually I would put pattern preparation on the back burner.  It's probably the one part of sewing I like the least but when my measurements fitted exactly to 'one' size on the envelope and the finished measurement had just the right amount of ease I was very impressed.  To discover that I wasn't going to have any forseeable fit issues was a dream come true and I couldn't wait to get started.  It was an such an easy make and the instructions were so easy to follow that I think I'm in love.  It's super comfortable to wear and I absolutely love it.  I can see so many more Renfrew's joining my wardrobe that I might verge on obsession but right now I can't wait to get started on my next one.  OK!  I get it!  I'm raving!  BTW did I tell you how much I love this pattern?   :)

Have you made the Renfrew?  Do you love it as much as I do?






My pattern review 

Pattern Description:
Fitted knit top with banded hems with sleeve and neckline variations.


Pattern Sizing:
0 - 16; I made size 12


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, it did!

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Very easy.  It was a dream to sew.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I particularly like the fit of this pattern.  Unlike the Big Four commercial companies there was just the right amount of ease.  I also like that no alterations were needed for my body shape; that I could just make a straight size without blending them.


Fabric Used:
Cotton knit/jersey


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made.
I didn't need to make any alterations except to shorten the waist length, it was like a made to measure pattern.


Would you sew it again?  Would you recommend it to others?
Absolutely!  I already have and will again several times over.  And yes I would definitely recommend it.

Conclusion:
I can't recommend this pattern enough.  It was so easy to sew and it fits perfectly with just the right amount of ease and it's super comfortable to wear.  I am so excited about this pattern that I fear it will be added to my wardrobe so often that I will have nothing else but Renfrew tops to wear.

I thought I'd just leave you with a couple of scenes from our day out whale watching.  Enjoy!

Blue wren in flight in front of our car

Mother whale with baby frolicking in the sun

The postie's been

Look what arrived in my mailbox over the past week!  I'm pretty excited about it too.  Some new patterns I can't wait to try.

I have long admired the Sewaholic patterns and every time I see one of them made up I just love it.  Tasia designs styles that I think are great basics and suit my fashion personality.  There have been so many great versions of all the Sewaholic patterns popping up around the blogoshpere that I finally decided I really did need to get me a couple of them to try (like I need any more patterns - not!!)  They appear to be well worth making too 'cos most of you make more than one version as Winnie has with the Renfrew top.

Trousers are something that I've never attempted before and the Thurlow trousers really attracted me as they are designed to sit below the waist.  I hate pants that sit on the waist; they feel really uncomfortable on me.  It could be that I'm short-waisted and they feel like they are choking me :)  Again there are many examples to showcase them such as Lauren's.  She has made both the trousers and shorts a few times as well.

Then we've got the Tofino pants, the latest pattern in Tasia's range.  Now who doesn't want a great pair of pajamas.  I know I'm always on the look out for that perfect pair and Karen is currently hosting a Tofino Pajama Party to help us along but I think I'll wait until summer to make this pattern though as I've recently made a couple of new pj's for winter.

Another pattern I've seen a bit of lately is the Tiramisu dress from Cake patterns.  You can see some terrific variations here, here and here and a wonderful maxi version here.  I love the wrap style  of this dress, it's such a flattering style, don't you think?

I'm sure you've noticed, I know I certainly have, that our sewing community seems to be growing with quite a few independant pattern designers/labels popping up and they do a wonderful job helping us pursue our hobby so I decided to join Kat and many others and show my support for these designers and try out some of their patterns.

I don't know why it's taken me so long to add these patterns to my collection.  I've got my eye on a couple of others as well like the Robson coat and the bombshell swimsuit but first I want to sew the ones that just arrived.  I think I'll start with the Renfrew top.  I've got plenty of fabric to choose from to satisfy my stashbusting pledge too; I just need to decide which style to make.

What do you think of the Indie patterns, are they as good as they seem?