Sharon Sews

The moment I saw the illustration for this oversized pullover I knew I wanted to sew myself one...or two...or a dozen. I know it doesn't look like anything special. And it might not be, but I LIVE in big, comfy pullovers paired with yoga pants all winter long. Well, at least at home I do. I still have to dress professionally in the office :-)  This top is perfect for my at-home winter attire. I picked up this lightweight terry knit (with a hint of sparkle!) at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago with the intent of trying out this pattern.  It's soft, so the shape of the collar and sleeves are not apparent.  And the metallic thread makes it a wee bit scratchy at the collar, but I don't care. I have to tell you - this top is soooooo big!  I know, I know.  The signs were all there. The pattern description says “very loose-fitting” and I could have paid attention to the measurements printed on the pattern pieces. But I didn't.  Instead I cut my usual size,...

"Oh, please, please, please pick me" begged the silk print blouse. "Aw, shoot, passed over again. I don't get it, I'm much more attractive than that boring old black top she's going to wear." I'm pretty sure if this blouse could speak that's what I would hear when I stand in my closet debating over what to wear with my jeans. Don't get me wrong. I think it's a beautiful blouse! The colors are vibrant, the silk fabric feels divine, and there are many understated details. Such as the narrow neck bias binding that extends into front ties. The soft pleats in the back sewn into the self-lined yoke. The front pleats that provide fullness for the bust. And my favorite detail (one that you likely wouldn't notice) is the center front placket with hidden buttons. It might be easier to see in this picture, which shows my well used button cutter and board. This functional front closure is not needed. After all, the blouse ha...

The thought of combining three trends - floral print, ruffles, and a cold-shoulder - sounds like a hot mess doesn't it?  But it works! I'm wearing New Look 6490 , a pullover, lined top pattern that has options for cold-shoulder, no shoulder, long or short sleeves as well as a ruffle or no ruffle. I choose a floral print purchased June 2016 from Craftsy , when they were still selling fashion fabrics. The 2-yard pre-cut floral ombre fabric cost me less than $10 and provided just enough fabric for this top.  Since the darker color was on both selvage edges, I cut the front and back cross grain so I could take advantage of it at the hemline. I sewed view D, the version with the ruffle that extends from the front to the back neckline forming a "sleeve".  Here's the front. Here's the back. The neckband and tie front are both interfaced. The instructions call for all four pieces of the front band and tie to be interfaced.   I used a very lightweight i...

Love. This. Top.  Even with all its wrinkles after a day at the office. I was browsing Chico's website a few weeks past and saw this " Chrissy Cape Pullover " in the clearance section. I loved the look, but didn't purchase it, even at the clearance price of $24.99, as I rarely purchase clothes without trying them on first (I have the hardest time finding anything in RTW to fit me!) That's when I remembered I had purchased a Vogue pattern with the faux cape sleeves some time ago. Sure enough, in my pattern stash was Vogue 8907 from 2013.  It's now out of print.   I'm not sure why I waited so long to sew it, but I'm glad I did as I would have cut a small in 2013, and only four years later I need every inch of that medium. Even with the FBA. Sigh... I dug through my fabric and discovered a black stretch silk. The fabric was narrow, but I had just enough to to cut view A.  I cut a straight medium, did a full bust adjustment and m...

"Is your neckline ripped?"  Said my photographer/hubby when I asked him to take a closeup picture of the neckband design detail on this top.  "No," I replied, "it's intentionally sewn this way." This colorful top is Burda 6762.   It's a pullover hi-lo hem top with three sleeve options and a wide round neckline with different facing options. I sewed view C (the orange one on the pattern envelope) with the neckline from view B (the white and black one on the pattern envelope).  This colorful piece of fabric was a roll end from Emma One Sock that I had to have. Maybe you can relate. You're "just browsing" a fabric website for no reason except to see what's available.  Suddenly a piece of fabric jumps out at you. You're not sure what you will do with it, but it must be yours. That's how I ended up with this piece.  My hubby isn't too fond of all the colors, but that's what appealed to me. When the fabr...

Vogue 9109 is a basic, pullover top pattern designed for woven fabrics. The pattern is one of Vogue's "Custom Fit" designs that offers separate pattern pieces for A,B,C, and D cups.   Because I've done so many FBA pattern alterations over the years, I don't typically purchase the "Custom Fit" patterns with the intent of using the specific cup pattern piece.  However, my curiosity got the best of me and this time I decided to stitch the top using the "D" cup piece.  That is one big dart!  Since I wanted to test the fit - and the D cup dart - I went ahead and stitched this up using a polyester print that I'd picked up for just this purpose. I made no alterations to the pattern, with the exception of widening the shoulder in case the top ended up wearable. It was almost impossible to eliminate a dimple at the end of the dart. I manipulated the dart over a pressing ham and lightly steamed it with my iron until it was wearable. However,...