Lisette Top

Pattern: Lisette Butterick 6183

Fabric: some sort of cotton/poly blend (that may or may not be home dec?),

 plus cotton voile to underline

Notions: metal zipper

When I first saw that the Lisette line had switched to Butterick, I'll admit, I groaned a little inwardly.  I hadn't had much luck previously with Butterick patterns, and I was sad to see Lisette go the dark side that way.  However, I really like Liesl's esthetic, and I've never known her to make a stinker pattern. So when they went on sale, I went and snapped them all up.  This is the first one I've made, but I'm almost finished with the pants, and I'm going to be honest.  This is some good stuff.

The top has a boxy fit, but if you can picture a fitted boxy top, this is that.  The princess seams across the bust allow for shaping, but it's still a pull over your head top.  Also, the pattern includes separate pieces for different cup sizes, but hey, that doesn't really affect me.

For fitting adjustments, I did two things:

1.  I enlarged the sleeve by an inch overall.

2.  I barely turned a hem, and used bias tape instead.

Um, this is a cropped fitted boxy top.

A.  Clearly, I should stand straight.

B. This fabric collects every stray string, hair, fuzz ball, and small child with sticky fingers.

C.  I had just worn this shirt rollerskating before pictures.  Those are roller skating wrinkles.

The pattern calls for a metal zipper, and to be honest, metal zippers aren't that easy to come by here unless you order and wait for them to arrive.  This is a vintage metal zipper that I shortened with pliers (the pattern includes instructions on doing that), and since my zipper had painted teeth, a quick swipe with nail polish remover on a Q-tip took care of that.

I think this will look best with some higher-waisted bottoms, but overall, 

I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.  

The 'Out the Door in 10 Minutes or Less' Dress

There is a lot to be said for quick outfits. 

Especially if you accidently hit the snooze button one too many times.

And drop kids off at two different places on the way in to work.

And have a meeting starting at "Holy crap I don't think I'm going to make it" o'clock.

And heaven forbid you realize the gas light is a hair's breadth away from dinging.

Some mornings are like that, and that's why God invented knit dresses.

Pattern: Simplicity 2054

Fabric: ponte knit from Mood (this one, which is sold out, I guess) 

I've made this pattern once before, but this time I added welt pockets to the front.

Secret, stealth pockets.

Can you see them if you squint?

Yep.  

I'm not even going to say how long it took to figure out

 how to line those welts up to match exactly.  

(This is the person who requires a 10 minute outfit.)

I used Poppykettle's tutorial, and folded the pocket bag back up to the top of the facing,

creating a little floating pocket bag.

Basting in place...

Evidence that I require notes to myself.

I'm totally happy with the pockets, and truthfully, have since been inspired to add single welt pockets to everything. Well, almost everything.  

They're not crazy large pockets; just big enough for a pen or marker, or a tube of lipstick that you forget about until you discover the remaining evidence all over the dryer and a load of clean jeans.

Hallelujah for Spray and Wash.

The back view could probably use a little more adjustment, but it works, and I'm not too stressed about it.  Eh, next time.

Notes: 

Since my last version, I shortened the sleeves to 3/4 length, narrowed the sleeves at the wrists, took in the side seams at the waist, and took in extra on the back piece only.  This ponte isn't quite as stretchy as the green stuff, and to be honest, I like it better.

And, it works perfectly for those last-minute mornings.