Pattern: Butterick 5101 Short-Sleeved Top
Pattern Description: Wrap front top with all-in-one sleeve, pleated collar extending into front neckline, side tie, and short-sleeves. It comes in sizes 4-20.
Fabric: Cream-colored moderate stretch cotton knit from Fashion Fabrics Club.
Notions: Thread
Overall: Originally, I was going to make another M5533, but the fabric didn't have enough stretch for it, so I switched gears. Perhaps this top would look better in a print, but it will go nicely with my wool and tweed pants from my SWAP, as well as jeans. 
I like the wrap style of this easy-to-sew top. The sizing is pretty good; I made a size 12/14. I probably could have gotten away with a size 10, but the 12 works fine. Also like the pleated collar; it seems somewhat unique to me and is an nice feature. I would have liked to do a 3/4 sleeve on this one since it's a winter work top, but I didn't have enough fabric, so I had to make do. 
However, I had a few gripes with the instructions for this pattern. First of all, if you look at the model sketches and the line drawings, the tie is on the left side of the shirt. However, the pattern instructions have you create the belt loop on the right side of the shirt. I'm one of those people who usually follows the instructions to the tee, so this discrepancy really threw me off. Second of all, I think the ties are a tad bit long, and I did not like the finishing of the facings. If you follow the instructions, you will have raw facings on the inside. To remedy this, I used my serger to overlock the facings, and I used a french seam for all of the seams.
I suppose this top would have looked nicer in a print, but for the purposes of the SWAP, I kept it a solid color that hopefully will go with all the bottoms, especially the patterned skirt I have yet to cut out.
Yeah, I have some plans to whip myself up a "Freakum Dress." As Beyonce says, the time has come... I think the Vogue 1020 dress will do nicely in burgany or dark red. What do you all think?
EDIT: I went to Jo-Ann's to see if I could find some stretchy red knit, but I came up empty, so I ordered two swatches from Fashion Fabrics Club. I was hoping to find something quick to whip up for New Year's, but looks like this is a project that will have to wait until next year. In the mean time, I am finishing the Butterick 5101 top.
Let's see how Ms. B. works out her Freakum Dress.
Hi, everyone! In case you didn't know, I have another blog called Message in the Music. Primarily, I review gospel and R&B music. I just posted a review of Angie Stone's The Art of Love and War. Please come by, check it out, and leave your comments.
Be blessed!
I'm almost done with the Butterick 5101 top. All that's left is the hemming of the facing and the sleeves. Originally, I was going to make another M5533, but the fabric didn't have enough stretch for it, so I switched gears. Perhaps this top would look better in a print, but it will go nicely with my brown pants. I don't have a dress form, so this the best pic I have. I had a few gripes with the instructions for this pattern that I'll go into when I've completed the top. 
Be blessed!
Here is another update of my SWAP progress.
Simplicity 3686 Redux
Tropical weight worsted wool lined with a matte polyester lining fabric
This is my second time ever making pants with a fly front, and I thought the
instructions on how to construct the fly front were good. Based on my hip measurements, I made a 12. The fit was perfect for my waist. Going back and thinking of the construction of the fly front, I’d say that the trickiest part was getting the right zipper length. In my first attempt with my first pants, I broke the zipper after testing its security. Obviously, it was not very secure. So this time, I tied off the zipper with a thick enough stitch. I adjusted the placement of the stitches until I reached my desired length. I wanted to be sure that I didn’t stitch over the zipper teeth. The instructions tell you to place the zipper ¼” away from the large dot at the fly, so you have to tie the zipper off a little higher, but not too low that it can come undone.
If you look to the right on the sidebar, you will see a listing of what I’ve completed and what is still in the works. Up next is my McCall’s 5523 skirt in View D with the double flounce in the same tropical weight worsted wool (lined) as my pants. I will also be working on the Butterick 5101 top next in a cream colored semi-stretch knit. I was originally going to use this fabric to make another McCall’s top like the one I just reviewed, but the fabric did not have enough stretch to pull it off. So I switched gears and decided to go with the short-sleeved version of B5101, because it’s all I had enough fabric for.
I tried on all of my garments so far to see if the versatility was working. I didn’t realize the top was going to have such a tomato-ish color to it (I bought the fabric online). I was imagining it would be a little more on the maroon side, but I’m pleased with the results and think it goes well with the rest of my garments. Another thing I realized is that accessories, like jewelry, really help tie an outfit together.
Pattern:McCall's 5533 Women's Day Collection Top
Pattern Description: Close-fitting top where front is gathered into the side seam. It comes in sizes 6-20.
Fabric: Rust-colored four-way stretch knit from Fashion Fabrics Club.
Notions: Thread
Overall: The instructions were very easy to follow, even though I messed them up at first by trying to attached the gathered edges to right underneath the arm pit. Once I basted the back and front pieces together I knew something wasn’t right. The right front piece crossed over the bust, not under. Not a good look! That’s why marking your fabric is so important. I forgot to mark the dots where the gathered edge was actually supposed to be, but this was easy to correct. 
Another thing to think about is when using your serger, which I did on this top, make sure that the threads are secured between the tension discs. The tension was set, but the thread was not in there securely, so my seams pulled loose almost immediately. I took the top in about 2-1/2 inches to eliminate the gaping and create a snugger fit. Also the instructions tell you to sew “invisibly” at the bottom for the hem. I had no idea what that meant, and just sewed a hem the way I usually do by serging the edge, turning the bottom up an inch, and machine stitching the hem into place.
This pattern is very easy to put together. There are only three pattern pieces to cut out. No buttons, zippers, darts, or tucks. I wanted an easy shirt pattern for my SWAP. However, I didn’t like the fact that the ease in the shirt is enormous. If you want a snug fit, then you may have to go down at least two sizes. I went by my bust size and sewed a 12, but I should have done a 10 at the most, or even an 8 for a snug fit.
This is the Tower of the Americas from the view of the river boat tour.
Here, I was on the street level, a flight of steps up from the River Walk. This sculpture is called the Torch of Friendship, which symbolized the NAFTA bond among Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The artist, Sebastian, gives an interesting interview of his work on the Torch of Friendship here. 
This is a perspective of the River Walk from street level.
I took a tour from other conference attendees of El Mercado (Market Square), the largest Mexican market in the U.S., and the Alamo.
A beautifully festive scene in front of the Alamo.
Here I am, in front of the historic Alamo! If you look in the upper right hand corner, you will see a neon green sign that reads "Crockett Hotel," named after the famous David "Davy" Crockett, a frontiersman, politician, and defender of the Alamo. (See Battle of the Alamo.)
I just got back from a business conference in San Antonio, Texas, last night. I wasn't too keen on traveling alone, but I had a fairly good time, and I took lots of pictures of San Antonio's famous attractions, including the River Walk and the Alamo!
My first night in the Omni La Mansion del Rio, I was really craving some tea, so I ordered room service. I just love the presentation.
La Mansion is one of the hotels right on the River Walk, which made dining and shopping very covenient. A kind man took my picture for me. In the background is the San Antonio River and a manmade waterfall.
I took a river boat tour and we sailed around the River Center Mall lagoon, which had a beautifully decorated Christmas tree as its centerpiece.
Moving toward dusk you can see the light-decorated trees beside the restaurants that border the river walk. The lights give the area a whimsical appeal.
I'll post more pictures soon!
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