The only reason I didn't buy KwikSew 4138 in the big sale was because I already had it...in the form of McCall's It's Sew Simple 9603
I chose view A and immediately set about making it a lot more complicated than it needed to be
The dresser where I keep small yardages has been getting very crowded, so I've been doing some projects to use those fabrics. Started with some jelly roll race-style patchwork blanket tops (beep and boop) and then thought about making another Halloween patchwork project, like the jacket I made last year.
I chose Halloween prints in a vague coordination and then added non-Halloween prints with the same general attitude. I estimated I'd need 81 6" (finished size) squares to make the gathered circle skirt. This estimation was a little low, due to the back seam, but I was able to make things work.
I cut the bib, waistband, straps, facings, and pockets from the two largest pieces of fabric in the mix. The bib pocket...yeah, those fabrics aren't anywhere else in this project, but I don't think that's too obvious.
And because it's me, there's top stitching everywhere.
Two lines around the edges of the major pieces, and edge stitching along every seam in the patchwork. Those seams were also serged, for additional strength and to combat loose threads all over the inside of the skirt and because if I'm doing that much sewing already then why not a little more?
I also used bias tape for the hem, because even though it meant sewing everything twice, it's still easier than pressing up the hem on a circle skirt. I used the bias tape I'd made for the tiny stripe jumper, and there's still a decent amount left.
Oh, did I say using bias tape meant I'd have to sew everything twice? Hi, it's me, so I ended up sewing it three times.
For all of the other top stitching, I used Saba C tex 40 for the top thread with some 'normal' Gutermann in the bobbin. I used the Gutermann top and bottom for all of the construction seams, and also for the hem stitching. I figure no-one's going to look close enough in real life to notice the difference in thread weight there. The color match is pretty good, especially considering how I wasn't trying to match anything when I ordered them.
Pocket! They're part of the pattern, too, so I didn't have to borrow any pieces from another pattern.
I was able to arrange the patches of the same fabric on either side of the center back seam. Pattern matching was too much to ask at that point, but it didn't end up with my dreaded "same print element on either side of the seam" situation, so no problem.
I found a zipper in the stash in what I will say is the perfect shade of pumpkin spice to match the prints.
I usually wait until it's time to sew the buttonholes before I pick out buttons. My button stash is very deep--and my whole Creativity Thing™ is using what I have--so I never worry that I won't find appropriate buttons. And I did indeed find some very good buttons for this, in the size called for and in a color that coordinates well and in exactly the number I needed.
I did go back and add another set of button holes to the straps--I'm...uh...I'm pretty sure I cut the straps in the largest size instead of the size medium I probably should have used. I'd already cut the bib in the smallest size, after looking at reviews and not liking how high up the bib seemed to come in a lot of other people's versions, and then I cut the waistband in size large, so, by the time I got to the straps, I...wasn't really paying a lot of attention to what I should have been paying attention to... Oh, and, the straps: I also cut the ends so they'd be points instead of straight. I didn't do so well with that, but I'm not stressing.
The base pattern for this is so straightforward that I kept wondering why it was taking so long to get this project finished??? Oh...oh, yeah. Patchwork + endless top stitching. That'll do it.
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