Well… this “Quick Make” ended up being a little longer than “quick.” For all my “quick make” projects, I’m targeting an hour or less from start to finish. This project ended up taking two hours. And here’s why…
In keeping with my plan to make myself new fall layering pieces, I decided to make this easy Kimono top from Simplicity patterns. Using this super soft flannel, this is my girly take on a flannel shirt. Skinny jeans, tall boots, fun tank or tee under and its the perfect fall ensemble!
The pattern is straight forward and easy to follow. I had used it in the past to hack a kimono-style robe for bridesmaids for my cousin’s wedding. I don’t understand why there is a back seam in this, so I laid the BACK pattern piece out on the fold, eliminating the back seam allowance by overhanging it along the fold. There are 13 pattern pieces, but they are all simple to piece together, and all but two of the seams are straight lines. This would be a good project for a beginner.
Here are the things that made it take longer than an hour for me tonight.
- I took time to lay out the pattern pieces so that the plaids would match at the side seams.
- When it appeared I’d be unable to match the plaids on the sleeves and front placket, I changed the cutting layout so that the sleeves and placket would be cut on the bias – I love the look this created on the finished garment!
- I finished all my seams, and made sure they all lined up at the shoulders and armpits. Why do commercial patterns never address seam finishes? They make a generalized comment in the notes before the instructions start about various types of seam finishes, but they never actual tell you when to do it during the construction. (And also, is it just me, or does everyone else also skip all the “notes” at the beginning of the pattern instructions and go straight to the step by step instructions?) Most of the time I don’t even bother reading the instructions, but tonight I was tired, so I paid attention to them.
- I am tired. This is concert week, so my day was full with work for the choir I manage, and tonight was curriculum night at the kiddos’ school. I got a later start than usual on my Quick Make Monday project, but I still got it done – it relaxed me, as sewing always does. It makes me use my brain differently, and when I’m done, I have something physical that I created to show for my effort. I love how it came out, so even though I was tired, I got it done and now have a fun new piece for my fall wardrobe.
I found the fabric at JoAnn’s. It is a synthetic blend of some kind that I should have paid more attention to when I bought it. It did not iron the way I expected – I nearly melted it! Oops! A Pro Tip – that I didn’t follow this time -is to take a picture of the bolt information for all the fabric you buy. This way you’ll always know the fiber content, washing instructions, and manufacturer in case you need to order more.
Well, I wish I had more brain power to write something witty and insightful, but I’m tapped out for the night.
Happy Monday everyone!
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