Sunday, September 11, 2016

Simplicity 3786 Pintucked Tunic - like sherbert between courses...


There's nothing like a known quantity, to recover from a frustrating sewing project! 

After squandering my lovely white lawn on the Style Arc Daisy Tunic, I was practically hugging my black lawn to my chest, protecting it from sewing hazards created by Coco. My provisional plan had been to sew a Daisy in black lawn as well, rounding out a little gap in my closet. But no, no, no.

And flipping through my patterns, I found this one. Head smack. I made it in white embroidered cotton eyelet 3 years ago, and it's on its last legs. So soft, practically falling apart from wear. I love it. Wish (there goes a penny) I had used my white lawn to make another.


For this version, I chose view D, with a modified sleeve and neckline. 


Bunches of pintucks, 5 on each side of center front, and only 1/8" wide. I seldom use tracing paper, but it saved my sanity on this one. I traced the pintuck fold lines and pressed them before I stitched them. Having a presser foot with a 1/8" mark really helps!

Some of the sewing pics are lightened to show the details
I used a white chalk to place the back casing ... thus ensuring that I had white chalk all over this blouse by the time I was done. But, hey, white shows up really well on black!



As with my first version, I opted out of the mandarin collar. Instead, I applied a long (40" x 1 3/4") bias binding around the neckline, leaving 14" hanging on each side.


And I decided to do a mid-length gathered sleeve. This was really easy - I just lengthened the upper sleeve from the pattern (about 18" from the center of the sleeve cap) and gathered it into a narrow cuff. The cuff is 10" in diameter - it doesn't catch on my arm or bug me.




Parting shot:
I've had a list of small house projects hanging around my kitchen counter for months. Progress this week - a trip to Home Depot. Just because I bought all this stuff doesn't mean I'm actually getting anything done - it's all marinating on my kitchen table.


...................................

And all of this is such a blessing. I'm so grateful.

Remembering September 11, 2001 - Coco

29 comments:

  1. Very nice Coco! I have this pattern and have made several of the options through the years. Option C makes a nice vest with lots of possibilities.

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    1. thanks, Theresa. Such a great pattern, and OOP!

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  2. Just lovely. I have the same pattern too. And made the same blouse in a raspberry dotted swiss. Of course, I made mine too big so it has a few extra pin tucks...Good luck on the home improvements!

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    1. OOO - raspberry! No rush on the home stuff - I keep getting sidetracked :-)

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  3. I have got to get back to this pattern because your version looks so cool and breezy. I like your neckline treatment as well, much lighter.

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    1. thank you, Jane. I just have this thing about collars - they bug me. This treatment is so easy to wear.

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  4. One of my favorite patterns!!!! Looks fabulous on you!

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  5. I love this pattern and yours looks amazing

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  6. This looks so comfy and cool. Nice job with those tucks, not the easiest to sew on black fabric.

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    1. thanks, Bunny. I really dislike sewing black fabric, my eyes wiggle :-)

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  7. This suits you so much better than the White,Coco! A really pretty tunic.

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    1. Thanks, Sarah. I'm on the hunt for a soft white cotton, swiss dot, woven stripe, to do a new white one. Love white tops...

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  8. Oh how pretty! It's a beautiful shape.

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  9. I made that view in a white lawn years ago only I made it exactly as shown. I really liked the top except the sleeve...hated it. Ended up cutting off the balloon part and just didnt like it with a short sleeve. Never got worn again. Often thought about remakeing with a different sleeve.

    I LOVE your version. The sleeve looks perfect and I especially like the bias tie at the neck.

    Just remembered that I made view A also. Wore it to death.

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    1. Thanks so much. Yes, those bishop-y sleeves are hard to wear. The one I made with embroidered eyelet worked because the fabric is so soft, the shape is easier. I also did one with the upper sleeve, as you did, and didn't like it at all!

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  10. Very nice tunic and thanks for the pattern review. I have this pattern and am planning a brown silk double georgette tunic this fall. I just may use this one.

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    1. Oh, what nice fabric! I often wish I could wear silk, used to love silk shells under suits. They traveled so well - I hand-washed them! because dry cleaners in the countries to which I traveled were very iffy :-)

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  11. Coco, reading your blog on my lunch break is so refreshing. You are like sherbet! And I love what you did with that neckline. Wish I'd thought of that when I used this pattern.

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    1. Karen, thank you so much! such a nice compliment. I love that I'm lunching with you :-)

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  12. Have made up views E&F so many times I bored MYSELF!!!This is a great great pattern for bigger women-I'm a 22-as it is very flattering as well as comfortable.Sympathies re the white lawn-I treasure pure cottons too.

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    1. I agree, Aless - great pattern in the larger sizes. It's just so flattering and doesn't hang up on our curves!

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  13. Lovely tunic! Looks so comfortable!

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  14. how lovely, coco! no need to do housework. savor this.

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I love it that you came by...and thank you for your comments! Coco