What I didn't expect from this period of liberty was for it to sling me into a creative slump.
It took all my energy just to flip the switches of my machines; an action that I took more pleasure out of then I should've in the past.
Thankfully, by the grace of some deity, I pooled enough motivation to sew something last night. It was something easy, heh; high satisfaction, short build up.
It was McCall's 7019, variation pull over knit tops. I had my eye on view C for its apparent bustleyness (lolwut?). I am also going to give myself a pat on the back for using fabric that is older than a year old to my stash. I used a black interlock knit with open work pattern, and a very beautiful heliotrope spiderweb foil nylon filament material-- both from Joann's. I don't care that the latter fabric is cheap costume stuff, it's gorgeous! This combination of colors is my absolute favorite.
I must admit, my sewing is getting less and less exciting... part of that is because I really don't go out. No really.
Generally, I go outside (literally step outside my door) once maybe twice a week-- not including work hours, of course. That is why I make such a good employee-- I have no social life to speak of, so primarily my focus is work. When I don't have work, such as my current state, I become one with my zodiacal sign; the crab.
What does that have to do with the apparent simplicity of this particular project? Actually nothing, but I didn't say I wasn't prone to tangents. This top was truly deliberately plain; my train of thought was to make a better compliment to my corsets and waist belts, to kind of soften them up for casual wear. Something elongated, had a little something to it, but wasn't overly froofy. The hi-low hem was the sell point...
I tried making lettuce hems on this via pull and stretch method, but I didn't quite succeed; the weft and warp of the flounces were both cooperative and uncooperative, leaving me with a half assed look. In order to cut down on the costume factor of my focus material, I sewed the silver foil down, so that the webs were not as in your face in person.
I cut out a size 16, because I wanted a little bagginess to the top itself-- I'm split as to whether or not I like the silhouette it casts, but it is supremely comfy. Especially when I put on the accessories it was intended for.
I made zero attempts to modify the pattern, and I wish I had because I don't think I like the neck band either. Seems a little big, even for a size 16-- next time I think I'll just overlock and understitch, seems like that might give it a much better finish. I am also kicking myself for not going with my initial gut feeling of just cutting out the half sleeve instead of the full sleeve... way too much sleeve for this style of top. I'll have to go back and redo that.
Overall I think I would give this pattern a C. The neckband turns an otherwise nice top into something borderline juvenile. I would remove it or thin it out by about half the thickness. The long sleeves are not flattering in the least on a pear shape or hourglass, best to halve them regardless of the view-- the long sleeves bring way too much attention down where there is already some due to the placement of the gussests and flounces. Having them at the elbow helps to create a visual balance.
A nice evening project, I would say-- to remove yourself from a creative funk. Gets those juices back to a flowing state... so now I have to continue tackling the knitting of that Doctor Who scarf... almost done...
