Happily, I have managed to get everything finished on time and was only waiting for some nice weather to take photos outside. This is not a photo of MY weather but the weather in Calgary, Alberta. I’m so happy we don’t have this kind of snow! We actually have had some pretty good weather here for photographs!
I wanted to copy this Designer Original, this kimono jacket from zasue.com and this dress, but I was hoping I could make it a skirt and top instead of a dress. I have been searching for the name of the dress designer but I must be cursed, whenever I look for it on Pinterest (where I found it) it only circles me back to my blog!
I chose these McCall’s patterns, M7200 and M7574. I love the sleeves on the top/dress pattern. I plan on using both of these patterns again!
How did my Designer me-made Copies turn out?
My solid blue fabric was a Ponti de Roma 62% polyester and 33% rayon, which now that I see it only adds up to 95% so the bolt label was incorrect. LOL! It’s a beautiful blue which felt fabulous though!
When it came to the kimono jacket, for the first time ever, I actually wrote the names of the pattern pieces on a bit of painter’s tape and attached it to each fabric piece right away. They were such odd shapes I was afraid of making a mistake! I also sewed seam binding on all the edges because the fabric frayed so badly. A sort of cheating way to do Hong Kong seams? But it did the trick! The blue print fabric was some unknown fibre from the upholstery department but it was soft and lightweight.
It was easy to draw in and sew the collar portion of this kimono jacket. And the hemming and sewing on the facing went well. I used a blue thread for the hem and a white-ish one for my facing.
When cutting out my blue fabric for my top, I added an extra inch in the centre back for a small pleat – thinking back, I probably should have made it bigger as it is not actually noticeable as a pleat on the finished top. The knit fabric doesn’t help much neither, it would have probably been more noticeable as a pleat if made in a woven fabric like the Designer Original.
I am in love with the method they used to sew in the sleeves. It gave me the opportunity to do some fun topstitching too.
Back pleat almost finished!
Topstitching the raglan seams down with the help of Wonder Tape.
I used one of my favourite toys to turn my tube for my bow tie.
My Designer me-made Copy of my zasue kimono jacket is done and I love it! (How do you like the tiny amount of snow we had for our “White” Christmas? LOL Calgary!)
By the time I finished all the pieces of my Designer me-made Copy the little snow we had was washed away by rain and all that was left was the chance of a drizzle!
I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season, Designin’ December, and a Happy New Year to you all!
Happy Sewing in 2018!
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