My Handmade Wardrobe Inventory

Looking at my closet I wondered just how many of the clothes in my closet were made by me. A quick inventory is below, to see these items and read their reviews and construction details, go look at My Handmade Wardrobe.

Knit Tops:

• Mustard Burdastyle "Let's Twist Again..." top
• Pink polka dot Butterick 5429 twist top
• Autumnal floral Butterick 5429 twist top
• Black New Look 6838 short-sleeve boatneck
• Red, black & white New Look 6838 long-sleeve boatneck
• Magenta New Look 6807 gathered-sleeve top

Woven Tops:

• Grainline Scouts
  Brown print
  Red twill w/ full back
  Cornflower blue floral w/ gathered 3/4 sleeve
• Gray Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank
• Yellow gingham Colette Sorbetto
• Multicolor dots Sorbetto
• Swiss Dot Vogue 9772 bias top
• Cream Vogue 2068 gauze top
• Blue Simplicity BBW 3835 top
• Cream Simplicity 3835/Vogue 8392 gathered long-sleeve top
• Autumnal floral  Simplicity 3835/Vogue 8392 gathered long-sleeve top
• Cream Butterick 4632 gathered yoke shell
• Red Butterick 2564 cut-on sleeve shell

Interesting note: I like my clothing easy to sew and easy to wear. None have zippers, only two have buttons but only on the backs and all can be pulled on over my head, if needed. So, I probably should make at least two shirts with buttons or snaps for a more formal look. Maybe. If it ain't broke...

Skirts:

• Built By Wendy Sew U skirts
  Black corduroy
  Brown corduroy
  Gray wool
• Blue denim Simplicity 8126 wrap skirt
• Red twill Simplicity 5914* skirt
• Heather gray Pattern Runway gathered skirt
• Black floral Simplicity 9765 long skirt
• Iridescent purple Vogue 7058 ball skirt
• Purple Simplicity 2152 linen A-line skirt
• Teal abstract floral Paprika Patterns Jade skirt

Dresses:

• Pink polka dot SewStylish One-Hour Dress
• Heather tan Simplicity 2406 belted cotton dress
• Purple Butterick 4948 corduroy dress
• Orange plaid McCall's 6712 "maternity" dress w/ shoulder ties
• Green New Look 6939 shift
• Floral New Look 6939 shift dress
• Beige Burdastyle "Anda" shift
• Red floral New Look 6860 sun dress
• Autumn floral Simplicity 5190 faux-wrap dress
• Floral McCall's 5042 full-skirted dress
• Red Colette Oolong #1008 dress
• Black Vogue 9968 knit cowl dress

Note: Only one zipper in the bunch(!!), all others can be pulled over the head.

Special Occasion**:

• Blue Simplicity 8343 brocade full-length gown.
• Bronze Style 2448 velour 1920-ish gown.
• Blue/yellow shot cotton McCall's 9403 strapless dress.

Pants:

• Brown gabardine Vogue 9745 flat-front trousers
• Heather tan Vogue 2883 shorts
• Purple and green Vogue 2532 plaid shorts

Only one pair of pants but have fabric and supplies for four others. Must get on that for fall.

Jacket/Coat:

• Purple knit Simplicity 2560 cardigan
• Brown Vogue 1476 (Issey Miyake) coat

Misc:

• Peacock blue half slip
• Green/B&W stripe Indigorchid #705 panty
• Kwik Sew 2529 sleepwear
  Blue-gray fleece short-sleeve tank and boxer briefs
  Light/dark blue fleece color-block tank and boxer briefs
  Multi-color fleece night shirt

*Recently reissued as Simplicity 1560 with same photo & illustrations.
**First two no longer fit and the third is impractical for my life now.

Fleece Sleep Set - Kwik Sew 2529

Pattern: Kwik Sew 2529 (OOP) c.

Pattern Description: Close fitting tank top and paneled elastic waisted boxer brief shorts. Designed by Kwik Sew founder Kerstin Martensson.

Pattern Sizing: Sizes: (XS-S-M-L-XL) I graded up to a small and a medium from my original cut pattern. 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, exactly.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, very simple.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? A great thing about this pattern is that it only takes 1 3/8 yard for the tank and shorts set even when made in the largest size. I liked the instructions for sewing the seams with a zigzag stitch as it allowed for some stretch in the fleece and also looked decorative.

The instructions were excellent and produced a quality looking garment from the elastic waist treatment to the decorative neck and armscye finishing. It was also something interesting to make with polar fleece.

Fabric Used: Hancock Fabrics Glacier fleece in Teal and Light Blue on sale for $1.97 per yard at Hancock Fabrics and 1" wide Dritz no-roll elastic.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: The pattern states that it is for stretch knits only (25% stretch); however, I found that fleece with some give to it works fine.

I cut into this pattern the first time I used it so I was left with a size too small in both pieces. Conveniently, this Kwik Sew pattern used different colors to mark their sizes which I could refer to and using the few visible lines of the next larger size I figured out how much I needed to grade each piece on my black and white copies. The only thing I had to change design-wise was the front waistline was far too high! They needed to look more like vintage control briefs, even as unattractive a model as that sounds. I think I achieved that goal.

As you can see, I did not have enough of one color to make matching shorts so these are two-tone with the darker blue color running down the middle. I thought I followed the layout but the stretch turned out going the wrong way. Therefore, it is not as comfortable as I thought it would be being one size larger.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes. This is my second time making these two items and I have made three sleep shirts from this pattern before. The pattern is extremely* hard to find, but it is worth it if you can find a copy.

Conclusion: I love this sleep set. It's very comfortable and cozy while looking quite cute and sassy, no?

The first set:

  

Gusset detail

* I have been looking for another copy of this pattern for a while in order to regain the larger sizes in the pattern since I didn't trace back then. I found one place on eBay listing it for $27. Ha! No chance.

Sleepshirt - Kwik Sew 2529 (OOP)

Pattern Description: Sleepshirt View B has a v-neckline with self-fabric neckband, long sleeves, and side hemline slits. Designed by Kwik Sew founder Kerstin Martensson.

Pattern Sizing: Size S out of a multi-size pattern containing XS-S-M-L-XL.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, it does.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, very.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love the fit across the chest and the v-neckline. This is my second version of this top and I am still wearing the first one even though it is a bit snug now.

Fabric Used: I used the coolest printed flannel (a Snuggle flannel print in Ripple Circles on sale for $2.39 per yard) I have ever seen, even though the pattern specifies 25% stretch. I ended up prewashing the fabric in my bathroom sink. It was scary how much ink washed out, yet the fabric is still as vibrant as can be. It took three thorough rinses to get it semi clear. As a result, I will probably wash it by hand from now on.



Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I made no design changes and only one alteration. Because of my fabric choice I needed a way around the 25% stretch requirement. I cut the neckband on the bias and about an inch longer than the pattern piece provided in order to have it fit the neckline.



Would you sew it again? I will probably not make this top again as is, but I definitely plan on making the other pieces (the tank and boy-leg briefs) in coordinating colors for the spring. For those I will use either a thick interlock or fleece as suggested.

Would you recommend it to others? Yes, definitely, if they can get their hands on a copy of this out-of-print pattern. It is definitely worth it.

Conclusion: A warm and cozy sleepshirt with a lot of pizazz!