Weekend of Sewing!! FO and Pattern Review Vogue 7607

Wow - what a weekend with TONS of sewing related activities.  I haven't spoken about it much, but I'm currently enrolled in a part-time continuing education European pattern drafting certificate program at our local college.  There are a number of 8 week modules/courses I think 8 in total) and on Friday night I had my fourth pattern drafting class for the skirt component, which is the first course of the certificate program.  We drafted a godet skirt pattern and a gored skirt pattern this week.  I cannot believe how easy this is coming to me!  I'm absolutely loving it.  The best part is that when I'm making the mock-up skirt, it fits beautifully without any adjustments!  And I have no issue with doing the homework, it is so much fun!!

On Saturday, I started my Garment Making - Skirts course, which runs in conjunction with the Pattern Drafting - Skirts course.  We take the patterns we've drafted and learn how to sew them into actual garments.  I get to sew all day on Saturday (9 am - 4 pm) with others who are interested in sewing.  It's like a big sewing retreat/party!  The excitement and enthusiasm of both my teacher and my classmates is contagious!  I'm so impressed, learning new tips and tricks along the way to improve my sewing skills.  Though I've been sewing for over 30 years, I've never had any formal training so this is something of a breath of fresh air!  I have one skirt completed to the point of hemming from my very own pattern!!  I will include pics once I've finished the skirt in next week's class.

Sunday afternoon, I buried myself in L'Atelier (what I've decided to call the room otherwise known as "The Basement" where my sewing area is set up.  Doesn't that sound so much more romantic?)  Anyway, I digress...I finished four skirts and hemmed the drapy cardigan that finally finished growing.  I'll do posts of the full reviews for all of the skirts and the drapy cardigan over the next week or so, but all that sewing knocks off Sewing Goals 1, 4, 5 & 6 from my last post, leaving me with two unfinished goals (and it's only November 4th!!)

I finally finished my cream skirt - Vogue 7607, view A.  As promised, here's the review:





Pattern Description: Misses' Skirt has contour waist, lined yokes, size zipper, narrow hems and shaped hemlines. A,B: A-line, bias, below mid-knee and mock wrapped front. C: Bias, slightly flared. I made View B.

Pattern Sizing: 6-22, I made the size 14.

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

V7607 View A, Front

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

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I like that this is a distinctive skirt, different from the norm.  I'm not certain how practical this skirt will be, the drape doesn't seem to flow the way I envisioned it would.  I've ironed it flat to see if that would help it a bit.

Fabric Used: a cream polyester heavy weight crepe, with a bit of stretch.  This fabric is part of my Winter 2013 collection (more on that in a later post, but I think I need to come up with a better name!), and it coordinates with the top I made that can be seen here.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I added a lining from Bemburg rayon.  I prefer lining in my skirts as I often wear them with nylons/leggings/tights in the winter to stay warm, and the lining keeps the skirt from sticking to my legs.  As there were no lining pieces included, I used the pattern piece for the back of the skirt for both the skirt front and the back lining, shortening it by four inches (so it wouldn't show below the front wrap portion).  This piece is cut on the bias, and as there is also a yoked waistband, I didn't need to fiddle around with adding darts to the pattern front.  Worked like a charm!

V7607 view A - back

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I don't know that I need two identical skirts like this in my closet at the same time, particularly when it is so distinctive.  I am thinking of sewing view C though because it is a little bit different.

Conclusion: a distinctive, easy to sew skirt pattern that is unique.

That leaves Sewing Goals #2 and 3 from my last post, which were:

2.  Cut and sew beige pleather/snakeskin jacket, M???? (It appears to be OOP and off McCall's website)

3.  Cut and sew grey doubleknit leggings.

I've got the beige pleather/snakeskin jacket pattern and fabric sitting in my kitchen (I cut on the dining table but can't stand the clutter of sewing stuff in the kitchen so it's good incentive to just cut the stuff out!), along with the grey doubleknit and leggings pattern.  Once I've finished studying for an upcoming exam (yet another course, this one work related), my goal for tonight is to cut both out.