Military Jacket Simplicity 2508

I'm proud to show you my last sewing: a military Jacket Simplicity 2508

I finished it right on time for the winter storm over US. I'm usually wearing crapy fleece and windstopper during winter, so I feel so chic in this jacket! And, as it's made out of wool, it really keep me warm. I have to say the 4 layers of fabric on the front can only help!

A better view to see the seams:

NB: The sleeves are now a little longer than the picture thanks to the addition of 2 inches (5cm) of lining. They also look better, more straight (not the bulky look they have on this picture).

The back:
I think it looks great even though I did not put any interfacing there (I never do things I do not understand...)

I had to remove up to 2 inches of fabric on the width of each side back piece, between the belt and top seam to have a better fitting and no wrinkle under arm.

And finally, the lining.
Well, I did not mark my fabric (the chalk wasn't good on that fabric, and I'm growing lazy), so I tough the lenght was too big and cut nearly an inches, thinking it was the right thing to do to make a nice hem. It was a mistake. So I think I now understand how to sew the lining, but it was too late to do that properly on ths jacket. You can see what I've done to correct that!

Aren't my buttons cute?

Top Simplicity 3956

Last winter in France, I went to a fabric store with my sister KiKou. I was mainly looking for cotton voile fabrics as I haven't found that in my fabric stores here in US(maybe I just wasn't looking where I should have...).
She found this square printed greenish fabric. I wasn't so excited by the print, but she loved it so I decided to buy it.
The long Houstonian summer still there in September, I decided to use the fabric for a Simplicity 3956 tank top. Here's the result:

I have been following the tips on Pattern Review: I put the zipper on the side instead of the back. I think it's convenient because you have less pieces to sew and it isn't annoying when you're sitting with your back along a chair.
The bad point about it: the fitting!!! It's really hard to make the top fit properly this way. Mine is a little too wide on the top part of the side, just under arm...
And you have to cut and past some pieces and paying attention for the sewing marges and the front/back of the fabric...

The cotton fabric is perfect for hot and humid summer days. The top part is lined so it's not transparent at all.
I like the look even though the bottom hem makes some waves who make the top look kind of large, instead of just falling. It's probably because my fabric is really light weight.

Some details from the inside.
I'm proud of the hem 'cause It's just soooo long to make a nice small hem. I would like to know how to use properly my hemmer foot as it would be so simpler! But I tried it for sewing a sleeping bed sheet and it's far from net (I should probably post a picture of the result so you could help me...)!
On the other hand I'm ashamed of the zipper. I really should have put biais all around, because right now, it looks everything but nice from the inside! I might add the biais before next summer

Finally, even though the pattern is saying it's easy, it might have been one of the most challenging project I have used so far, maybe because of the change I made for the zipper, maybe because of my fabric, or maybe for the fitting.
But that's the closest thing I've made so far with a from-the-commerce flare, excepted for the sister-of-the-bride dress.

But summer is now gone so I will have to wait until next summer to wear it! Too bad...

Simplicity 3503 Dress/Pool Cover-Up

I wanted to try this Simplicity 3503 pattern view B and thought a pool cover-up would be an easy go.
I used some cheap fabric from High Fashion Fabric (Houston fabric shop). I think it's a two way stretch fabric for lining swimwear. A long time ago I bought it thinking of all the swimsuits I wanted to do, but I discovered later I would need four way stretch. So this dress allowed me to make some space in my stash.

I made it simpler than the original by suppressing the lining for the belt and the tie in the back. I just wanted it really fast to sew to wear it as soon as possible. And since it was just a cover-up I wasn't too stressed by the finish.
I made a size 10 as I thought I was, without taking my measurements (I don't think I'm able to take them properly anyway). But I finally had to remove 1 or 2 inches on each size for the top part until the belt.

And after hesitating I made it quite short (way shorter than the pattern), as I though it was a great length for a cover-up. I should probably have add 2 inches.
I like the look even though the fabric is too bright. I would prefer it in a cotton knit fabric.
And the bell lining would have been nicer because you can see thru the white fabric.
And one mistake: I sewed the belt with straight stitch. It makes it difficult to enter. So next time I will probably try the stitch I used for the hem:

I want to do it again, but I definitely need to make the top part tighter! I'm thinking about making a dress to go with my boots.