Clothing Hacker

Testing Dionne Duster

The Dionne Duster is a perfect combination of comfort and drama. This duster-length cardigan completes any look and is great for fall or spring layering. Or make it sleeveless for a light summer layer. View A features dramatic balloon sleeves, a thick 2-inch band to finish the front, and generous slash pockets. View B has a narrower front band perfect for a button closure. Both views come with 3 lengths and multiple sleeve options. All views come in sizes 00-30, with the choice of either an A/B cup or C/D cup front bodice piece.

The pink version was a muslin of the view B cropped cardigan that I made from a 1½ yard cut of what seems to be double brushed poly that was part of a mystery bundle from Fabric Mart.  I used the C/D front and so the only change I made was to lengthen the sleeves by 3/4" to accommodate my super long, monkey arms, but it turned out that the sleeves for that view were pretty long, so I didn't even need to do that.  I was very pleasantly surprised to see that the C/D cup option actually included my bust size.  Other patterns with multiple cup sizes that I've used still usually need a small FBA on the largest option for me, so it's nice to not have to do that for once.


I'm finding that this sweater clings to whatever I'm wearing underneath, so I need to remember to not try to make a layering piece out of DBP.  This was my first time ever using it, so I hadn't learned that lesson yet.


For my second version, I used a blue ponte that I've had in my stash for a while and have no idea where it came from.


For this one I made view A in the long cardigan length.  It has princess seams in the front and there's a generous pocket that is sewn into the princess and side seams.  I added a little decorative topstitching to my pocket for funsies.  The thread is a pretty close match to the fabric, so it's a subtle little detail that I enjoy.


Some drafting changes were made during the muslin testing round and I was a little slow to start, so I was able to incorporate all of the changes into my pattern before I cut the pink version.  But I wanted to be a good pattern tester and so I completely reprinted the pattern with all its edits for my second version and I didn't realize they had also shortened the sleeves by an inch until after I had already made my blue sweater and found the sleeves to be about 2" shorter than I would like.  You can see how much of my wrist isn't covered when I bend or lift my arm in the below photo.  I grew up never being able to get clothes to cover my wrists or ankles, so it drives me extra crazy that I missed the sleeve shortening edit and didn't know to correct it.  The entire point of sewing my own clothes is to get a better fit than I can get with RTW!


There is some strange thing happening in the back, but I'm not really sure what.  The pink one kinda has it too, but I didn't manage to get any photos that show it, mostly because it just clings to what I'm wearing underneath.  I don't know if I need to take it in or do a swayback adjustment or what.  Any insight here would be helpful!


My in-laws are visiting from Colorado (they were lucky enough to get out of Denver before the big snow storm paralyzed the city!)  They rented a house on Vashon Island for us all to go to for Thanksgiving weekend.  I thought maybe we could get some fun photos on the ferry to the island, but it was too windy and most of them were just terrible!  I did get a couple that I thought were kinda cute, even though they don't really show off the sweaters very well.



The Dionne Duster Cardigan is available now and is included in Sew Altered Style's Black Friday sale.  All patterns are 30% off through Cyber Monday.  After that, Dionne will be 20% off through Sunday Dec. 8.  No coupon codes needed.


The house we are staying on is right on the water.  I brought a few more things to photograph while we're here, so hopefully we'll have some good weather so you can see a few more posts on the beach and from in and around this cool house built in 1918.

Lois Goes to Seattle Frocktails

I recently blogged about my first Tessuti Lois that I'm madly in love with, but I've been needing just the right excuse to make it again in a fabric that was more special occasiony.  So, when I purchased my tickets to Seattle Frocktails this year, I knew that was the perfect occasion!


This iteration of the Tessuti Lois is made out of a deep evergreen and black polyester brocade from Fabric Mart that has ZERO give, so it's a bit tighter than my first one.  This one I have to really suck everything in to get the side zipper closed, where my first one out of rayon challis can be pulled on over my head and I don't even have to use the zipper.  It's not uncomfortable once it's actually zipped, but if I make it again with a completely non-stretch fabric, I'll add a smidge more wiggle room in the waist.


I didn't change anything from my last version.  I frenched all the seams, which was fun with the gathers and the way the front point works, but after my first try that didn't quite work out, I only had to unstitch a little bit to slightly adjust the gathers to get the perfect placement.  I love it when the inside looks (almost) as good as the outside.


While I was sewing this version, I realized that I left out a few details in my previous post about Lois.  The pattern has pieces for "vilene shields", which I'd never heard of before.  When I first looked at the pattern and saw all those vilene shield pieces (front neck, back neck and front skirt waist) I felt a little scared off!  But I read about what they were and chose to just use stay stitching instead.  However, I appreciate the technique and might try it at some point in the future, just to try out something new.


I was so excited leading up to the day of the big sewist party!  I actually even finished this dress almost A WEEK EARLY!!  I don't know if I've mentioned how much of a last minute sewist I am, but I have a bit of a reputation among people I go to dance events with.  I pack my sewing machine for events I drive to and I can often be seen in the ballroom hand sewing between heats, trying to finish the dress I'm planning on wearing at dinner that night!  Although I do always pack a backup option, just in case.  Finishing this dress so early was an unusual experience for me!


But, something just didn't quite feel right about NOT working on an outfit right up until the last minute, so on Wednesday I decided none of my current selection of jackets/sweaters/warmth giving garments was quite right to wear with this dress.  So, I decided that I had PLENTY of time to make myself a new jacket.


I had this lovely black sequined and embroidered mesh in my stash that I wanted to use that went quite well with a crepe back satin I picked up from JoAnn as a backup fabric for a dress I was making to attend an "Emerald Ball" earlier this year.  I didn't end up using it for that, although the dress I did make was a disaster, so I probably should have.  (side note: I have a draft of a post about that disaster that someday I'll finish and publish, because I really would like to talk more about my many failures over the years in addition to the successes.)


Enter Seamwork Quince.  I don't have any good photos of this lovely jacket yet, so I'll leave the details for a future post after I've gotten a chance to actually do a good photoshoot.  I absolutely love the way it turned out.  Here is a preview shot that my husband took after I Ubered my drunk ass home Saturday night.  And as you can see, the two fabrics combined to create the perfect color match to my Lois!  I'm just that good. 😜


I had a great time at Seattle Frocktails!  I ran into someone I knew from ASG almost immediately, which did help this introverted girl not completely go hide out in a corner all night.  Unfortunately, I didn't end up getting any photos at the event!  Which is a bummer because there were so many great excuses to capture photos and even a cute photobooth setup!  I found another lady wearing my same dress pattern, which would have made a fun photo and I met several ladies that I follow on Instagram and/or have designed some of the patterns I own.  Oh well.  Hopefully I'll remember to get photos next time!