Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Vogue 1389 - Casual coral sweatshirt

After making two lined dresses in a row I decided I needed an easy project. For me, the easy projects I undertake usually end up being a lot more work than I think they’ll be. Not this time, though. I whipped up this fitted top in just a few hours. The fabric, a Thakoon coral sweatshirt cotton, was purchased from Mood fabrics a few years (!) ago and has long since sold out. Mood has a number of similar cotton terrycloth options available. My personal favorite is the grey and metallic terry knit, which I’ll probably get for another one of these tops.


Originally I had a large piece of this fabric which I cut into for a casual dress. Unfortunately it was not matched well to the pattern, and the project ended up in a trash can. I had a large scrap piece left over and loved the color, so I saved it until I could find a way to use it up. I used Vogue 1389, a Donna Karan designer pattern. It’s a bit of a sleeper pattern that hasn’t been made much by the online sewing community. The example garments are all gray and a bit boring but the design lines are really nice.


This is a well fitted top. The sides wrap around to the back and are angled in such a way that they provide some nice waist definition. I cut my usual Vogue size 12 but lowered the armholes by an inch. They are super high as drafted! The wide neckband and sleevebands I sewed using the opposite side of the fabric for a little contrast. I had to piece my back together because I was short on fabric.


That back seam and the side seams were sewn with the wrong sides together, then ironed flat and topstitched so that the wrong sides show on the outside. This is a fun finish that I used on a project a long time ago. I contemplated using it to finish the arm seams as well, but thought it might be too distracting with the contrast along the neckline. Now I wish I’d done it.


I adore the length of these sleeves. Unless it’s really cold, I find myself pushing up my long sleeve tops to just below my elbows. They would be really easy to lengthen if you prefer the longer length.


I finished all the inside seams with the overlocking stitch on my machine. The neckline and sleeve bands were topstitched down to prevent the seam from twisting or flipping out.


The hem was sewn with a wide twin needle.


I first made this top up in a silk jersey and it did not have enough stretch recovery to make the neckline lay flat. The result was not flattering, so keep that in mind if you want to make this pattern up. Also the neckline will get stretched out when being attached and will need to be washed and dried to shrink it back, so a wool knit might not be the best choice of fabric.

Note: This fabric was purchased with my Mood Fabrics monthly allowance, as part of my participation in the Mood Sewing Network.

34 comments:

  1. Thanks to your review, I've now added this pattern to my list. I might have glanced at this pattern when it was released, but didn't realize how unique and cool it is. The exposed seam allowances on the back sold me. Love it!

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    1. The directions do not include exposed seams, they are there because I wanted to highlight the angled side seams. I'm glad you like the pattern. I thought it was really cool but then I sometimes like stuff that nobody else does. ;)

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  2. A-mazing as usual!!! I really like the piecing! It looks cool because of the flipped seams. Since you didn't do the treatment on the sleeves, let's say you remake the top in my size and send it to me. Feel free to pick a fabric from your stash! I'll wait! LOL!!!

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    1. Hahaha! I'll have my sewing clone get right on that. Thanks Carol!

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  3. Love the style lines and color of this top! I'm going to have to check out that pattern!

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  4. Again a lovely colour and I love the seam treatment. I must remember that. The pattern looks like a great classy casual top.

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    1. Yep, I'm all about the bright and shiny this winter lol. Thanks Manju!

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  5. What Carol wrote, I thought it!! I just damaged one so I thought this will fit perfectly. But she was first,haha.
    It is so Wow!!
    Wilma

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  6. Sleeper hit indeed! I didn't notice that pattern because I was uninterested in the jacket/skirt, but your sweatshirt is amazing! Putting it on my to buy list as well :)

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  7. Great top! I love seeing more casual pieces. I remember seeing that pattern and thinking the top looked cute.

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    1. Thanks Jenny! With limited sewing time I do usually sew fancier things and just buy the casual stuff. Someday I hope to have time for both. ;)

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  8. Oh wow! I will have to check this pattern out! Yours is gorgeous, and I really like your seam finish, would have never thought to do that. :-)

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    1. I was first introduced to it in a Vogue pattern and always thought it was a fun idea. I wonder if there's a book somewhere with neat detail ideas. Thanks for your comment!

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  9. Beautiful top! And the color is just gorgeous for you. I have this pattern so now I will take a closer look at that top thanks to your post. Thanks!

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  10. That is a really lovely top, in a great colour too. You are so right that the pattern envelope photography is a complete snoozefest, but looking at the drawings the seemliness on all the pieces are really nice.

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    1. Haha snoozefest, I love that word. I think all the pieces of the pattern could be really awesome. For example adding in a bit of leather for the collar to make it pop. The skirt has really interesting design lines (but not very good reviews.) Thanks Allison!

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  11. It looks SO good!!! I have this pattern, which I bought for the skirt, totally ignoring the shirt. I will have to dig it out!! I have been wanting to make a fun sweatshirt and yours fits the bill perfectly because it is nicely shaped and doesn't have weird fold lines in the upper sleeve.

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    1. You might want to seriously think about lowering the armpit seam if you are worried about upper sleeve fold lines. But yeah, this is a nicely fitted top that doesn't have that chunky sweatshirt look. Thanks Kyle!

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  12. Lovely top! Only goes to prove that very often one needs to look past the main event on the pattern envelope. (In this case the skirt and jacket.)

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  13. So cute! I imagine this will get a lot of wear. I keep waffling on whether it's worth sewing a sweatshirt, but this is pushing me over the line. Cute weekend-wear FTW.

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    1. I'm all about being comfortable but not looking like a bag lady, even when I'm lounging at home. (She writes as she sits at the computer with no make-up on and workout hair lol.) Thank you Sara!

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  14. You are such a clever girl. I really love seeing what you have made. Since I just recently discovered your site, I'm going to have to work my way through your older posts. I'm in complete awe of your skill.

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    1. Thanks Barb! Although lots of that older stuff has been purged from my closet lol.

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