I Made Kwik Sew 2303 - A Pair of Very Nice Leggings

Actually I have made this pattern twice and will probably make it again. What I really like about Kwik Sew Patterns in general is that many of them are classic styles that you can get away with wearing for many years as other more trendy styles come and go. They also have lots of patterns for knit fabrics.

I first bought this particular pattern so long ago I forgot which decade it was purchased in. I threw it out and then bought it again a few years ago when leggings became popular again. Some leggings you buy in the store are so thin you can read a book through them in good light. I wanted some for winter with a little bit of warmth. Luckily I had some fabric in my stash that was perfect for this. It is smooth on one side and fleece on the other. The smooth side being the outside. It is a 4 way stretch - very stretchy but not flimsy fabric. I don't know if they carry it in stores anymore, but I saw a polar fleece power stretch fabric in a couple of online stores that may work.

Like most Qwik sew patterns, it has the full range of sizes in one envelope; in this one that includes xs - hip size 32 1/2 - 34, to xl - hip size 45 -47. You trace off the size you want on to pattern making paper or sew in non woven interfacing.

I have a Viking Lilly sewing machine that has some nice stretch stitches, but my new Bernina serger has a power stretch stitch that seams and finishes the edges very nicely at the same time so I used it for this project.

This pattern has no side seams so I dare say you can probably complete them in an hour if you are a fast sewer. I love my new leggings and have worn them more times than I should mention.

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I made Vogue 8696 - A sewing tale of woe

Hello fellow sewers and welcome to the first post on my blog. Isn't it  strange that I chose a tale of woe instead of a successful project to brag about, but I feel you can learn just as much or more from mistakes as successes
 I have collected a large amount of jacket patterns for some strange reason, but this very easy Vogue was calling my name as the one that I should make first. There was a series of bad choices made by myself to make this garment, and with 50+ years of sewing under my belt, I knew better. Suggested fabrics to make it with are wool double knit and fleece. I decided to do fleece for a casual, easy care version. Now you see there are 3 views and they all have a lovely flowing drapey front. On the top view C shown in white is the one that should be made in fleece. It is one layer, with no facings. I chose to do view A in which the front is completely faced and the back is lined with a regular woven lining. 

Fleece is a bit stiff and should not be made into anything flowing especially with 2 layers. As you see here this doesn't look much like the pictures on the pattern. When I first put it on, I was so disappointed. I looked 30 lbs heavier and there was no draping going on at all. The collar points stuck out like missiles so I cut them off. It still wasn't right so I decided to take the facings off, but this is one sided flleece and the wrong side is very obviously different than the right side. On this pattern, the wrong side is going to show on the collar when there are no facings. So I decided to give it away to Goodwill. I am so sad! I love the idea of this stylish jacket. Maybe I will do it in another fabric someday.


My advice is, if you want to make this pattern use a light weight, drapey wool knit, or a double sided fleece, and do not make the facings on the fleece version.

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