I did in fact finish both the Unique jacket/top and dh's polo work shirt. I did a hem and 12 buttonholes, including practice ones. Dh is wearing his shirt today and it looks gooood! If it doesn't get too dirty during the course of his workday I will take a picture tonight for the review.
The Unique pattern sewed up quite well. The fabric I chose for the toile, a lavender stretch satin-backed sueded blend, is a lovely color. It looked good but didn't sew up very well. It didn't want to ease and there is some puckering on the seamlines. Some fellow PR members had issues with this type of fabric so I'm pretty sure it wasn't my sewing skill. Here's a picture.
As to fit, the length of this garment is exactly where the pattern description said it would be--5" below my waist. The sleeves fit, the bust fits, the back fits. In fact, everything is perfect except that it wants to fall down my back. I get this in RTW all the time and it is a pet peeve, but very easy to fix with a high round back and/or a forward shoulder adjustment. I will contact Unique about this for my next pattern (because I will order from them again) but those are such simple alterations that I will do them myself on the pattern I have.
As to design, it looks like the design drawing in all respects except for the the collar; it is not as long on my jacket as it appears to be on the design drawing. This would seem to be a simple fix--just cut the collar longer next time. I left off the pockets because I thought they would be unflattering on me.
This is a basic shoulder princess V-neck that could be made up longer without the collar for a nice cardigan jacket, or with a matching skirt using the original design for a nice suit. I'm ready to make this again in a really good fabric.
The instructions weren't so good. No hints were given on how to ease in princess curve or construct a pocket or hem a garment. The illustrations had the right and wrong sides incorrectly depicted in some areas. I had to rely on previous experience for a good part of this project, especially for the v-cut outs in the sleeve and pockets.
Conclusion: A basic design, so-so instructions, and a keeper pattern with an almost perfect fit without having to do any of these standard-for-me alterations:
The Unique pattern sewed up quite well. The fabric I chose for the toile, a lavender stretch satin-backed sueded blend, is a lovely color. It looked good but didn't sew up very well. It didn't want to ease and there is some puckering on the seamlines. Some fellow PR members had issues with this type of fabric so I'm pretty sure it wasn't my sewing skill. Here's a picture.
As to fit, the length of this garment is exactly where the pattern description said it would be--5" below my waist. The sleeves fit, the bust fits, the back fits. In fact, everything is perfect except that it wants to fall down my back. I get this in RTW all the time and it is a pet peeve, but very easy to fix with a high round back and/or a forward shoulder adjustment. I will contact Unique about this for my next pattern (because I will order from them again) but those are such simple alterations that I will do them myself on the pattern I have.
As to design, it looks like the design drawing in all respects except for the the collar; it is not as long on my jacket as it appears to be on the design drawing. This would seem to be a simple fix--just cut the collar longer next time. I left off the pockets because I thought they would be unflattering on me.
This is a basic shoulder princess V-neck that could be made up longer without the collar for a nice cardigan jacket, or with a matching skirt using the original design for a nice suit. I'm ready to make this again in a really good fabric.
The instructions weren't so good. No hints were given on how to ease in princess curve or construct a pocket or hem a garment. The illustrations had the right and wrong sides incorrectly depicted in some areas. I had to rely on previous experience for a good part of this project, especially for the v-cut outs in the sleeve and pockets.
Conclusion: A basic design, so-so instructions, and a keeper pattern with an almost perfect fit without having to do any of these standard-for-me alterations:
- Full bust adjustment
- Enlarge sleeves at upper arm
- Narrow back
- Increase waist
- Sway back
- Increase hips