Testing, testing, testing!

Tags

itch to stitch, jacket, salamanca jacket, sewing, zamora blouse

This past week was a bit busy with pattern testing.

I was chosen to test two patterns for Kennis over at Itch to Stitch. I have tested for Kennis on several occasions as well as purchased and sewn several of her patterns. Kennis has a knack for taking more advanced sewing techniques and making them quite simple. So if you have ever wanted to sew a button placket or a jeans fly, play with gathering or attach a collar I suggest you give her patterns a try!

This week she is releasing  4 patterns together and offering a great discount at her shop. The two patterns I tested are the Salamanca Jacket and the Zamora blouse.

As soon as I started sewing up the Zamora blouse I had a bit of déjà vu. I have a vintage pattern that has so many of the same features. I asked Kennis if her blouse was styled after a vintage blouse and she said yes, it was. The blouse has many design elements that give it a real feminine flare; pin tucks, gathers, back darts and a sweet bow all work together to make a sweet breezy blouse for spring and summer. Of course it would also make a beautiful holiday blouse in black or red silk or satin.  A sheer would be well worth the effort!

The instructions and illustrations are very clear; however this is not a blouse one should try to blow out in a day. There are a lot of steps to get all of those wonderful feminine features and they should be gone about methodically. IMO anyway. I used a semi sheer lightweight linen blend for my test. It was easy to work with and I highly recommend if you are not confident in the shirt making business to use a friendly fabric your first go round.

This was the first Itch to Stitch design in which I had to make some pretty serious pattern alterations and with more time would probably have made even more. For example, I am short waisted and would definitely want to bring up the v neck in future additions. This gets a bit tricky with the pin tucks and tie though so I did not attempt it under the time constraints of testing.

The second pattern I tested was the Salamanca jacket.

I love, love, love this jacket. It looks way more complicated than it is and has cool features like a jump lining (never had sewn one of those – a fancy name for a lining that has some give and allows for movement) and gathered raglan sleeves.

I was a little unsure about the high low hem but in the end I quite liked the look. I chose to forgo the closures knowing that this was going to be a casual wear with jeans type jacket. In retrospect I wish I had spent a bit more time on fabric choice but plan to make more with different fabrics such as a quality denim with a tad bit of stretch or a nice midweight linen. I think one of the testers did a plaid version which was outstanding!

If you have ever feared the jacket, the Salamanca would be an excellent pattern to start you off. Once again, Kennis makes sewing easy peasy with clear directions and illustrations.  And she is always available to help with questions on her fb page.

Overall, I am glad I tested but doing two intermediate type patterns in one week was a bit stressful. But, I am happy with my two new additions! Thanks Kennis for having me test!

 

Come join us for sew a long fun at Sewalongs and Sewing Contest fb page! A fun group of sewists who come together monthly and/or quarterly to sew all types of garments and stuff! Oh, and there are prizes!