Have I mentioned lately that I love Jalie patterns?  If not, then here it is for you- I lurv Jalie patterns!  A great Canadian company that puts out well drafted, multi sized patterns that are suitable for a myriad of  activities from casual wear to excercise to snow sports to skating to – well pretty well anything. I am pretty certain that I own mostly every sports wear/casual pattern that they offer!  My next up for Jalie is their diaper pattern- but that is for another day!  I am trying to change up the way I do reviews as well.  The cookie cutter PR version seems to be a copout for someone who wants to offer a reason to read a blog. 

And jeezzz Couturesmith, the new baby is due in three weeks   NEXT WEEK !! and the maternity posts have been pretty non-existant.  Get with the program already!

On to the reason for this post. 

A Review… 

Pattern Review Jalie 2682

This week I turned out this top in two very different looks – oh PatternReview “One Pattern, Different  Looks Contest”, where are you when I actually have something to enter?!

Sewing maternity clothes for Mme Kate has been made easier with Jalie patterns.  The styles are on par with what is being offered in maternity stores lately, and they are easy to convert to accomodate an expanding belly.  The plus side has been that I could use the same pattern to make something for myself at the same time.  Mine, by the way, was a NON- maternity version, lest  you wonder!

This is what the Jalie website says about this pattern – Stylish V-neck top, raised neckline at back, with or without sleeves.  View A has a zipper at front neckline for more coverage.

Version 1: 

Tell us Connie, what did you make?  I made View B  for Mme Kate with sleeves.  For her I made size S which is the same as a 6, or a 36.  That is pretty well her size pre-pregnancy in Ready to Wear, and as all of her baby weight is – well- baby belly, I felt confident in using the same sizing.

Tell us about your fabric choice..  I used a red medium weight knit from my stash that originally came from Fabricland.  It is most definitely an  Ontario winter fabric- with a real heft to it.  I really need to rethink knit fabric choices as often I think  a knit is too thin or sheer for a project, then when I use a beefier one, it is too heavy!  This fabric was good for a winter warming the baby bump top though. 

 Can you also tell us about the construction process?    For this view the pattern has 5 pieces.  Front upper bodice ,back  lower bodice , front lower bodice,  back lower bodice and  sleeves.   I used the 2 upper pieces, the sleeves  and the lower back piece, and for the baby bump area, I used my “go-to” pattern piece from Burda 08-2007.  (more about that later) 
The patten has you cut 2 front pieces, which are then laid right sides together and a seam is sewn from bottom edge to marked spot.  Once you know where this spot is on your body, you can make your neckline as high or low as you feel comfortable.  The standard marked spot for each size is modest.  This is about the trickiest this pattern gets.  Looking at the layered fabric, you may not understand how this translates into a great neckline!   Actually doing it will make it make sense!   You sew the neck back neck edges togther, then  fold each layer back onto itself and “voila” , a very becoming neckline, all finished.  No worrying about gaposis, topstitching, ease or any of those wierdo sewing terms!  From there, sewing the rest of the body is a snap. 

**Maternity addition**-  The lower front that I substituted, is  from Burda World of Fashion( will we ever think of it any other way?) Um I think 08-2006?  It accomodates for the belly by ruching on the side seams.  I also added a 2 inch band to gather it all back at the bottom.  Kate mentioned once that she doesn’t like it when a shirt just hangs over Raspbaby(which is how we refer to him/her!)  She doesn’t ask for much so I try to make her happy!

 Do you have any suggestions to make sewing this easier?  Mark, mark, mark!  Some of the pieces look alike, so making certain you don’t forget the notches, and labeling top and bottoms of pieces will make things easier. If you don’t mind taking out the subtle shaping, you can alleviate the upper bodice center seam by placing the pattern piece on the fold. 

And what is your final summation? An extremely easy make-in-an-evening kind of top that is great for casual wear as well as activewear, winter or summer!  A must have for your wardrobe in this Couturesmith’s opinion.  If you only plan on owning one Jalie pattern,  this would be a condender!  And look- Kate wore her version for her maternity photoshoot! 

photo - VDK Photography

photo- VDKphotography

 Photocredits for the above two photos  -  http://www.vdkphotography.blogspot.com/

Version 2:

So Connie, Why did you make this?  When I first purchased this pattern, I was envisioning  an activewear top, to wear to work out.  Sleeveless, but a bit more cover for the winter.  Sometimes the barbells dig into my neck, so the raised back neckline was an attractive feature.  Wow barbells- don’t I sound hardcore!  Yeah, my abs are..okay so I lie about the abs!

Kate is a lot smaller than you – what size did you make?  How rude!  If you really want to know, and I guess I should document it so that I remember in the future, I made size U , made some accomodations for my  slightly wider hips and lengthened it about 4 centimeters.

Oooooh the fabric.  Where DID you get it?  It is pretty, isn’t it?  I picked it up at the Creativ Festival in Toronto this past fall.  Over 2 metres for like 10 bucks!  It is a greeny teal with gold foiling.  It is showing more bluey in the first photo, but it really is a teal.  A nice and tight knit that is actually destined to be a bathing suit, but there was sooo much that I figured I could stretch it for 2 garments.  It’s not a technical knit, and I do have my eye on some (big name yoga wear manufactorer who’s name ryhmes with MuMuRemon) fabric from Peak Fabrics, but for a first off, this works.  And it jumped right onto my cutting table- pinky swear!

And the construction process? Any change ups?  I wanted the back to be all one piece, instead of having a seam in the upper bodice and one separating the upper and lower bodice.  I was worried that seams, would bother me when I am jumping around, stretching, making my fingers close the gap between my nose and my toes- all that good, healthy stuff!  I just taped the upper and lower back bodices together (keeping in mind seam allowance) and placed it on the fold. There is shaping at the waist, so I wasn’t concerned about losing shape. I also added about 2 inches to the overall length.  I really dislike having to tug my hem over my abdomen whilst doing crunches!

Any other suggestions for this one?  Next time I sew this pattern for activewear, I am going to make the lower bodice- back and front- from a contrast fabric. Overall, what did you learn from this project, Connie?  A pattern that spans generations, lifestyles and body types, this Pattern Review “Best Pattern” of 2007  AND 2008, definitely deserves a place in the Hall of Fame! 

Tagged as: Jalie, maternity, sewing