Vintage New Look 6560

I debated whether or not to post this project, firstly because it's really simple so there's not too much to say, and secondly because it uses a vintage sewing pattern that's not readily available so people might not be interested in a review. In the end, I decided it deserved a post anyway because it's always nice to have a record of what I've made.

The vintage version of New Look 6560 (not to be confused with the current New Look 6560 top pattern!) features three variations of a long, full skirt. Views 1 and 2 have flat waistbands with zip closures and are shaped using pleats (view 1) or gathers (view 2). View 3, which I've made here, has an elastic waist. 

The pattern sizing is fairly limited and covers waist sizes from 24 to 34 inches. If you're slightly above the upper end of this range, view 3 could definitely still work for you as there's plenty of ease - you'd just need to cut your elastic to fit your waist.

It's a pretty simple pattern, and you could draft something similar relatively easily but I found my copy of the pattern in a charity shop for 50p and you can't go far wrong for that price. As I'm writing, there is a version available on ebay here - I have to say I wouldn't bother buying this pattern for the £18 they're asking for it! There's a photo of the pattern below in case you want to check it out.

Sewing the skirt was easy. The front and back of the skirt are both made up of two panels with a centre seam. There are in-seam pockets that are anchored into the waistband at the top so they don't flap around, which is a nice touch. There's a separate waistband, and the elastic is inserted by leaving a gap in the inner side seam of the waistband that is then slip stitched closed.

My waist is currently about 32.5", which would put me between a size 18 and size 20. I actually made a size 16 - I measured the waistband pattern piece and could tell that this would still give me plenty of ease. The waist is the only area that needs to fit for this pattern, and as the view that I sewed has an elastic waistband, it's easy to get the right fit.

One downside of this pattern is that it's quite fabric hungry (using almost 3 m for my size), and the cutting layout that it uses for 60"/150cm fabric relies on using a non-directional fabric. Thankfully my dotty fabric fits the bill! It's a lovely viscose that I bought from Sew Sew Sew. The navy colourway that I used is currently out of stock, but it's also available in blue, red and teal. I made a dress in the red colourway a while ago and it's wearing really well, so I have high hopes for this skirt.

All in all, I'm really pleased with my skirt. It was a quick and easy project to sew - if anything I think cutting it out was more difficult than sewing because of having to wrangle fairly large pattern pieces! The finished skirt will be a useful addition to my wardrobe - it'll go with lots of tops and, most importantly, it's beautifully swishy to wear!

Itch to Stich Amador Top

When I posted my Islares top a couple of months ago, I mentioned that I was planning on making another Itch to Stitch top pattern. Well, the project I'm sharing today is indeed another Itch to Stitch top, but it's not the one that I was intending to make. I recently rediscovered a couple of patterns that I'd had printed a while ago - including the Amador top, which quickly found its way onto my sewing table. 

The Amador top is a pattern for knit fabrics. It has a V-neckline and dolman sleeves. The top has upper and lower sections, which join with a simple seam at the back and in an inverted V with gathered seams under the bust at the front. My fabric doesn't make the details that easy to see, so if you're interested definitely check out the line drawings on the Itch to Stitch website.

The pattern has regular and full bust options, which between them cover bust measurements from 31⅛" (regular bust) to 63" (full bust).

I enjoyed making my Amador top. It's not the most straightforward knit top pattern to sew, as you do need to be particularly precise for some of the steps. The instructions are very clear though; they have a good level of detail and are accompanied by helpful diagrams. 

I worked through all the steps, taking my time to make sure I was doing everything accurately, and everything went fairly smoothly. If you happen to see me wearing this top in real life though, don't inspect my topstitching at the bottom of the V neckline too closely!

I made the size recommended for my measurements - I used the regular bust and made a size 10 at the bust blending out to a 14 at the hips. I did a tissue fit (not ideal for a stretch pattern, but I didn't have any fabric I could use for a toile) and on the basis of that I lengthened the upper front and back by half an inch (I do usually have to lengthen patterns). I'm glad I did that - if I hadn't, the under-bust seam wouldn't have sat in the right place.

In terms of fit, I'd say the pattern isn't closely fitted, but it does have a nice shape. If you're after a very fitted top, this might not be the pattern for you, but if you want a slightly looser style then the Amador is really pretty. It's a really comfy top to wear, but could also look quite smart depending on the jersey you use and how you style the top.

The fabric that I used is a gorgeous leopard print cotton jersey that I bought from Simple Life Fabrics. It's a really great quality and I love all the colours in the print. It's definitely very "me"!

I enjoyed sewing my Amador top - it's nice to have a little bit of a challenge every now and then. I think it turned out quite nicely too. I quite fancy making a version in a plain fabric that would show the design details off a bit better - I'll have to think about what colours might be useful in my wardrobe.