My First Swap Garment is Finished!

I really should be sewing other things like valances to hang over our vertical blinds in the living room, some Christmas Goodwill projects and a couple of Holiday items I have in mind. But, I really wanted to sew one thing for Swap right away ,so I did.

I used McCall's 5244 and tried to turn it into a shrug (sweater) set.



I say tried because I'm not sure that's what I ended up with.

Here, I'll let you have a look, and maybe some of you will let me know if you think it will count as a one item top of sorts. In the rules, I think it was Ann who said that a set could only count as one item if you could only wear it together and not as two separate pieces.



I really do intend to only wear it together with either pants or a skirt. The tank is too tight (whoops!) to wear on its own and the shrug really only looks right if it's paired with the tank. So I think I'm safe to use it as my first top. (??)

When I bought this pattern I thought that it would be a little young for me but if I made it in a dark colour, I could get away with it. I also thought by looking at the envelope picture,that it was a close fitting jacket.

When I altered the pattern, I did my usual FBA and as well added an inch to the middle of the side front/side back pattern piece. I always cut a size 12 pattern, add a one inch FBA, and a half inch to the side seams of both front and back pieces.Here are the adjusted pieces:



Well this pattern ended up being very big. I guess that would be because it is really a jacket pattern,not a sweater pattern. I had to sew up the extra half inch I added to the sides as well as make the raglan sleeves smaller at both the top and bottom seams.
The only part I really like is the collar.I think it looks just right and is very elegant. Don't you love the big button. I've been waiting for a chance to use it.

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For the tank, I used Simplicity 3634 .IT was my wardrobe pattern for last year's Swap (which I didn't join).It fit very well then so I just cut it out as was but since the fabric I used this time was not as stretchy, it is a tighter fit.



Here I am wearing my Swap #1 garment to go to a concert.( An Elvis impersonator,reportedly the best in the world ).I paired it with navy wool gabardine dress pants made from the same Michael Kors pattern (V2873 )I'll use for my black pants for Swap 2009.



Happy Sewing Everybody!