Thursday, April 11, 2013

Muslin Love

Completed front of muslin
Do you love making muslins (or toiles)?

Yeah, me neither.

But I have to say that making a muslin for Butterick 5891 was great fun. It is a clever and well-crafted sewing puzzle. Love.

Butterick 5891 is that new top and jacket pattern that Katherine Tilton designed for Butterick. I loved the cover photographs, as well as the versions I've seen on her blog. I was pretty sure I would enjoy making it and wearing it.

Ordinarily I am not a big fan of Butterick and if I look hard, I can come up with things to criticize. But this pattern shows careful design and drafting. At least, my copy does.

Some reviews I've read are not positive. And that's why I made a muslin. It was not only necessary, but fun.
Completed back of muslin

Here are the issues I found:

  • It's rated easy. I would rate it average to advanced. The order of construction is unexpected, and if you don't follow them carefully, things go awry. There 15 pieces in this little sleeveless top, most cut single layer. The jacket might be easy though.
  • In step 32, there is a reference to large and small circles, as well as a marked stitching line. My pattern piece had 4 large circles and no marked stitching line.
I must remember to mark these pieces carefully to tell up from down
Step 32 covers the pleat in the left front peplum. The pleat in the other peplum is correctly marked and so it's pretty easy to just repeat steps 28-29 for the left front peplum.

I tried it on, and as others have indicated it fits most closely through the shoulders and bust, then angles away from the body. A style that appeals to me.

I should really take a picture of me in it to see if it suits me. Sometimes I get gaga over a design and forget to notice how it looks on me.
Double collar, each single layer. Love.



Back with no peplum, no collar



Oh, and this pattern is on sale right now. So go buy it now. You know you want it.

Front with no peplum, no collar


9 comments:

  1. I like it!! It will look great on you. What fabric are you thinking of using?

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  2. I think this will be great on you!

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  3. This looks like a clever creative pattern - can't wait to see your real finished version ... J

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  4. Have the pattern; however, at the rate I've been sewing (ah, none) who knows when it will ever get out of the envelope! sigh Your version--cute!

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  5. Great pattern and I know you will wear it well!

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  6. It looks good as a muslin so I can't wait to see the finished version.

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  7. Can't wait to see the final version! a lot of pieces for a blouse :-) I just ordered linen for her dress Butterick 5881, also lots of pieces, and now think I'll get this as well. Might as well make myself really nutsy while I'm at it. Thks for heads up on the pattern funnies...and hurry up with the final!

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  8. I can't wait to see your final result. And I love love your idea on MM's review on PR for putting the sleeves of view C/D on the view A/B top!! I might have to try that myself

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  9. It looks a very interesting and a clever and intricate design. I love garments like this too :)

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