The problem being that I cannot decide if this print is ‘Hint of zebra’ or ‘Homage to Zorro’ therefore I have decreed it shall be named something in between. Which I have yet to decide. Of course it could also have feline nomenclature as Scoobs has been neatly demonstrating how her stripes would also be perfect Savannah camouflage.
Aside from the name thing, are you ready for some construction details? You might need to steel yourselves, perhaps take a cleansing breath or two.
Easy does-it
The suggested fabrics for the Simplicity 1998 – Misses’ Pullover Dress are ‘Cottons, Silky types, Lightweight linens’. What I’ve used is a stretchy man-made fibre. The pattern has an unprecedented six and a half inches of ease at the bust. Now, you know my feelings about the ‘sack on the lowliest house-elf’ look. That look would be pretty easy to achieve with this amount of ease. As I was aiming more for action hero than house-elf I have been brutal with the pattern pieces and removed one and a half inches from the neck to the hem of each of the two main pattern pieces, making the completed garment six inches closer to my bust measurement.
Wind your neck in
The neck piece is six inches shorter to accommodate the busty ease adjustment and nearly three inches narrower due to fabric restrictions.
Scrawny arms
These were disguised by tucking the sleeves into a cuff band that was about five inches shorter than recommended.
Finishing lines
It’s fifteen inches shorter than suggested as I was using a remnant. I’ve curved the hemline as I couldn’t resist. And finally, the actual hem. The only word I have is *puts on my best Muttley mumble* sassafrassarassum. It curled and twirled and flipped and would not sit. What would have worked better here?
What I did was this:
And what do you think were the bon mots of my paramour on seeing how marvellously my new garment colour co-ordinates with the rest of my wardrobe? “Hmmm, that’s almost an outfit”. I’m not entirely sure of my reply but I think it may have been “sassafrassarassum”.
So, there we have it. My first entry into Jungle January! Next, something from this faux fur. Mmmm swirly and twirly.
pennylibrarian 
6 1/2 inches of ease??? Insanity!
Now I’m dying to see what you make with twirly swirly fur…
I know! It would have fitted a zebra!
Sadly zebras don’t require an extensive wardrobe LOL
😦 shame, I was planning to launch a range of pet clothing aimed at wealthy zebra owners…
This is so cute, I really like it! I had twin needle issues trying to do hem tape on a pajama camisole top. It’s SO hard to line up the tape and the seam on the outside of the fabric between the two lines and in the middle of the zig zag on the inside of the fabric. I needed 12 hands!! I also like the first pic of you, made me laugh 🙂 I still need to get my gear on for Jungle January.
Thanks! I didn’t realise I was supposed to catch the edge of the hem between the two lines of stitching. Something to try next time 🙂
Muttly mumble hahahaha I love the top it’s very cool. I almost bought that pattern once but then chickened out because I rarely sew from envelope patterns XD Perhaps you could wear a black bandana-just in case?