Pass-the-Pattern is a fun sewing community event initiated by Marijana of Sew2Pro and Lesley of sewniptuck back in March.  You can read all about it here and here.  I received my Issy (from Lesley in Australia) after winning the drawing and it arrived about a week ago.  Following the rules of engagement, I mailed a stashed pattern of my choice to Lesley and just as I sat down to start this post…she emailed me that she had just received it…it is the StyleArc Poppy.  I had it in my stash for a looong time and just haven’t found the inspired fabric to make it up.  It was a freebie when I ordered another pattern and I happen to have 2 of them, well not anymore ;).  Can’t wait to see what she does with it…she is super creative and a very talented sewist.  Keep an eye out for her post.

Instruction for becoming part of this ride is at the very end of this post…read on or skip to the bottom if you just can’t wait 😀

Back to the Issy everlasting…

I haven’t had a sewing project keep me so consumed in a long while, now I can finally get a good night’s sleep.  She is done…

What a fun and exasperating ride it’s been.  My first trial Issy was actually pretty simple…no issues.  Only slight tweaking needs were found after she was finished.  I think one or two head scratching moments, but virtually no real issues.  I left the last post with needing to go to the fabric store as my overflowing stash did not show any promise for a summer-time version of this cutie-pie… a sleeveless top to show off my hopeful tanned arms.  During a sleepless in Seattle moment, I remembered I had some several yards of mesh knit that I bought when Fabric Mart was having a $1/yard sale extravaganza!

First thing in the morning after coffee of course, I pulled out my favorite, and BAM!  2 yards….hallelujah!  It is a nylon/lycra blend and very lightweight.  The adventure ensued…try approaching a raging river was in my sight.  I thought…do I really want to go there?  Or should I just bail and take the calmer waters, going to the fabric store and finding a nice and easy knit.  Naw, let’s go Issy…no turning back!  I love a challenge…I can do this!!!

I bought some Sullivan’s fabric stabilizer a couple of weeks back on recommendation from Lauren of Lladybird and it works like a charm!  

Here is a comparison shot…

I wasn’t sure if it would work so I tested it on a smaller piece…it worked like a charm!  I sprayed it while it was folded before cutting out the pattern…a tough wrangle but used pins in the selvage edge to keep it straight.  I used the recommendation from the can and put a dry iron over the spray to speed up the process.  I did both sides of the folded piece to ensure even coverage.

This mesh is super sheer so I cut a double layer of just the front so I wouldn’t have to where a cami under it…only a bra.  Don’t much care if anyone sees my back bra.  I took a photo of the top completed on a hanger before I threw it in the wash this morning to give y’all an idea of just how stiff it made the fabric…but very nice to handle while sewing.

Having worked up a trial in the jersey, I had the weirdness worked out.  The fit adjustments I made were few.

1. 5/8″ sway-back
2. narrowed the shoulders 3/8″
3. took an additional 5/8″ seam allowance at each side seam tapering to zero at the armscye (see my initial adjustments here)

For finishing the front neckline, I sewed the double front pieces right sides together between the notches which made for a really clean edge. Double bonus, it also stabilized a super stretchy fabric :).

Construction was a breeze, more or less….well until I got to the armscyes.  Here is where I began to really stress out!  I wanted to wad it up and throw it in the trash can!  I always sew before work every morning after coffee. It’s a great way to start my day on a happy note 🙂  Right?  Well, not so yesterday morning, when I so efficiently applied my favorite double-sided fusible hem tape preparing to turn under and top stitch the right armhole.  I even had time to stitch it so then all I had to do was the other side seam and hem the left armhole when I got home.  As soon as I got done, I realized that I was going to bind it properly as I like that finish much better and being mesh…it would looked terrible turned and top stitched.  Dang my impatience!

That evening…this is the view. Note the terrible monster looking expression…lol!!!

Have you E V E R tried removing 3.0mm lightning bolt stitches from mesh…..NOT FUN!!!  I could only tolerate 2 hours so I finished it this morning in better light after a night’s rest.  The result was a bit stretched out and a few tiny holes…nothing not remedied by some careful placement of binding.  When I finished…I was pleased overall.  There is a slight bobble, but I won’t point it out…if you find it…let me know I won’t be offended.  🙂  A non-sewer will never see it…teehee 😉

Here is the rest of my pics:

If you want to be part of this super fun ‘adventure-sewing’, here’s all you need to do:

• Leave a comment by May 7th at midnight PST at the bottom of this post to go into the drawing. I will randomly choose a winner on Mother’s Day May 8, 2016.
• The winner will be sent the Style Arc Issy by snail mail with stamps!
• Blog about your Issy experience. No blog? not a problem, I would be pleased to publish for you, just contact me by leaving a comment on this blog post :).
• You will then choose a new recipient from your commenters to send your Issy to
• One addition that I have added…The Issy recipient is to add their State/Country on the piece of paper I have included in the pattern envelope…sort of like a Passport that has been stamped!!! Hope that is okay with Marijana and Lesley….
• The recipient of ‘Issy’ should mail a mystery pattern of their choosing to the ‘Issy’ sender (you)
• Blog/write about the mystery pattern you received in return for sending Issy onto a new home somewhere in the big wide world.

How many times will Issy be made and where in the world will it go? Can you pattern hack Issy? Help us play ‘Pass the Pattern’. Leave your comment at the bottom of this post to go into the drawing.