Simplicity "It's So Simple" was not so simple.

I consider myself a fairly accomplished sewist, but this pattern tried to do me in. The instructions are not even close to adequate for this pattern. I did fine, up until I had to insert the sleeves. More specifically, Illustration #1o in the instructions.


When trying to insert the sleeves into my muslin, I couldn't figure out how to make it look like the picture and following the written instructions was not helpful either.


See that weird jog? How are you supposed to just pin along that edge? I even had to go ask my friends on Patternreview.com. While describing my problem on the thread, I figured it out. You have to pivot at the jog. Who puts a pivot in a beginner pattern and then not tell you how to sew it? Doh! If you look at the instructions closely, it sort of looks like that's what is happening. But finally, success:

So with my new found success, I cut out my fabric, which is a chiffon poly fabric. It's so thin that I had to line it. With the lining, this top turned out to be more time consuming and couture than anything I've made in a long time. One of my goals for this year was to take my sewing up a notch and this top certainly did just that. Lots and lots of hand sewing and basting.

No stitching shows on the outside except for hems. I attached the facing and the sleeve binding to the lining fabric. The effort was certainly worth it.


More than you probably wanted to know, but now I have another Wardrobe Contest garment done, and I'm thrilled.

Opossum Update:
Husband has sent two more to the park and there's another in the trip cage right now that needs to go away. We have squirrels too, but they aren't coming into my house. Son likes to watch them out his window. Today we counted five of them. They live in the pine tree or oak tree outside his window and they are eating nuts from my pecan tree. They've hid them around the yard. Cute!