NL 6838 || Shiny Happy People Tank

I can't believe the mileage I've gotten from this one little pattern. This New Look 6838 pattern was the very first pattern I ever bought, way back in 1995.  I've made the pants, the long-sleeved top and now the tanktop. I can't believe it's not Out of Print (OOP) yet -- that's a LOOONG life on a pattern!

With my gorgeous friend, Stephanie

Pattern Description:
Three tops sized for knits and two pants for wovens. Top A boat neck and ¾ sleeves, Top B wide V neck and long sleeves, Top C boat neck shell. Pants D and E both for wovens with drawstring and different lengths. I made Top C.

Pattern Sizing:
Multi-sized pattern from XS to XL. I graded the pattern from a Medium in the bust to an XL in the hips. 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes. With adjustments

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I didn't even look at them! The nerve!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
The last time I made this top, the original width of the boatneck was too large and required that I use various bra-strap hiding techniques, which was a pain. This time, I added 1-1/2" to each shoulder to fix it. Worked like a charm!

Fabric Used:
My double-sided sequinned fabric from Italy. This was my New Year's Eve top and needed to be sparkly! It also had to be done almost completely by hand, so that was  new challenge.


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I cut both the front and back patterns on the fold to remove the center back seam. I lined the sequin fabric with black tricot and inserted it separately. Because I wanted the sequins to change upward/downward rather than right/left (revealing the black or silver, respectively), the stretch ended up being vertical, rather than horizontal around the body. I added a hidden side zipper to fix this more body-conscious silhouette.


I'd never made a garment by hand way before, but because of the pokey nature of the sequins, it couldn't have been done any other way. I was REALLY glad that I had the "Threads" archive CD to refer to or this never would have gotten done by New Years. Altogether, it was about 19 hours of hand-sewing, mostly because I spent 9 hours doing it WRONG before I started doing the construction correctly. My studio looks like a disco ball blew up! It's been fun to find hidden sparkles all around my house.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I'm sure I will, in other specialty fabrics. This pattern is remarkably versatile, give it a shot!
 
Conclusion:
This was the perfectly simple pattern to showcase my sequins. This top is both fun and functional! I plan to wear it often under jackets and with kicky skirts. Who doesn't need a little more sparkle in their lives?