One Sewing Pattern Three Ways: Simplicity 1589

One lesson that this post address is how to make sewing cost effective. If you purchase a full price pattern, brand new fabric at full price, and all the matching thread and notions, it is likely you won’t be making a garment that costs you less than buying one of far inferior quality but is inarguably similar. In fact, sewing can be a really expensive hobby. However, as I learned to work at a fabric store, the way to make it pay is by choosing patterns that have many options that you will truly use. I purchased Simplicity pattern 1589 and made three tops so far- I’m not done yet! The subsequent times you use a pattern you are much faster and the process can be much more enjoyable.

I worked at JoAnn’s Fabrics the whole time I was in college and let me tell you; I LOVED it. If you have to be at work early in the morning on the weekend while attending college in a super fun town like I had to, JoAnn’s is the place to be. Customers choose to shop there because they are making something awesome. That’s a great vibe to be around and I learned a lot about sewing by working there.

I’d recommend this pattern to a beginner as it is from their “Learn to Sew” line which means the instructions are very clear, the techniques needed are fairly basic, and it was simple to sew. I chose it specifically because I love back interest in garments and this pattern is a loose tank that pulls over the head and has either a cut out or a flyaway back interest. Both styles allow for a standard brassiere and are easy to take in.

On all three tanks I took the sides in significantly; about three inches on each side. I’m slender and while I like the flowy look it was a bit too billowy and hid my shape rather than flattered it.

The grey and orange one shows off the cut out back and while you wouldn’t have to do the color blocking, I love how it turned out. I can’t take credit for pairing those fabrics; They were rubber-banded together in a box of fabric belonging to our Great Aunt Betty, bless her stylish heart.

The floral top is made from a rayon blend which is has a nice drape and I love the flyaway back. This was the first top from the pattern I made and I made it in an afternoon (with a small baby around, no less) the day before I planned to wear it. Success!

The aqua knit number was an experiment in lots of ways. I will write a full post on how I did it soon, but the short story is that I dyed several of my husband’s worn out white work tee shirts with Rit dye and used them for one of these tops. It was totally breaking the rules because the pattern calls for woven fabrics and this is obviously knit. I have found that it sometimes works out okay when you use a knit when it calls for a woven but if you go the other way around and use a woven when it calls for knitting you are asking for trouble. In this top, I’d say it was a success on all counts.

The pattern suggests lots of types of wovens that are making me eager to rustle up a yard and a half of eyelet, voile, or linen.

I know there is a lot to consider when choosing a sewing pattern but I have found that the most important thing when investing in a pattern is the different options it has and the likelihood that you will sew the pattern multiple times. Bear that in mind and you will get a greater return on your sewing investment.

The photographs for this post were taken by the lovely and talented Della Hayden of Circle Bar Photography. If only she lived closer, she’d be taking all my photos!

Sew on, Wildflowers! What pattern have you used and loved for its versatility? Share in the comment section below!

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