Omega – the last, the ultimate, the final letter in the Greek alphabet. So says Wikipedia. I suspect Suzanne Winter, Winter Wear Designs’ creator and designer might have considered her options when choosing that name. This pattern does have a ton of options AND a lot of different instructions to go with all those choices. But I have rushed ahead … so backwards we go …
The Omega is a blouse with a soft Boho feel and a tunic option. I like that blouses are making a resurgence. I don’t wear t-shirts well and the very word blouse brings to mind soft, feminine and well, Me. I didn’t buy the pattern when it came out because I thought I could recreate by altering a different pattern, which resulted with me looking like I had boobs enough to re-float the Titanic! When the call went out for a blog tour featuring the Omega and the Classic Shell I was eager to see where I’d gone wrong.
There are many options for the Omega including different lengths – and shirt tails, which I love! Yes, I am an 80’s New Romantic! I thought the Omega would be a fabric hog, but it’s amazing what careful pattern placement does. The pattern offers a variety of yokes and I think I could have fun here playing with fabrics and textures. There are clear directions throughout though I don’t recommend deciding to add a lace insert and a lined back keyhole yoke without reading the instructions fully fully. Or doing it with little time to digest the instructions, (or before coffee!). That could be a recipe for disaster!
I kept my blouse simple, sewing the standard yoke, cut to top length (nice to tuck in to a skirt but long enough to cover the bulges), and short sleeves. The sleeves aren’t quite a puff, but lovely and feminine. I am taller than normal so cut the top to the longest top length, as well as adding 1″ above the waistline. These are my normal WWD alterations. I wanted to cut the shirt tail, but fabric restrictions meant I ended up with a slightly curved back; not quite the tail I wanted but pleasing to the eye none the less.
I sewed the blouse according to my bust measurement (a Large). I debated on a full but adjustment (FBA), but the yoke is cut above the bust, leaving adequate space for my boobage to be concealed beneath the soft gathers. I am slightly larger in my waist and hips but stuck with the same size. It flows nicely over my figure and I feel, if not svelte, then slim and pretty.
Did I say I was sewing with the Devil’s fabric, the Oh So Pretty Chiffon? Ha! Of course not. Chiffon tends to shape shift and as such I try to cut it out as close to sewing it up as I can. I usually use pattern weights to hold fabric down, but in Chiffon’s case I pin or clip the living Bejesus out of it! I didn’t starch it, but did use a minimal stretch lace seam binding to prevent the shoulder seams and neckline from from stretching. It seems to have worked as I could barely get the damn thing over my head before realizing I hadn’t snipped the seams – whew!
It took longer to trace my pattern off and make my alterations than it did to make the top (well almost). I chose not to sew French seams, but did use my serger to ensure the seams wouldn’t fray. I recently bought a new machine; a solid Bernina. It sounds like a Daimler and sews a dream — even the Chiffon. Yup, Chiffon has so much attitude it deserves it’s name to be capitalized.
I had so much fun I decided to make another – but in sweater knit. I messed with the pattern and added a soft cowl neck and long sleeves. I made it into a dress by adding an extra 6″ to the length. Then I inserted a pocket, because who doesn’t love pockets!
The sweater knit is drapy and a bit more figure ‘hugging’ I stabilized the shoulders with clear seam binding. It is horrid to sew and melts if pressed but it works! The fabric weight pulls down the armsyce. It’s still loose despite increasing the seam allowance.
I added a lace trim over the bodice to cover the fact I sewed it together wrongly. It looks good, but the lace is a bit heavy for the fabric (now there is an oxymoron!).
I mainly constructed this on my serger with reinforcements and fiddly curves on my machine. It is a quick and easy sew – even more so the second time round.
Suzanne will link how to do alter your pattern for knit fabrics during the tour. this during the Blog Tour.
The Omega is on sale during the blog tour; The Classic Shell is always a bargain at US$5.
Do read the other Bloggers. There are tutorials, ideas and prizes to be won. Thanks for stopping by and go sew yourself some goodness!
Sew Far North 