Pattern Review: M7261 + Activewear

Alright, I made workout gear for the first time!  It wasn’t as hard as I thought but worth the experience.  Workout clothes are pretty cheap at Walmart and Old Navy, but I can make the colors I want with the right fit.  I used some super awesome compression fabric and funky color blocking, I really like my makes!  The compression fabric is super heavy, like scuba fabric so I couldn’t wear this during the dead of summer, but hey, it’s winter and a little chilly out.  I will make the pants again because they are awesome and the top too, if I can find some lightweight moisture wicking fabric.

And the review:

Pattern Description:
Pullover tops have princess seams. A: Neck band and contrast panels. B:
Lapped cowl collar. C: Single-layer, seamed hood, front band and
kangaroo pocket. B, C: Cuffs with thumb opening. Wrong side shows on
shaped hemline A, B and hood C. Tapered leggings, slightly below waist,
have yoke and seam detail. All are close-fitting and have stitched hems.
Pattern Sizing:
14-22 I cut a 22
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Very easy to assemble, and I really like the color blocking no real
dislikes, However, issues I have: Pattern pieces don’t indicate where
your waist is, so I had to guess, had it told me one inch below natural
waist, I could have adjusted. I couldn’t tell where the yoke would end
based on the drawings or the model.
Fabric Used:
Patterned fabric was Tricot and the black was heavy compression fabric from Joanns.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
*I graded out at the waist 3/4 in and 1.25 inch in the hip ( Piece 14
& 17) to my normal size 24 measurements. The waist ease wasn’t
needed, it should be fitted in that area, the added ease made it baggy
in the waist.
*Tapered to Size 20 below the knee, size 22 was too baggy at the bottom of the leg.
*Back rise on pattern piece 17 was too low for me, I will need to add 1.5 inch to accommodate by butt!
*I added .5 in to the front rise, but it wasn’t needed, it drooped a bit in the front.
* I messed up the neckline, It was too baggy and so, I took two darts to
the neckline in the back and well, that was a disaster. To fix the
issue, I just turned the neckline to the inside and top stitched down (
using the neckband piece as single fold bias tape).
* Next time, I will take a dart or make adjustments to the neckline and use fold over elastic in place of the neckband.
* I added 2 in to the front and back bottom piece I believe #’s 16
& 18 although there was no lengthen shorten line there. I didn’t
really need it, I could have taken a shorter hem instead.

* I added 2 inches to the sleeve length.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, super easy, and I’m very proud of myself for making work out gear.
It’s not that hard and I did most of the construction on my serger. I
would make again and I would recommend to others. I would give my self
some negative ease if I make it again for the bottoms and I wont use
such a heavy fabric in the future.


Until next time…