Sophie Hines axis tank review

I had read a few reviews of this pattern and was interested but not sure whether I would ever wear something like this.  I have lots of sports bras and I don't really like uncovering my midsection.

But I had this really small piece of pretty fabric from Blended Threads and one day decided I needed it to be this top...bra...thing.  I have no idea how I'll wear this.  I figured I needed to just have it, and then figure it out. 

I made Size 4-6/S. 

This fabric is beautiful but I got a precut and I was trying to be stingy about shipping so I did stupid things like buy half meters of fabric.  Eyes rolling.  It's cotton spandex and has a good recovery.   I read the instructions and actually did what they said, and thus discovered this magical thing - the 3 step zig zag!!  I discovered it last in about 2014 and was totally excited by it for a year or so, and then I think I haven't done the ol three step since.  So it featured heavily here.

 

Then I figured I was on a binge and I should experiment.  It does not take much fabric - I still have half the width of that half meter cut!  So I went over to the dark side with some rib.  I had traced the XXS but didn't use it and yep, should have used it, this one is pretty loose.  Luckily I have a neighbor who does yoga and it fit her perfectly (before I got photos!). 

Finally I moved on to merino for the high neck version. To my surprise I LOVE this.  I might need to make another one like this before I put away the pattern, and maybe in something really compressive and secure.  Cause ugh, definitely not in merino.  The rolling little shits of bands made me nearly have a breakdown.  I also recommend double layering this in merino because it's quite loose, the bottom band is actually not snug at all.  The pictures make it look like my boobs are gonna fall out the sides but they feel secure enough. 

Now...I think what I need is some overall/dungaree things to wear over these tops.

Jalie Clara leggings review

 These were recommended to me by a friend who raved about the absence of a front seam.  I didn't understand what she was talking about!  I thought the Megan Nielsen Virginia leggings are the most advanced and perfect pattern, with only an inseam...but this pattern has you cut the the ENTIRE pair of leggings in one piece on the fold.  It's almost like Japanese patterns in 3-D origami ingenuity.  However as you see from my pictures - it means that you can't choose your pattern placement. 

I have some athletic knit from Blended thread (here).  What to do with it?  Obviously I had to figure out what the hype was about with these leggings.  

I started with some swimsuit fabric since it's so forgiving.  The first time you make these it takes a solid read of the instructions to understand exactly what's going on. Every instruction, classic Jalie, has its place...the gusset initially seems like it's gonna be really complicated but in reality it's not.  I also have just discovered the 3 step zig zag and so I used it every chance I could. It's so pretty!! (You only stitch down the gusset but that does seem like a good spot to reinforce.)

 

I made size S and was happy with the fit, that's per the size chart and in general is the size I make in Jalie patterns.  I moved on from my first pair to the beautiful athletic knit, cropped it 1" above the crop lines at the hem, and paid some attention to which waistband piece I wanted on the outside.  It took half the width of a 1m long piece of fabric.  Not bad!  Also it took less than an hour to make these.  WELL under an hour.  Excluding the time I wasted while avoiding the coverstitch machine.  The coverseaming went just fine.  

 

And some close ups to better see the gusset - sorry these are a bit fuzzy: 

 

I love these, and totally agree with my friend.  I don't necessarily care about front seams but the details like elastic in the waistband mean these feel really secure.  They are a compressive fit according to my friend Tessa - who sized up and was happy with her fit - but I find that my usual size didn't feel super compressive.  I think if you are on the fence about sizing, consider your fabric and size up if it's a very firm athletic knit.  I have been happy with the leggings I made from the Virginia pattern, but I just made my own yoga style waistband without any elastic in it and it's more prone to slipping down.  The Virginias are also very baggy below the calf on me, which I blamed on my swimsuit fabric...but no bagginess in these Claras.