Jalie brilliance: Jalie #3132

Why has it taken me this long to try out a Jalie pattern and find out how good they are? Probably because they are really expensive to get in Australia: the cheapest I found was through an ebay seller that was selling them for $20 (postage included and really fast shipping) which puts them at the same price as fancy schmancy designer Vogue patterns.

But right now I am in need of some breastfeeding friendly clothes and I've read many favourable views of Jalie #3132 so I decided to try it out myself.  It comes with a normal version and a nursing version, with or without a hood.

And the pattern lives up to the hype - it was quick and easy to sew, and functions just as it should.  It looks ok too - it's just a plain v-neck t-shirt after all, but it's what I need to hang out in the playground.  In fact I liked it so much I made three versions.  First up I made a version in the same cream and black stripe cotton interlock that I made the leggings for Toby.  I wasn't sure how it would work since it wasn't very stretchy but so far it seems just fine - the tshirt hasn't stretched out and I can still access the necessary bits.

Please excuse the crumpled look, I had been carrying around a wombat all morning! I found this version a little too long for me even though I shortened it from the pattern so it's bunched up a bit at the bottom -  I don't really like tunic tops because they finish at my widest part.  I ended up lopping a good 15cm off the pattern for the next versions.  Next up I made one in a very stretchy cotton knit in pink with a white dotty pattern, quite a departure for me as I don't normally wear pink but it was in the stash.  Unfortunately I sewed this with white thread, so the hem of the overlay part on the front is very visible:

Finally I made a version in the blue and white stripe knit that I also made leggings for Toby from (just to increase the chances of us wearing matchy matchy clothes!), jazzed up with a deep red binding at the neckline for a bit of fun.  I think this is my favourite version:

So this pattern is brilliant but still quite simple.  The pattern has a normal version and a nursing version.  The nursing version is essentially two layers - the bottom layer is full length but has cut outs at the side like thus:

there is a midriff panel sewn over the top on the outside layer to cover it all up:

which means all you have to do is lift up one to get access, but your stomach and back aren't exposed at all:

Please excuse that look on my face - I felt a bit silly taking this photo, not that you can actually see anything. 

Whilst I really like the idea of this pattern, v-necks are exactly my favourite style so I think I will try sewing the bottom layer to tops with other necklines such as boat neck (my favourite) or round neck which I think should work just fine.  It could probably even be adapted to a simple dress style too although knit dress aren't really my favourite either since they are clingy in all the wrong spots! But I am very happy at having bought this pattern because breastfeeding tops are unbelievably expensive and so I've already justified the cost of the pattern.

Thanks for all your comments to the last post -I'm amazed that so many of you are so conscious of what colours suit you when you're sewing or shopping.  I've always just picked whatever colour I liked, focusing mostly on whether the fabric type is suitable for what I'm making or whether a garment goes with other items in my wardrobe, but now I will try to make a more selective decision.

In answer to Sophie's question in the comments to the last post, I can't remember whether my mystery emailer suggested green as a colour to wear but I quite like a lot of greens and much like Mary Nanna I tend to wear whatever colours I like too.  That green suit up there in my blog header is one of my favourites, but I suppose it's a warm olive green.

And for Sew Squirrel, the rayon print is quite a large scale print so it will make a very bold dress when I make it up!  I bought it from the Remnant Warehouse in Sydney if you're after some, but I think you're in Melbourne aren't you?