I have been sewing for fun last weekend (meaning it wasn't homework for my class, now finished). I find it really relaxing and now that I have reclaimed a small corner in the room that we call study, it is so much easier to sew in short bursts of time. I am really really happy with the new arrangement but look forward to having a dedicated room sometime in the not too distant future (still waiting for the building warrant).
I made a sleeveless top. The pattern I used was the
Seamwork Addison top. I had made a toile last weekend and moved the bust darts to follow my bust line. Otherwise the fit was good, the pattern was drafted as a C cup and is loose fitting, so no bust adjustments needed.
Actually, I made one and a half sleeveless tops. I started of with a blue fabric that Richard claims makes him feel dizzy by just looking at it. I rather like it but I guess he has a point. I was nearly finished when I stupidly cut a big long hole in the back (whilst trimming back armhole seams). Not just a straight cut, a proper hole. I don't have enough fabric left to replace the back and will have to research mending strategies at some point. But for now, I stuffed it into the bottom of a bag and hiding it from sight, denying its existence. Poor thing.
Instead, I made a new top with fabric had been feeling neglected in my stash box for a year and a bit. It is such a happy print and makes me want to skip with joy. Just look at the bursts of colour. It is very me.
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| Not perfect but not bad for my first ever blouse collar |
I didn't fancy the pointed collar and turned it into a Peter Pan collar. I just love Peter Pan collars. Why are they called that? The collar adaptation is described in the current issue of the Seamwork magazine, easy. I love this magazine, it is online only, which is a shame if you would like to take it to your hammock in the garden but on the other hand, the $6 subscription comes with two free patterns each month. The patterns are simple but well drafted. Seamwork is part of Colette patterns.
The construction of the top was simple but a little strange and involved some head scratching and wondering. At one stage the nearly finished top needs to be rolled up and the roll tucked away from the side to the middle so that the armhole facing and main parts can be sewn together. I can't actually get my head around this, didn't get the point of it and, lazy as I am, I tried to just line right sides up and sew the facing on but then I couldn't turn the top right side out, the top had turned into was some kind of
Moebius loop.... and had to rip the seams up again. I followed the instructions from then on.
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| I might have to take in the slight armhole gape. Haven't noticed before. Note to self, a little bit of tan would be pretty. |
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| Working at home, pretending to be busy... with the webcam! |
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| Yes, I am bored. I booked a hairdressers appointment because my hair is once more on the wild side. |
I am really pleased with the top, I am wearing it today even though summer has taken a break this week, it is a bit on the chilly side. I goes well with a cardigan. I have another top ready to sew, it should be a quick make, too. The Seamwork patterns are all designed to be sewn up quickly, which suits me just fine, I like instant or near instant gratification.
Have a wonderful Tuesday! xx
It looks great I love that fabric and yes the top one makes me dizzy too! I did that whole rolling it up weird thing to make a lined dress for my daughter (I had to work it out for myself as I wasn't following a pattern) I never expected it to work but when it did I literally gasped with joy! I love instant gratification projects too otherwise they gather too much dust ;)
ReplyDeleteI love it! It looks very nice on you. The colors are bright and cheerful, the collar is really cute, and it fits so nicely from what I can see. A great success I think. How exciting to be planning a room for your sewing, I can't wait to hear more about it. Hope you're having a good week so far. :)
ReplyDeleteThat blouse is very flattering on you - both the bright colors and the style. In love with the Peter Pan collar too!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I agree with your husband on the first fabric, but LOVE the second one and it's such a flattering style.
ReplyDeleteIt really suits you, I love the bright colours. We are in need of a cardigan here too.
ReplyDeleteThat fabric is just gorgeous, it is indeed very you! xx
ReplyDeleteToo right summer has taken a break today :) I seem to be saying a lot "it's lovely when the sun comes out!!!" Still your new top would bring a lot of cheer and I do notice that the Brits are all firmly in their summer clothes despite the goosebumps. Well done you, I'm sure that collar was tricky yet looks great.
ReplyDeleteWren x
The collar looks pretty perfect to me! I've not heard of Seamwork before I'm off to have a google x
ReplyDeleteLove the top, the blue fabric was lovely too you must post some images of where the hole is so we can come up with an idea to fix it. xx
ReplyDeleteGreat top Christina! I actually liked the fabric on the first one as well. Sorry about the cutting incident. That's just the kind of thing I would do. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou look wonderful in it, I would not change a thing! I just want to reach in the computer screen and give you a hug,
ReplyDeleteMeredith
Wonderful! I love the pattern and the fabric it really suits you :) x
ReplyDeleteFabulous fabric and a really lovely blouse. Hope the sun and warmth return to Glasgow soon.
ReplyDeleteFantastic sewing!! The collar and blouse both look really great! Hope you can figure something out with the other one too!
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely on you. I hope you can rescue the blue one... It's great fabric.
ReplyDeleteWonderful fabric and really cute top! I think that weird facing technique is called the "burrito method" on this side of the pond. It's a little surreal and definitely non-intuitive.
ReplyDeleteWhat about replacing the back of the blue blouse with a solid or very small-scale print? Maybe with a band of the dizzy-patterned fabric across the back hem edge. Then if you liked you could use the contrast fabric for the collar and even put a band of the contrast across the front hem for a sort of arty colour-block effect. (I can see all this in my mind but am probably not describing it very well.) Good luck with it! :)
Your suggestions are great, thank you. I'll have a dig in my fabric box for a suitable replacement back. I am also going to google the burrito method, it is mind boggling.
DeleteShame about the blue fabric but the colourful one is fab. What a lovely top - you did a great job. It looks super on you and it's lovely to see your smiley face :-) x
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised you are pleased! Your top look stunning and perfect for this time of year. I'm going to have to research these patterns! Have a lovely day :) B x
ReplyDeleteLove that top, with or sans cardi. I'd have to make an announcement in the local paper if I'd made something so fab.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely top. As mentioned above, a lady from my sewing group made a cowl neck top with paisely jersey on the front and cream solid on the back and it looked really up to date. Keep your eyes peeled for blue jersey I say. If you can sew an underwire like that you should be making bras for yourself! Jo x
ReplyDeleteHey Christina,
ReplyDeleteLove it!y favourite party dress and blouse both have peter pan collars. I'm a big fan. You suit colour so very well.
Leanne xx
Your new top looks gorgeous - what a happy colourful print! Sorry about the scissor-slip with the blue one. I do that kind of thing and it's so annoying. It's a complex enough print, I would think, to make a mend possible. Plain fabrics it's impossible to mend unobtrusively but a reasonably busy print is quite mend-friendly. How big is the snip? If a mend is out of the question, Mrs Micawber's and Jo's suggestions are probably your best bet. I think it might be worth trying a mend and seeing how satisfactory it is before dismantling the almost finished garment and replacing the whole back. In a way you've got nothing to lose and might save it, as is. Good luck! E x
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely top! I am inspired enough to ask what the fabric might be? I have recently had to put to one side nearly all my blouses. They all seem to button down the front and gape in an unattractive manner. Time to go a-rooting in the fabric stash and start planning.
ReplyDeleteWhat a very pretty top, the fabric is fab, and the top goes very nicely under the cardigan, always a plus for Scottish summers. Your description of rolling up the top made me shiver, this sort of thing is why I will probably never make my own clothes! X
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