Simple Top

A top, in time. I whipped this up at the beginning of the month, and I'm just now getting around to posting. It hasn't gotten much wear yet because the weather has been cool, but it's supposed to be a hot weekend, so hopefully I'll get around to wearing it soon too.



It's made from some Joanne's calico with Simplicity 4589 (which seems to be a popular pattern around here).

Too Scared to Alter

Ok I sort of cheated. I was too worried about cutting the fabric and trying to alter it. So I just did a test by basting it up to see how it would look without a zipper and I think it works. Let me get up some courage and maybe I'll alter it...later.

Comments

TOP!TOP!TOPS!

Hi all,This time,I made the top of 2 types from this book.
I recommend the book if you can understand (or translate) to sew something in Japanese.
However I think if you just see the book, maybe you have good inspiration !!
The design is so cute and they have many stylish pics.
Of course you can sew some camisole and one-piece easily!!



Pattern : no,05&11 from camisole and one-piece
Fabric : liberty print & linen
more pics is here
Happy sewing and knitting !!
joujouka

I'm Stuck

Well I was going to show my cabo halter when I was finished with it but I'm stuck. I need to make alterations. It says "If there is more than 1 1/2" left along the back raw edges on each side, then take in any extra amount evenly on each of the side seams to get your desired fit." Huh? Does that mean I cut it at the edge where the zipper would be?

Update: Ok lightbulb just went off in my head. Side seams meaning both the front and the back pieces. I couldn't understand because I thought it meant just the back pieces. If I had done that the pieces wouldn't have matched up. That's why I was confused. I GET IT NOW!! DUH!!

**UPDATE**: Ok no lightbulb. I just looked at it again and what I thought would work doesn't. I'm clueless.

Comments

Round 2!

It was H.O.T here in Oregon yesterday, 102! Ugh! I couldn't do anything but sew...even that was difficult with the iron going. Same top as before, just lengthened a little with a 2 inch band added to the hem...Denyse Schmidt fabric.

xo,
Pink Trees

First Step!!!

Why I ever decided to join a sew a long in June I'll never know! But, I did join, yes I did and I shall not fail! I will complete the top on time! Witness...I have cut out the pattern! I have this weekend at home to sew then we are going camping. I'll have 3 days to complete the top when we get back if I somehow procrastinate enough over the next 5 days. Believe me that is not a total impossibility!!

All done!

I know I'm really early for the "real deadline", but my own deadline was on Thursday (morning, 8am). I finished my jacket some moments ago and not a moment too soon. I love the way it turned out (I can actually fit inside it without too much sagging or it being too small somewhere else), it still needs a bit of ironing, but that's something I can still manage. But I know all of you are hungry for pictures so here comes:

It is taken with flash, but that's ok because the beautiful golden print comes out fine on the fabric. You see, it is past 10pm here and it is bedtime soon... I guess I can finally sleep now that is done and I don't have to go to my friends's wedding naked ;). The pattern is still the Burda 8103, changes I made is the clasp in the front and it is 5cm shorter than it is supposed to be... The pattern is a bit challenging, but I found the instruction adequate. I don't have any formal education in sewing, but I Finland the public school program includes some basic sewing and knitting skills.

Grr... vintage patterns!

Well, I'm not ready to show my finished product, but I do have a "scene of the crime" shot to share. I say crime because I didn't follow the pattern exactly, and I realized something about vintage patterns. Although the pictures look very cool, the cuts and lines aren't necessarily cool to wear today. I don't really like my top very much :( but I keep trying to get inspired by it. I keep thinking, if I just embellish it somehow it will be great. I think my unhappiness with this top is a result of my novice sewing abilities, and a pattern that is not really suited for my figure. Oh well, I shall keep at it, I'm not ready to give up just yet.

Sew Retro

For those of your who want to exercise more of your sewing muscles, two of our members, Anna and Alissa, have started a fab new sewalong called Sew Retro!


"Sew Retro is a sewing group for those interested in making vintage or retro style clothing. We're not limiting ourselves to only truly vintage patterns and/or fabric, but embracing retro and vintage styles in all forms.

We will be having various sew-alongs but with quite general inclusive themes (ie a Simplicity pattern, a flowered fabric, a 50's pattern, that kind of thing) which members will be able to join in with if they so wish.

We are also hoping to be an open forum for all things related to vintage pattern sewing, such as questions on pattern wording, fitting patterns to your figure, where to find certain fabric, notions, patterns etc as well as showing off your handywork and making us all jealous!"

A question on seams

Do any of you have any good techniques for finishing up the raw edges of the seams for those of us that don't have sergers/overlock machines? I'm planning on sewing a men's shirt this month and I don't want to it to look unprofessional and a mess on the inside. I've heard about sewing a zigzag stitch over the edge of the material. And I've also heard about French seams as well but I'm slightly concerned about bulk. Any thoughts on the professional treatment of seams for those of us who only have a sewing machine?

Finally for me!!

Simplicity #4589, view C using vintage fabric...which I should've known that it was a poly-blend before I scorched my ironing board cover! Oops! Does any one else have the "bowing" problem around the neck and back? Mine seems to bow out even though I've ironed the heck out of it!

I'm already digging into my fabric stash to make more! The pattern was easy and straight forward; no changes were made. I think that next time I might make it a little longer perhaps.

xo,
Shanna
Pink Trees, formerly Pink Rocket

I still haven't made the Rosie the Riveter shirt (still a few weeks till deadline, right?) but I did make another summer blouse. This is Butterick 4467, with quilting cotton from the clearance table.

time to publish my testtop

I finished my test top a week ago, and is using it gladly....
It is made of an old duvet case from my childhood- early seventies...thats perhaps why the fabric feels so nice on ?
Pattern: An old danish magasine "Alt om håndarbejde"- found in a second hand store.
I think the band sits a little bit wrong and that makes the top to loose in the upper part. I fixed it with a small needle with pearls. But want to ajust the pattern a bit with my next top.

Ellen

bright ditsy and pink!

Hiya, Louise here of Louise makes stuff, based in London. I ditched the project I had planned on making for sew I knit after a little shopping expedition to John Lewis on Oxford Street where I picked up the fabric above called bright ditsy. I never wear pink, but those little yellow daisys really caught my eye. The fabric is 100% cotton and should be nice and cool for the summer. I am using Simplicity pattern 4123 - the pattern looks very similar to Simplicity 4589 (Alissa's project below). I am making the top with the capped sleeves that hopefully won't make my arms look too chunky. I might put some yellow rick-rack across the front too but I will see what it looks like once it's finished before I decide. The top is well underway and I should finish it before the end of the week. more soon...

Another Blouse Down!

Pattern: Simplicity 4589
Fabric: Heather Ross "Dandelion."

Details here.

Princess Seam Blouse/Shirt

More photos can be found at my Flickr "Sew? I Knit!" page here.

Fabric: An unlabelled, mixed-fibre, blue and white striped shirting from my grannie. The warp (or is that the weft?) is a synthetic and the weft (warp?) is a natural fibre.
Pattern: From an old issue of "Essentials" magazine. Pattern number E177
Modifications: Well - I modified the front pieces to accomadate my "boobage", turned the 1 piece sleeve into a 2-piece so I could add width at the upper arm without altering the sleeve cap, I ended up using the attatched facing strip as extra frontage becuase it was still too tight on me without it! I cut a new facing crosswise on the fabric. I did the same at the back of the collar and collar stand.

I finished my top. This pattern was super-easy, even for me. My only complaint is that the front gapes open a bit. I may wear it over a stretchy tank.

It turned out like I wanted: a fun, cool, casual summer top. I'm hoping to make some chocolate brown bermudas to wear with it.

Pattern: Butterick B4549
Fabric: Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy
100% cotton

Gauzey Camisole

Project Details

Pattern: Newlook 6466
Fabric: 100% cotton gauze

Very simple pattern, no modifications or alterations were needed. The pattern was very simple to follow. Yes, I would make it again.

See more pics at my blog!

Erica B.

For my next trick

The jury is still waaaaaay out on when I'll dive in but I intend to make the short-sleeved version, as long as those sleeves aren't too capped because cap sleeves make my upper arms look like 20 pounds of sausage stuffed into a burlap sack. If they are too capped, then the long sleeved or sleeveless.

Pattern Chosen

At last I've chosen my pattern and fabric for the current project. I'm going to make Vogue 2308, an Anne Klein wrap top in white linen. I'm looking forward to getting started on the actual sewing.



All the tops finished so far look great!