Two New(ish) Tops

Oh boy, do I have a series of garments to post about!  Since January of this year, I have completed eight new tops and two dresses.  I also have two jackets and one other top in progress.  I have not managed to take even a single photo, because it has been cold and I have been sick on and off again. Those two things combined have made my desire to get dressed up and be all photogenic runaway and hide until spring.  Well, this past weekend that desire returned and I got all the tops photographed!  I still need to photograph the two dresses, but at least I have a lot that I can share now.  Once I finish the two jackets, hopefully in the next couple of weeks, I can share them too.

Butterick 5753

Remember, way back in January when the theme was Jungle January?  Yeah…I did make this garment for that theme.  Sadly, this was the only top.  January was the tail end of the craziest season at work I have ever experienced and I feel lucky to even have gotten this one top finished. The multi color mystical zebra is a spandex knit that I got from my Jungle January Swap partner last year.  Since we only swaped 1 yard each, I let this fabric languish in my fabric stash for a year before figuring out what to use it on.  In the end I think I decided on the perfect garment to use it for.

I used Butterick 5753 in view A for this top. It is the second version of this top I have made, you can check out the first version here.  This is one of those patterns were every piece is cut single layer and as a result uses way more fabric than you would think it should.  This one top used three yards of fabric!  Three!!  I used one yard of black ponte and one yard of the mystical zebra spandex knit.  Because the spandex knit was so much thinner in weight, I underlined those contrasting stripes with one yard of black spandex swimwear lining.  The total fabric cost of this top was $13.79, which isn’t too bad.  It is on the pricier side for a top that I have made, but it is still well below what I would have paid if I bought this at any store.

I do enjoy this style of top because the color blocking possibilities are virtually endless. This makes it a style that I can keep sewing and not lose interest in sewing. This mystique zebra fabric though! Oh boy, do I feel so very 80’s when wearing this top!  I still love the heck out of it though. It is fun and I keep thinking of that Bowling for Soup song 1985 every time I see this shirt in my closet.

Simplicity 2690

This was the first top I cut for my Pattern Review wardrobe collection and I was so excited to make it.  Speaking of that,  I have come to the conclusion that there is no way I am going to finish the wardrobe collection by Thursday.  I made all the easiest garments first, even though that was not what I planned, and did not leave enough time to make and fit the Ginger Jeans pattern for the first time.  I did complete six of the ten pieces though.  I am still planning on finishing the other four, just not right now.

For this top I used Simplcity 2690 in view C.  It calls for 1 5/8 yards but I managed to squeeze it out of just a yard. What’s more is that I got this fabric for only $2.99 a yard.  This is the lace printed chiffon I bought at Zinick’s this past September.  I still have 2 yards left too.  I am not sure what I will use them for though. Based on the finished measurements chart, I chose to make a 22.  It ended up fitting perfectly without needing alterations.   You can read my full review of this pattern here.

 

I did not add the inset at the bust that the pattern calls for because I am going to have to wear a tank top out of it since it made of chiffon.  I thought that the inset would be pretty pointless since it will not provide any modesty coverage, plus it would have been the only piece that was double layer chiffon.  Overall, I really like this top.  This chiffon is different than any other chiffon I have used.  It is almost like it is a georgette.  It is super soft.  I really like this style of top on me too.  The empire upper bodice combined with the lower skirt bodice creates a great flattering silhouette on me.

I have tried a few other patterns that are the same style as this one. McCall’s 5436 is one of them and I have to say that they both have their good and bad points.  This version has a a curved underbust that meets in an inverted V at the center front, which you cannot even see because of how busty I am.  Because of that the method for inserting elastic is more difficult than need be.  The McCall’s version is straight and allows me to create an elastic casing out of the seam allowance, making is so much quicker and easier.  I prefer the sleeve length of the Simplicity version to the McCall’s version.  But I like the length of the McCall’s version too.  I think I need to make both versions one more time and  write a pattern versus post with side by side comparisons.

Just because I found some real OMG pictures after my photo session, I thought I would share them with you all. I present the first of the series.

I am calling this “Wind, What Wind?”.  That is some hair happening there.  Is this what being photobombed by Mother Nature is like?  The hubs is calling it “Flock of Seagulls” hair.  I have to acknowledge the truth in that and give him props for recognizing that comparison.