Friday, January 13, 2017

New Year, New Tops

We are all into the new year and I am only now getting around to blogging.  That fact only proves that some things (your deep values and personality traits, for example) don't change much over the years.  But I have enjoyed the luxury of creative time my happy sewing space and have a few things to show for it.  

You heard about this tunic a post or two ago.  I'm still not crazy about the large scale print but I'm loving the design lines and have at least four more planned for the future...I was almost going to say "near future" but let's face it, that would be a lie.  
I took the body of my Pamela's Pattern T and morphed it on to the bottom pattern pieces of Butterick 5925, a Katherine Tilton pattern..  Butterick 5925 My TNT T shirt has a simple, lowered scoop neck but in the pic I am wearing an infinity scarf I made to coordinate for cooler days.  I like how the scarf moebius strip coordinates with the pocket twisted edge.
Butterick 5925

Butterick 5925 with great pockets and infinity scarf
I've also stolen copied  borrowed an idea from Coco when she made a "slip" for a burnout knit top. Cocosloft slip
I didn't have the see through problem with this heavy rayon knit but I did have the sticky bottom problem...where rayon knit loves to cling in unsightly lines to your jeans.  I imitated her idea with my TNT pattern, gave it some extra ease and sewed one up in a heavy but semi-sheer knit.  It did exactly what I wanted (think you, Coco) and provided a slippery extra layer between the top and my jeans.  No rear stickage.

Next up was Vogue 9057 V 9057 from the other Tilton sister, Marci.  I did the exact same procedure of franken-patterning my T which has a bust dart in the right place for me and a sleeve that is high enough with a narrow shoulder to the shaped hemline in Marci's Vogue pattern.
Vogue 9057
The fabric is a very lightweight ITY border print from Fabric Mart with abstract blue hearts.  Since the hearts have a direction I couldn't place them at the top of the garment so I did the next best...or maybe better thing, and cut the top out with the border to one side...and did the sleeves to follow that same dimension. 
Vogue 9057

I like it!  You can't see much of the shaped side angle in either picture since I have on black leggings but there's a nice line on the front piece that angles to the back.  Once again, with some collar variations there could be a whole new selection of tunics in my wardrobe this year. 

And while I am not going to put a close up on my "new" eyebrows and eyeliner "permanent make-up" I will say that one week later the major swelling has gone down and just as promised the pigment contrast is down by half.  No more Kabuki theater make up look.  I'm happy as can be to have eyebrows on my face again and the eyeliner sure makes for a quick an easy out of the house routine...put on some tinted moisturizer/sunscreen, dust with mineral powder and go.  Maryland friends, I'm glad to give you a reference to the very experienced gal in Columbia who did this for me.
Now it's back to my sewing room to put a serious dent into preparing for my upcoming sewing retreat. I hope you have a sewing project or two that is calling out to you for a fun time together.

7 comments:

  1. These are both lovely! The blue hearts print is so unusual, love it. Happy new year!

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    1. Thank you, Coco, for your comments and great slip idea.

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  2. The pattern blending worked really well. Two great tops. Thanks for sharing Coco's slip idea.

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    1. It's wonderful to share the inspiration and techniques that we learn along the way, isn't it.

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  3. I love both! These are elegant and gorgeous. Great jobs.

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    1. How nice of you. I'll be wearing the black and hearts one to my book group tonight...amidst some very fashionable ladies so I'm happy that it turned out well.

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