The weather today was so changeable, I sat here this morning trying to decide if I should put the laundry on the clothes line… or take photos for my blog. What should I do?
You might remember last post I was fighting to make my dress pattern work with my fabric and my body. That pattern lost. This pattern, on the other hand, McCall’s M6840 was a winner. I made view B but with short sleeves. Short sleeves since the fabric is so summery – but also after salvaging the fabric out of the almost completed dress, I didn’t have enough pieces left that were large enough to make long sleeves!
I even had to cut the collar in two pieces and join them with a centre seam. I am hoping my long hair hides that seam. (No one will notice … don’t tell!)
I like how they instructed to put the collar and the collar stand together. The collar was made and then it was sandwiched between the two collar stand pieces, right sides together. Then the outside of the collar stand was sewn on to the neckline of my bodice, right sides together of course. Then is was turned and hand sewn on the inside bottom of the collar stand.
I used contrasting stitching for my button holes. I wonder how other sewists finish off their button holes. I have never used my sewing machine to tie off my button holes. I pull the hanging threads to the inside and double and triple knot them – old habits die hard!
I was considering doing some top stitching on this top but ended up sewing a double row of stitching at the hems only. The length of the short sleeves was mandated by how much fabric I had left, but they turned out to be a comfortable, cool, summery length. I used single fold bias tape for all the hemming. I finished off some of the inside seams with single fold bias tape and some with my serger.
This fabric feels so fine – 100% rayon Batik. I love the front fly button closing hiding my blue buttons and the back pleat at the yoke.
Oh! … and to compromise I did put the laundry on the clothes line AND take photos for my blog.
This is a definite improvement on the dress I was trying to make with this fabric in my last post.
It was a beautiful sunny day today, but it was incredibly windy! I was fighting both to try and get decent photos.
Let’s just hide in the shade some..
To get a better look … no glaring sun and/0r gusting winds … let’s get an inside shot of Dolly wearing my top!
I’m quite happy with my new top. It will look great with casual pants or dressed up with a pretty skirt. I’m really, really, happy I didn’t continue with that awful dress pattern!
It’s been pretty busy in our family these past few months so I have’t had a chance to look for an “Indie” pattern for Indie Pattern Month at the Monthly Stitch. But I am enjoying all the Indie pattern activity that is happening! Keep up the lovely work ladies!
I have a lot of cutting to do tomorrow or there will be nothing for me to sew during the week. Do you cut a few garments at once like me, or are you the type to cut an outfit and then sew it up?
Happy Sewing!
Very pretty summery fabric.. perfect for that pattern. Nice!!
Thanks!
Congratulations! That fabric deserved a pattern that doesn’t hold it back.
Thank you! I am happy with this fabric/pattern now.
That is such beautiful fabric and I’m glad you made something that looks so lovely.
Thank you. This top is a big improvement on the dress!
Its a beautifully made, perfectly fitting top. I love your choice of fabric. Well done Linda.
Thank you! I’m not fond of pink, but the blue shades and the dark butterflies stand out!
It looks such a lovely, relaxed top – I especially like the dipped hem.
It is comfortable. Lots of room for cheesecake! 😂
Great save. Lovely fabric for the shirt!
I usually cut make and finish one at a time, thinking about the next one while I go along!
I couldn’t join in the monthly stitch contest this month either, new job, but you’re right, it’s great to see what everyone else is making.
Oh, I don’t like cutting. I prefer to get a couple done at a time. Of course that’s probably not the professional way to do it!
I don’t think there’s any special order for cutting out. Do it as you like. I only do it my way because I always want to wear it as soon as possible! 🙂
👍😃
Looks cool and comfortable. Good save!
Thank you!
lovely shirt, I love the fall of it, its a flattering cut, love the way the hemline falls to the back, gives it a great definition. normally i like to cut one day and sew another…. i think its my form of decide or do…. cutting is all about decisions for me, whereas sewing is just doing, and i find it easier to work at one or the other!
Thank you! Cutting and sewing are two different mind sets, aren’t they? Maybe that’s why I prefer one over the other.
Really like the shape of it, very relaxed and summery, love the fabric too, makes a perfect combination. 🙂
Thank you! Although I notice when the wind starts up, I could be pregnant under there! 😃
I think the pattern is perfect for that fabric, and that the short sleeves suit the print better than long ones would. Looks very summer-y and comfortable! 🙂
Thank you! It is quite suited to the summery weather we are having now.
I like this and I’m glad to see another sewist who likes the magic of bias tape finishings!!
Oh yes, the bias tape finishes it off so well. Although I don’t use it around the curve of the armhole. I just serge that. It’s just too bulky sometimes.
It is great that you managed to rescue this fabric and create a beautiful shirt. The batik looks fabulous, great colour palette and like it will be lovely for the summer. Xx
I love Batik fabric so much I am able to ignore the pink shades in this one. I had to save this fabric!
Hey, that’s a very pretty blouse. Interesting about sleeve length, my favorite is a 3/4 length sleeve. I also like how the blouse is longer in the back. Very nicely done, Linda.
Thank you! I always find a short sleeve with a sweater/cardigan is preferred for that hot/cold feeling.
Great save! Definitely fabric that you want to wear! I have this pattern and haven’t made it yet…but I love the flow of the bodice and the high-low hem. Just might have to whip one up myself:)
Thanks. If you sew it up, I didn’t make any changes to the pattern, just sewed it out of the package. I think fabric choice is important for the drapery style though!
I’m so glad you were able to salvage that fabric. Your blouse will be very useful through the summer. Well done for both photographing the blouse and finishing laundry 😃
Thank you! The pressures of daily living – getting those wet towels on the line and spending time on The blog! 😂
That’s a really lovely top! So glad you put that fabric to good use. I’m a big fan of a hi-lo hem – this looks great!
Thanks! I love the hem too!
Lovely shirt. I so admire your beautiful buttonholes – i could never be so confident, making buttonholes in a contrasting thread colour. Really like the pattern you’ve chosen too.
Thanks, I a really happy with the button hole setting on my machine. It makes life really easy for me!
What a great save, Linda! The dipped hem is pretty, the top looks so soft and flowy, and I like the back pleat (is that weird?) And a lovely breezy day for hanging wash, and looking so stylish while doing so!
Thank you! And for the record, I don’t usually look so stylish hanging wash… I was just trying to do two things at the same time – as us women tend to do! 😂
Haha, yes, sometimes we need 8 arms!
Your top looks great, must be so light and airy for summer. I love the bias edge finish on the inside what a lovely touch!
Thank you!
I envy your stick-toitiveness 😉. Your blouse is pretty. I don’t have the patience to salvage a fail to make an entirely different garment 🙄. And intermixing daily life chores helps to stave off guilty feelings of spending so much time sewing and blogging 😜.
I only stick to it if I love the fabric… And guilt is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? ☺️
Very well done to have salvaged the fabric and made something so good.
Thank you!
Lovely fabric. So glad you managed this top from it. Especially love the hem K xXx
Thank you!
Very nice top! I have this pattern in the stash and have always wanted to try it but haven’t gotten around to it! When I sew buttonholes on my machine, it automatically locks the stitch at the end, so I just snip off the threads and move on. I actually had to stop and think about it because all I could remember is that i just snip them off…but I couldn’t remember why!
And I prefer to work on one thing at a time. It’s just too easy to get distracted with more than one…and I’m messy too, so I don’t need to make it any more complicated than it is!
Thanks! I’ll be watching for your’s too. My machine might do something at the end of the buttonhole too. It does some back and forth repetitive stitches… I just don’t trust it!