Up first is a top from this Japanese sewing book, which I wanted to try as I was curious about the construction of the sleeves and the insert below them. It's a really nice, simple style with buttons down the back (I used snaps instead). The fabric is a light cotton from my stash with a seersucker-like wave to it. In the bottom set of photos you can see the side view of the sleeve and also the side slits - a lovely detail, I think.
Next up is a peplum top from the magazine Cotton Friend: Kids. This cute little number features an elasticised back with crossover straps. I used a linen-lookalike cotton from Spotlight. The pattern was really confusing and I still can't work out why I ended up with an extra (unused) pattern piece - most perplexing! In the end I just looked at the photos and figured it out from there.
This Oliver + S school bus t-shirt sat around my sewing space for some months due to indecision about which colour neckband to use. Finally guilt got the better of me and I just grabbed some grey ribbing and finished it. I made the stupid mistake of not shortening the neckband enough and consequently the fit around the neck isn't great. I should really re-do it - but will I ever get around to it, I wonder? The fabric is a knit from Spotlight.
Lastly, I couldn't resist this cute strawberry print - so summery! I really wish I could find something similar in a swimwear fabric. The pattern is the girl's singlet from Small Dreamfactory - a lovely FREE pattern that goes from 9 months to size 14. As I did with the one I made last summer, I crossed the straps at the back and added a little width to the front and gathered it.
But wait - that's not all! I put a photo of these up on Instagram on the weekend, but here they are in more detail: my two fruit bags from Cotton Friend: Kids. The pineapple is kind of a backpack with drawstrings; the strawberry is a little drawstring pouch. They were fun to sew and R pounced on them as soon as they were done, destroying my plan to give one away as a gift. I guess I might have to sew some more, then...
And that's all from me for today, except for this one last pic: R was adamant that there had to be a photo of her eating the strawberry, so here it is!
A great collection of tops and reviews of the patterns. going to try and remember that singlet for next summer. love the fruity bags too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Louise. Yes the singlet is a good one. I love a good free pattern, especially one that comes in such a wide range of sizes!
DeleteR is set for summer! Such wonderful tops! I too wonder what's with the spare piece haha
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenya! Yeah it's bizarre. It was a great big piece, too - most confusing :)
DeleteLove all of these Marisa, but especially that first one. My daughter had a knit ready to wear t-shirt with a similar shoulder frill / underarm gusset thing and I always wanted to recreate it. Darn if I don't need another Japanese pattern book. :)
ReplyDeleteAll the outfits look so good, prompting me to make A a denim mini for summer!
Thanks Shelley. I think I know the kind of t-shirt you mean; R has had a couple over the years and I've puzzled over how to recreate them. Yes you must make a denim mini - they go with everything!
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