All posts tagged: easy top

Good Golly Miss Molly

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Does Molly need any introduction? I don’t think so.  There’s Molly Tops everywhere, all over the internet, and probably in a city near you. It’s part of Sew Over It’s new capsule wardrobe for a city break.   And whilst it’s not the first of their patterns that I’ve bought (I have a paper copy of the Pussy Bow blouse) it’s the first one i’ve made. I’m a bit of a sucker for buying ‘bundles’ of patterns as even if I only make 1 from the bundle, as a Yorkshire lass I need to have felt like I’ve had value for money. I’m not here to promote the patterns, but in case you’re wondering, there’s a top, stretch jeans, skirt, shirt/shirtdress and cardigan in the collection.  Apart from the cardigan, I can see myself making all the garments.  And soon! So far I’ve made 2 Molly Tops.  It requires 1.6m of 140cm wide fabric.  I had 60cm of some gorgeous floral jersey and about the same of a coordinating soft grey. Both were bargain remnants …

Laura After Midnight’s Dimpsy T

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A few weeks ago I bought Laura After Midnight’s new pattern the Dimpsy T.  I originally intended to make it for TMS Indie Pattern Month but life got in the way. Today, however, I needed a quick fix. As I’d already traced off for the Dimspy T it was easy to decide what to make! I had traced it off in a size 14.  I’m really in between a 16 and 18 across the bust, but my greaseproof paper would only fit a size 14 on and I’d no sticky tape to hand, so a 14 it was! As the size was likely to be a bit on the snug size I decided to make it up in a stretch fabric.  I had some fabric which hasn’t even made it upstairs to my stash yet.   I bought it when I popped into John Lewis in Newcastle on Thursday.  (it was only 3 miles away from H’s cricket match – how could I resist!). Here’s what I brought!  Think I must’ve needed cheering up, or maybe brightening up …

Sewing with Heather and Silk – The Reveal

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Remember I went on a sewing with silk master class with Heather Jacks from the GBSB? Well I have finally finished my silk blouse!  Not without a few choice words, a few tweets to Heather and quite a few moans of exasperation! The sleeves had me and more than once it could have easily gone in the bin!  I usually sew sleeves in flat, then sew the side seams after.  I can’t remember ever using ease stitches for anything. I sewed 2 rows of ease stitches at the end of my sewing lesson but didn’t have time to set them in. Here’s what happened when I got home, after I’d bought some Janome blue tipped needles that Heather advised, and plucked up courage to tackle easing in silk sleeves! From here on things went swimmingly!  I’m no longer afraid of sewing with silk.  The hems on the bottom and on the sleeve were a doddle.  Heather said to run the overlocker round the bottom to give a neat finish and make the edge easier to work. I …

Taking a breather from my Holly Jump suit – Newlook 6217

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This week I’ve muslinned (? a proper word?) the Holly Jumpsuit twice.  And I went shopping for fabric (and bought 2 extra pieces)!  Then I needed a quick fix before I dived into my Jolly Hump Suit,  mmm…, or should it be Holly Jump Suit?! (i’m laughing here, that was initially a typo but it’s stopping! lol….still lolling……!  (I’m Jumping Into June in case you didn’t know! If you want to read more about it and see who else taking part head over to Chris’s blog here…….) Anyway, moving swiftly on.  Whilst looking for something else I found this pattern which came free with the Love Sewing Mag (I think!!) Without delving in my stash I knew I had the perfect fabric for the top – B.  The fabric I’d just bought to make my Holly Jumpsuit!   I did buy an extra 1/2 metre so it’d be ok.  It was really quick to make, except I used bias binding nearly everywhere.  It was ready to go out and meet the girls at 3pm for a late …

Vogue 1429

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I spotted this pattern a month ago and immediately thought “golf!”  I’d been on the look out for a  top with a collar that was a little different from the usual polo style top that golfers wear.  Not just because I wanted to be different, I’m a tad scared of plackets! This pattern was marked as easy, so although the collar didn’t look too straight forward, I thought it would be easier that the dreaded placket. I chose to make the sleeveless version as I didn’t have enough fabric to make one with sleeves.  I was either going to use a grey ponte knit (leftover from my sisters coco) or a black viscose jersey (refashioned from an old top).  For the contrast I was using some leftovers from my scuba knit espresso leggings. I wasn’t being a skin flint using the scraps – this was hopefully going to be a wearable muslin – according to the instructions I could alter the fit on the side seams if needed, and other than that it should fit! …

Butterick 4219 – Hoodie

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I’d bought this pattern a few weeks ago with the intention of making the hoodie for my son. Even tho it’s a girls pattern I didn’t think he’d mind, as long as I don’t make it in pink.  I rummaged in my stash to see if I could find anything to use as a toile (for me!) and found a remanent of salmon & black jersey, and some soft black jersey, I had to make the hood and arms in the black as I only had an 80cm length of the salmon.  Here’s cutting out the back and front….as you can see the top was always going to turn out a bit short…. Managed to just about squeeze a cropped hoodie from the fabric, even used pins in the process…..my mum will be impressed! Was a bit of a nightmare top stitching the sleeve seam , ended up with the entire sleeve around the foot of the sewing machine. If there’s an easier way can someone let me know (please!). Here’s it all finished, I …

I must be mad!

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Woke up at 5:30 – alarm set for 7, working 8/18 today. Have to make something to wear for tonight!! I’m off to the new Leeds Arena to see a famous Bollywood singer, not sure of his name tho! Being invited by a golfing buddy – she has a box and its a freebie! Taking my mum and one of my best buddies, Martin, too. Rummaged in my stash (quietly as to not wake my hubby) and found a metre of a gorgeous bright slinky jersey. I cut out version D of newlook 6648, omitting the gathered waist band, but extending the top the full length of the fabric. Hopefully it will be long enough to wear as a dress! Fingers crossed! It’s now almost 7am & I need to get ready for work, load my machine into my car and go and save some lives. With a bit of luck I’ll get it done between call outs. Failing that I get a whole 37.5 minutes for my break!

Pattern Review – Newlook 6648

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Here is a top I whipped up in around an hour (Worn with Simplicity Sewing Pattern 1696 – Misses’ & Miss Petite Amazing Fit Pants – review to follow shortly). I’d called at my mum’s for a cuppa and spotted this pattern whilst having a rummage in her stash. I quickly said goodbye and dashed home to see what I could find to make it in. I chose a black/grey/white chevron fabric in a slinky jersey which cost me £4.50 for 1.5m from Leeds market. It was REALLY easy – I didn’t use the instructions except for sewing the neckline. I made view A.  Here is my full review: Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?  Yes Were the instructions easy to follow?  For the neckline yes. I’d never used that method to finished off a neckline before.  The neck band was placed on the right side with 2 rows of stitching. I then pressed it and top stitched on the outside. The neck band …