Spring top.
Friday, April 30, 2010 at 12:16PM 
I told myself I would sew a top and enter the Spring Top Challenge hosted by the wonderful Made by Rae. Well, at 10 o'clock last night, I figured it was now or never because entries were due by today. I wish I hadn't waited until the last minute--when I don't have time to plan out a sewing project, it always ends up so slap-dash. But in the interest of 'keeping it real', here's what I whipped up.
I made all sorts of mistakes. First, I only have cotton in my stash. This particular cotton doesn't really drape so this top could hang tons better. Or, you know, at all, instead of poofing out and adding a solid inch of circumference girth. I didn't have a pattern so I just winged it and went with a simple circle neck--but to make it a little different, I added a few pleats to give it a slight ruffle. I also wanted a tie-neck because my intent is to mostly wear this as a shell under cardis.
So am I entering it? Yes. Even though I'm a little sheepish about doing so--have you seen some of those tops?? Swoon. But I'm doing it because a) it was a goal, and b) I believe part of the spirit of the challenge was to motivate some of us who semi-regularly sew to actually sew for ourselves (I think many crafters craft for others). And you know what? After this, I may indeed have a bit of the "selfish sewing" bug. Also, I think I will wear this top--it's not so home-ec that I'm too embarrassed to, so that's good. But I'm ordering Cal Patch's book asap. And I think a dress form just got bumped to the top of my wish list.
Here it is under a cardigan...I like it styled this way best.
And because I think nothing screams high-fashion like a photo shoot in the bathroom without a stitch of makeup or your hair brushed--but hey, there's better light--I feel compelled to leave you with these. I'm sorry.
Happy sewing and happy Friday!
Reader Comments (3)
You make me laugh. My last entry photo (crazy bird vest) was taken with me standing IN my bathtub (great lighting) and I set up the tripod in the bathroom. Since the bathroom wall behind me is white my auto focus wouldn't work without me in the photo frame, therefore the timer wouldn't take a decent picture so I quickly had to teach Luca how to take a photo with my camera. Now that I write it down I realize I should have mentioned that in my post about the vest. It's pretty comical.
This top gets my vote! You're right - in a drapey fabric it would really be lovely!
excellent job!
Such an adorable top! Well done. I hope you win :)
Jana