We're having some hot weather here - hot for us anyway - and I finally got around to making up a top that's been in the back of my head for most of two years. I was inspired by a top I saw in an online catalogue. I loved the lace down the front and the oversize ribbon ties. It took me a while (and several iterations) to find everything I needed to make my top but I love the way it turned out.

The pattern is Simplicity 3835 (again). This is officially the fifth time I've made up a version of this pattern and I don't think I'll be stopping here. It's just such a versatile design and so easy to tweak and customize.


My fabric is the cutest thing possible - polka-dots and eyelets - and came from Goodness in Japan last April. It's always so hard to cut into special fabrics. I knew last year that this fabric would be perfect for this top but I just couldn't bring myself to take my scissors to it.


The lace is just plain cotton lace from Wal-mart (sadly the only place to get non-quilting fabric and notions here). The ribbon came with the Crafty-Slacker-Giveaway last year - it was just holding everything together but is probably one of my favourite items from the parcel.


After so long in my head this top came together very quickly. I only had one moment of panic - just after cutting out the front piece. I slid my fabric along my table in preparation for cutting the back (the extra had been hanging down over the edge) and saw this:


Not enough to also cut the back on the fold!

I kind of stared at my table for a bit and then started thinking again. I was fortunate and was able to fit the back pattern piece between the cut I'd already made and the selvedge* - Yay!


I'm always planning to make my tops from this pattern without the back seam but it always ends up being there anyway.

I don't know why I had such a clear idea in my head that the fabric lining the lace was supposed to have a raw edge. I was surprised when I looked up the picture just now and sew pleats instead. Maybe I actually thought of that myself. I like it anyway and that's probably more important. It would have been nice to cut it on the bias but I didn't want to end up with those weird triangles that are so difficult to use up so I cut it straight and spent a little while carefully pulling out threads. I think it will look even better once I've worn and washed my top a few times.


I used French seams throughout (as usual). They make my clothes feel sturdy and tidy and give a bit of extra structure to simple shapes. I was thinking of using some bias tape to trim the underarms but decided it would feel too bulky and did a narrow hem instead. I added an extra quarter inch to the necklines when I was cutting out the pieces in order to form a casing wide enough for my ribbon; it finished up at about half an inch wide.

There is a button hole under the bow. Again I was surprised when I looked up the picture and saw the bow on the shoulder. I've a feeling it would slide around and bug me so perhaps that is why I thought I had to go the button hole route. My button hole came out perfectly on the first try which I thought was pretty awesome.


I used my bodkin to thread the ribbon through the casings. I never use my bodkin. I don't know why. It made the whole process really easy and I must have bought it just for doing this sort of thing but I've never used it before. I'll have to use it more in future. It's way better than a safety pin.

I've got running around to do this afternoon (I have the day off work) and I can't wait to wear my new top. I'll try to get some pictures of it on me (maybe I can draft Rob to be photographer while he's home for lunch). I know things can look so different on a hanger than they do on a person. Now it's time for a quick shower and then making up the grocery list.

*I love the word selvedge. It's kind of fun to say. I wonder what the "selv" part means?

So, about that mail ...

It was actually two packages: one from The Workroom and the other from Mokuba (who don't seem to have a proper website), both in Toronto. What are all these lovely goodies for? Underwear.


Amy, of Angry Chicken, has been talking about making her own underwear for a while now and I thought it was kind of cool. Then I saw what Karyn, of Make Something, had made and they were so cute. I've been wanting to learn how to sew with knits and underwear seem like a perfect little starter project.


Karyn's underwear were made for a class at The Workroom in January so I called them up to see if they still had the pattern and fabric in stock. They did so I placed my order and waited for it to arrive. The pattern is this one and the fabric is a bamboo jersey that is just so soft. I got two different colours, just a half metre of each.  I can't wait to wear it (If I can get the hand of sewing with knits I'm thinking of getting more and copying one of my favourite tops). The Make Something pin was an extra in my parcel and is currently sitting on the shelf above my sewing machine; I'll need to find it a good permanent spot where I can always see it.


In her blog entry Karyn also suggested places to find trims. Since I had a few pictures to work from I decided to go with Mokuba since they are in Canada and it's always nice to shop 'local' (I also couldn't find anything nearly as nice online). I was shopping mostly blind but the woman on the other end of the phone was really patient and pulled out and described all sorts of things for me while I pictured them in my head and said yay or nay. It was so much fun to open the package.


Now that I've got everything together I can't wait to start sewing ... as soon as I'm finished this quilt top.