I went shopping the other day looking for some warmer clothes. The stores have been having a very large amount of fall clothing on display. I was giddy at the thought that I might get to buy something new. I found several outfits that I really liked, unfortunately they do not come in my size. This is a common problem for me. Most shirts, the sleeves are to short after the first wash or the pant legs are never long enough in the style I want. This has been a problem since I was about 12.
Now as I have gained weight there is yet another problem with clothing. Finding what I like in my size. The entire reason I took up sewing was due to this issue. I have been sewing since I was about 14 years old. My skills in sewing are constantly improving. I love to search out the fabrics and trims for my ideas. One of my favorite things to do is to learn new techniques in sewing, trying new machines, painting and manipulating textiles into something new. I am crazy about upcycling and restyling garments into something different. This month I chose to make this top from a pattern and new fabric. I found a pattern that is similar in style to several tops I found in the stores and I bought the fabric at the local Joann’s fabric store.
The fabric I chose is a knit fabric that looks like a sweater. I originally was thinking that I wanted wooden buttons for the front of the top but, what I ended up buying was black buttons, and I love that there are so many button holes. In the end I think maybe the fabric might be a bit heavy for this pattern.
When you look closely at the fabric it has a lines in the design. I decided to have the lines go vertical rather than horizontal in the hopes that it gives a more slimming effect. This fabric is very stretchy, and I had to be careful in laying out the pattern. As in my sewing projects this takes the longest in the whole process, the preparation. This pattern was easy and quick enough that I want to make several more and experiment with fabrics and trims.
The top is sewn with 5/8” seam allowances. The knit fabric unravels very quickly as you are cutting and sewing, so I serged the seam allowance together and then stitched the seam allowance down to create a flat felled seam. In the shoulder seams and around the neck I added seam tape to reinforce the seams and keep them from stretching when I wear it. To finish the top, I hemmed the sleeves and the hem of the top with a cover stitch. The whole project can be completed in one afternoon.