My latest project. Do you like the name? I know, right? I could get a job at Anthropologie, thinking up delightfully poetic tag-lines for the clothing, for sure. I am sometimes capable of romanticism, and dreaming up evocative monikers, conjuring up a magical wonderland way of thinking and engaging the senses in a positive way. I could have gone with something along the lines of Black Magic, or Chocolate Swirl or Liquorice Twist. Nicer, yes? But a twisted sense of humour prevents me from behaving all “delightful” all the time.
Besides, have a look at it, spread out on the lawn, recovering from its dye-job. Decidedly bat-like, I think.
So, this is one variant of the design from p47 of Pattern Magic 3, by Tomoko Nakamichi. Like much of Pattern Magic 3 so far, I thought this a very easy project. My thoughts with this one, a very drape-y knit is essential to allow the pointy bits to flop down into each other attractively; and when you put it on you have to pull and fold the layers to sit just so or it can look a bit weird.
Side views:
It started out its life this colour below, and then subjected to 1/4 tsp iDye, in Brown. I initially bought 2m of this brilliant blue fabric which as well as being very cheap had the added advantages of being very light, very drape-y and 100% cotton. However I only have room in my life for one bright blue top and so dyeing was always on the cards for anything made out of the leftovers.
And yes, I have been doing a lot of dyeing lately. Actually, to say I have run a dyeing marathon would be no exaggeration. I’ve been on a fair dinkum dyeing bender!!
But results of the exciting dye-fest will have to wait until pictorial evidence has been collected. You have been warned…
I finished the neckline and armholes by simple turning under the raw edge and topstitching with a twin needle. This is a great and very easy finish for knits, not as polished a finish as the banded edge, but the perfect choice for something like this top where bands would have visually been too much detail on a top that is already chocka with textural detail. Those little shark fins at the hips are as much detail as the eye can take in my opinion, and the plainer the rest of the garment the better.
Details:
Top; from Pattern Magic 3 by Tomoko Nakamichi, bright cobalt blue cotton jersey dyed with iDye in Brown
Shorts; modified Burda 7723, of yellow embroidered cotton, details here
Sandals; Misano, from MarieClaire shoes
Over-exposed and super highlight-ed to show up the folds better… and doesn’t this make the sky look amaaazing??
Is that the garment in the shot on the lawn? I'm having trouble visualizing how it works! I love this sort of sculptural thing.
Another great top!
I just finished a neck edge like this, but mine didn't look nearly as good as yours. Mine wants to curl outwards. Any tips?
I adore your pattern magic garments.They look so fabulous on you.
Definitely batty, a nice fruit bat sort of shape (on the lawn) and very elegant on you.
I am looking forward to your dyeing projects.
Another completely amazing top (and that blue one is so versatile, you certainly don't need more than one, you could wear the blue so many times). Are all the patterns in that book sleeveless? Not that I'm up to snuff to try them, but I was thinking I might work my way up there – but I'm not a fan of sleeveless, on two counts – my 56 year old arms and the weather here in Britain.
I seem to delight in coming up with twisted titles sometimes myself. They probably don't make huge sense – they certainly don't tell what the post is about – but they amuse me no end and the words just seem to demand to sit on top of the post no matter how much I try (not very hard) to resist.
Don`t you just love dyeing things? I usually do variants of tie dye really more of fold dye, but that doesn't make sense to most people. The top looks great, I will have to keep an eye open for this book.
Another fun item from that book. A resource you are not letting go to waste. Good for you! To many times we purchase books and with good intentions and then let them languish on the shelf. Always a joy to see your creations:)
It took me a minute, but I see it! I see how the top, laid out, translates on your body. WOW, that is soooo cute!!!!
I am loving those shark fins on you!!!
Love your batty top! I would never have thought that such a bright blue could end up such a different colour from just a little dye.
Another fabulous top. I am still trying to work out quite how the bat on the lawn translates into that amazing shape – but give me time….
I'm trying to wrap my mind around how the shape in the grass could possibly be the interesting looking top you have on….
Ooooh how fun! How on earth do they come UP with these ideas! I, too, get it (after staring for a moment) but inventing the concept in the first place is beyond me…
It looks great on you!
& p.s. – I meant every word of my other comment – it made my day to hear that it made your day 😀 😀 😀
Batty is a good name for that one. Getting my head around how it works could do exactly that to me. The finished product however looks fantastic!
Love it. And I've now bought the book:)
I really love this, it looks so cool on you. I'm like the others though not sure I could ever figure out how to get that on!
Another great Pattern Magic top. I really like the way you're happy to dye things – I really want to give it a try.
I really like that this is a tank top, but it is so much more than that with the interesting shape and texture on the lower half. Do you find that when you dye fabric it retains its color okay in the wash?
Oohhh wow! What a beautiful pictures! Carolyn,You are looking gorgeous in these clothes.Just awesome. Get such an eye catching handmade clothing online by visit us at http://www.freshseams.com/
Pretty – and I love how well it drapes! The color turned out great, as well – very versatile!
I love the color you achieved. A fascintaing pattern. It almost looks like the wind blew it that way.
What a great top. I am hopeless with patterns in general, I just don't have the patience for much at-home-sewing. I am starting to think that Pattern Magic might work for me. The end results might just be worth the trouble for me!
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