I’ve made a new top. It is a plain little top, but to my eyes the lovely thing about it is the fabric; a beautifully soft cotton gauze, and the charming hand-painted look to its print.
A short story…
About
a month ago I was meeting with some friends, and one friend was a little late. When she arrived, she explained that on the
way she had spotted a cute top in the window of a shop, and just had to screech to a stop and check it
out. She tried it on and then bought it,
totally on the spur of the moment. We
all duly admired the top and chatted about the pros and cons of spontaneous vs
carefully planned purchases. Important, life
altering stuff, I know!
a month ago I was meeting with some friends, and one friend was a little late. When she arrived, she explained that on the
way she had spotted a cute top in the window of a shop, and just had to screech to a stop and check it
out. She tried it on and then bought it,
totally on the spur of the moment. We
all duly admired the top and chatted about the pros and cons of spontaneous vs
carefully planned purchases. Important, life
altering stuff, I know!
Anyway,
after our get-together, which happened to be in Glyde Street where Calico and
Ivy is situated, I popped in to check out the offerings. Saw the range of nani IRO double gauze, fell hopelessly
in love all over again, as I always do when I go in and see it there. It occurred to me that maybe I could buy
myself a little top too. Except of
course that my version of buying a little top is buying a piece of fabric. Inspired by my friend I just decided to
spontaneously go for it.
after our get-together, which happened to be in Glyde Street where Calico and
Ivy is situated, I popped in to check out the offerings. Saw the range of nani IRO double gauze, fell hopelessly
in love all over again, as I always do when I go in and see it there. It occurred to me that maybe I could buy
myself a little top too. Except of
course that my version of buying a little top is buying a piece of fabric. Inspired by my friend I just decided to
spontaneously go for it.
And bammo, new top! Woot!
I wanted the print to be the star so wanted for a very plain, simple and relaxed silhouette. I used New Look 6483, one of my really old old old tried and trues that I’ve had for many years. Not exciting, but a real goodie nonetheless. There are probably tonnes of patterns identical to this one.
This
print is called Painting Check. My very favourite
thing of all about it is the way the print fades away towards the selvedge and
I wanted to use this feature as a sort of “border print”,
although obviously it isn’t actually a border print but the complete opposite. It’s a reverse border print!
print is called Painting Check. My very favourite
thing of all about it is the way the print fades away towards the selvedge and
I wanted to use this feature as a sort of “border print”,
although obviously it isn’t actually a border print but the complete opposite. It’s a reverse border print!
But
I like ideas that are turned on their head so it’s definitely my kind of border
print. To keep this feature firmly in
focus I left the selvedges unhemmed. It’s an uncommon choice but I think it works really well for this particular fabric, and I really like how it looks!
I like ideas that are turned on their head so it’s definitely my kind of border
print. To keep this feature firmly in
focus I left the selvedges unhemmed. It’s an uncommon choice but I think it works really well for this particular fabric, and I really like how it looks!
The
two body pieces are cut from one selvedge edge and the two sleeves were cut
from the other. The sleeves still have
the fabric ID on them, which I find quite charming.
two body pieces are cut from one selvedge edge and the two sleeves were cut
from the other. The sleeves still have
the fabric ID on them, which I find quite charming.
There was only 1m left on the roll, which wasn’t quite enough for the hip width required for my pattern pieces. So I cut them as wide as possible and just left the side seams open in a slit from the lower waist down.
Side,
sleeve and shoulder seams are flat-felled, the armscye seam is overlocked and
the neckline is finished with a narrow strip of bias cut cotton voile,
stitched, understitched and then topstitched.
sleeve and shoulder seams are flat-felled, the armscye seam is overlocked and
the neckline is finished with a narrow strip of bias cut cotton voile,
stitched, understitched and then topstitched.
Details:
Top;
New Look 6483, nani IRO double gauze “painting check”
New Look 6483, nani IRO double gauze “painting check”
Shorts;
Burda 7723, white linen, details and my review of this pattern here
Burda 7723, white linen, details and my review of this pattern here
Thongs;
Havaianas
Havaianas
So pretty!
This is so pretty! I love how you used the fabric.
Love the blue check. It is so pretty. Yay for spontaneity!!
You rigth this fabric is fabulous !!! Again a great top ! XOXO
Very pretty! What a lovely neckline. You match The colours in your backdrop in this sweet top.
That is a very cute top and will come in handy in the hot weather.
Hello!! I think I missed a lot of your makes lately… Your new top is so pretty, I love the fabric, but above all, I love the way you finish all your seams. Soo neat!
This is a cute little top made with a great piece of fabric!
Very creative use of an unusual fabric. The insides are so neat too. Beautiful top.
I love the print on this fabric & double gauze is just so nice to wear isn't it?! I've got a scout tee from double gauze & would love to buy some nani iro se day. I love your outfit!
It's gorgeous! I love the print and how it fades would have knocked me out, too!
I love that top. Really special. It's a great outfit too. I think that fabric is really special and perfect for summer… cool but still good sun cover. I have to check if there is any of that fabric on this side of the rabbit fence.
I like it! Super fun print!
A great way to use the borders 🙂 And how did I not know about this shop?!
I have to spend a little time checking out your latest makes! So beautiful Carolyn! I adore that check print!
Lovely. I really like New Look bodice drafting. They seem to work very well for many people.
A wonderful summery top, love how you have used the fabric.
How exciting to create something so lovely from a RTW inspiration. Your version is probably more beautiful and unique than the original.
No, I was inspired by my friend's act of spontaneity, not by the actual top that she bought. Our two tops look absolutely nothing alike!
So perfect for summer!
Beautiful that your back drop mimics the faded border of your fabric.
thanks Cyrena 🙂
It's a lovely top. I like the idea of the fabric description being left on the edges. Seems quite subversive, somehow!
Such a lovely summer top!
Such creative and beautiful fabric placement!
OH, I love this so! Such a beautiful way to celebrate the print. I've fallen in love with these double gauzes myself (had to restrain myself from purchasing some on more than one occasion) but I never actually knew what the texture/hand was, so I appreciate these close-ups! Looks like the absolute perfect thing to wear in the summer.
🙂
you always make such lovely things that suit you so well. Quite inspiring 🙂
Love it.
cute as can be
So pretty. I love how you recognize the potential in a basic pattern and turn it into something that doesn't look basic at all!
Now I know what that fabric is called. I was given some double gauze for my baby boy, and wasn't sure what to do with it, so I ended up making one tiny pillow case. Your top came out really lovely!
Your top is simple but striking. It is similar to the Scout tee and this is one of my favourite patterns and tops to wear.
Love, love the fading check print. So you just added length to the sleeves?
thanks Patricia! yes, I did 🙂
That print/pattern combination is so effective!
The top is gorgeous and the fabric TDF. This is right up my street.