I absolutely adored the new Lily Sage & Co Sea Change top when Debbie debuted it on instagram and rushed with unseemly haste to sign up when she called for testers. My love has not diminished upon making up a few either.
The top can be made in either a stretch or a woven, and I elected to make up one in each.
Exhibit A is in a deep blue stretch panne velvet, from the leftovers from Sam’s Magicka robe here. Basically, it’s a big, roomy, cropped, oversized velvet Tshirt. Ha! I know that sounds weird and like the kind of thing that has potential to be hideous, but I think it turned out absolutely not. I love it, unequivocally.
So, that’s top numero uno.
And theeeeeeeen…
Having done a little cleanout recently I realised that I had very few skirts that matched my lovely new top… the horror! I raced to rectify this terrible situation.
I unearthed from le stash a few smallish pieces of bright blue cotton corduroy, the leftovers from my dyed blue ray dress here. I had just exactly enough to eke out the pieces of Vogue 1247… o joy! It’s bordering on embarrassing how many of these skirts I have made by now. It’s such a fantabulous little pattern; a. on its own merits, nothing else considered; and also b. for using up a pile of awkwardly too-big-to-throw-away leftover scraps, and also c. it’s hard to have too many of these classic little A-line skirts in winter.
The brightness of the blue is borderline OK/not-OK for me. I’m humming and haa-ing about it a bit. I’ve been entertaining very tempting thoughts of dyeing it a deeper darker dirtier blue; a colour which I think will blend in a lot better with my current colours hanging in the wardrobe. But for now I’m just going to live with it for a while and see how it goes…
I bound the inner seam allowances of the skirt with some pretty pink and white polycotton gingham, itself the leftovers from a lemon-butter bottling project, and also used for this nightie. I have now used up every. Single. Last. Weeny. Scrap, of this stuff. Hurrah!
The only thing I had to buy new for this entire outfit was the invisible zip for the skirt… and then this is a whole new outfit ALL from leftovers! So it feels kinda free, in a way. Double hurrah!
But wait, there’s more…
Exhibit B.
My second Sea Change top is made from a very lightweight and drapey crepe from Fabulous Fabrics. All new fabric for this baby! It is a rather divine and heavenly pale pink in colour, and sheer enough that I decided to underline totally in a slightly deeper pink, poly chiffon. By “underline” I actually sewed all shoulder and side seams, the sewed the two different tops together around the neckline, right sides together, turned the chiffon top to the inside and under stitched and top stitched around the neckline… then, from then on, treated the two layers as one. So, that’s not really the same as underlining, but I have no other, more accurate word for that process. All seams are concealed away within the layers of the top and bands.
The armbands are the same stuff, in a garish lime-y greeny yellow that I was drawn to immediately. While I was petting it another lady in the store remarked, “that is your colour!”
*cue immediate purchase*
I bought enough for a matching skirt too. I’m rather excited about the skirt; which I have to confess is already made, finished and hanging in the wardrobe but not yet worn or documented, whoops!! anyway I’m excited about wearing it because I think it will go very nicely with both of these tops, and a whole lot of my current existing tops too. In fact, I’m quite looking forward to mixing and matching all these things in with my new and existing winter wardrobe.
Details:
Tops; the Sea Change top by Lily Sage & Co, (1) dark blue stretch velvet, and (2) pink and green poly crepe lined with pink chiffon
Skirts; Vogue 1247 lengthened, (1) blue cotton corduroy, and (2) yellow cotton corduroy, details here and my review of this pattern here
I love both of these, gorgeous colours, especially the green for the armbands. Snapped up the pattern last night about 10 seconds after Debbie posted that it was available….
Gah! That pink and grellow is so fabulous! The drape! The colours! <3
The inside of the skirt is so ridiculously appealing to the eye – pity you can't wear it inside-out! Just love it.
V nice indeed. And yes, garments made from leftovers are absolutely free.
i love all of those new makes! and once again, i admire your scrapbusting superpowers
I love all of these on you, especially the blue top – not hideous at all. They look fabulous.
Both of these patterns are perfect for your style. No wonder you have made multiples.
Divine. I adore your silk one, both of them really, it's such a delightful pattern, those wonderful, wonderful sleeves!!! – and I might also have rushed with unseemly haste & been wearing mine rather a lot – must get some photos 😉
Gorgeous, I especially love that velvet version, so glam.
Personally, I like the brightness of the skirt, and think it goes really well with the velvet top! But if you think that dyeing it will make it fit in with the rest of your wardrobe better, go for it. 🙂
Gorgeous! I love the 2nd top particularly. The colours are really perfect together.
Both versions of this top are beautiful! And thank you for the little tip of combining 2 lightweight fabrics. Sometimes I get confused on what to sew where, then can't turn my top right-side out! Always love the V1247 skirt! One can never have too many of those in the closet.
That second top in particular is gorgeous.
Love the blues together. And have been really liking pale pink too – the color of your silk is perfect. And what fun tops to pair with little skirts!
I have to agree the inside of the skirt is just so pretty! I must admit that pattern for the top would not have caught my eye, but seeing it made up I really like it!. I like that skirt pattern a lot.
Beautiful! Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
Yes, that green is definitely your colour. I especially love what you did with the second top – and ingenious way to "underline" it. Such a clever idea. Thank you so much for testing!
I am in love with the hong kong seams on the skirt. I am very much a fan of using every last bit of something – it is one of the most satisfying things in the world. Jo x
I'm surprised you don't wear that cute skirt inside-out. The detailing is beautiful!
And the green sleeves with the pink is an inspired combination. Gorgeous.
both tops lovely but I love the 2nd version, the sleeve detailing is fantastic- it really makes it special
Wow, these are stunning! I tried that skirt pattern once but made a huge mess of it. Seeing your versions makes me want to revisit it again 🙂
Love it! I musttttt have it
I love the pattern and both of the tops!
Love second version with the contrast sleeve bands.
Interesting top. Your versions look very stylish but I would not really have seen the potential looking at the pictures from the pattern's site.
I'm wondering about your poly organza lining/interlining though. The stuff I can buy here as poly organza is very sheer, shiny, stiff but with a lot of movement when it's off grain and very nasty and scratchy. I've used it on occasion as interfacing for sheer fabrics and always regretted that because little scratchy fibers poked through the outer fabric and the particular hand of this stuff often resulted in miss-shaped collars etc.
It's a material I would never ever use for a lining. Your pictures show something very different and I think you wouldn't choose to make and wear a top with such a nasty uncomfortable inside. And yet, that material was sold under the same name… Puzzling.
Woops! I'm sorry, you are totally right, the fabric I used is actually chiffon but I wrote organza in error. I've edited to correct this now; thank you for picking that up! 🙂
I am suffering severe wardrobe envy. Again
Great additions to your wardrobe Carolyn, and as pretty inside as out.
So lovely Carolyn and I think the aesthetic of Lily Sage & Co really suits you! Your sewing is impeccable as always.
Interesting top and very different silhouette between the two fabrics. Love the skirt from Vogue 1247 all your versions are very wearable.
Yes, that second crepe top is divine, so perfect… a very high fashion piece in my opinion… like that'd be at least $200 in the shops in Melbs!
xoxo
That top really compliments the skirt! I'm so glad to see this skirt again because I forgot about it and really need to make another one!
These are both such gorgeous tops! I really didn't think I needed any more top patterns but I'm seriously tempted by this one. I'd say stick with the bright blue of your skirt, it looks great!
This really is an interesting pattern. I do like the sleeve trim on the crepe top and the blue top is quite different in the velvet. Both the blue skirt and top go so well together. I really love this shade of blue and obviously the style of skirt as well.
Oh yes, these are perfect for you! Lovely colors for you as well.
Love the skirt! And it's great you were able to make it all from scraps! Go you! 😀