Simplicity 3842 with Upgrades!

Remember this pattern:
And this fabric:

I combined them to make this top!

Ok, so I wasn't able to use the Diamond Mine fabric but I've got enough of it to make myself a purse to go with this outfit!! WOOHOO! lol That'll be in 2 weeks though.

This was a very easy pattern to follow and make. I did have to make a couple of "upgrades" though. lol The first change was a major one; the sleeves. I mean look at that pattern picture, they look like sausages or something! I envisioned for my top beautiful, flowy sleeves. It took me the better part of an hour learning how to make the changes necessary to the pattern to remove the gathers and change the shape. But they do look lovely! The second change was just not making the inset for the front. Since I had to wear a camisole for this top anyway I thought I might as well skip it.

One change I wish I would have made is the tunic bottom. I should have made it 1 size larger to give me slightly more ease. Other than that the top is perfect!

I decided to add this lace trim to the front after finding it in a large bag of notions I scored from a garage sale. I think it really finishes off the front of the tunic.

Here is a pic of the inside looking oh so lovely with french seams and all! Since this top was unlined I decided it needed a nice inside finish. It was my first time doing them and it does take longer with the extra step but it is so worth it!

You also get a peek at the bias binding that finished off the V neck. I didn't realize I needed it (I should have read the pattern thoroughly) but was lucky to also find this in my big bag of notions.

Working with this fabric was a dream! If you haven't tried sewing with Anna Maria Horner's Voile line I highly recommend you do so especially if you like to make yourself lovely clothes! It was so soft but not slippery. Very easy to sew with.

This top is going to be perfect for my trip to the hot and humid midwest next week.

Voiles are Heavenly

Little Folks Voiles
Coloring Garden - Sea
Diamond Mine - Ink

Isn't this picture just beautiful? And it's even more beautiful in person when you actually get to touch it! My new acquisition has been so fun to work with! It has even made pressing after the wash a pleasure just for a chance to handle it. I'm going to start cutting into it today and work on my new top.

90 Minute Shirt

Made Caleb a 90 Minute Shirt last night. Since it was my first time it definitely didn't take 90 minutes but the next one will be faster. =) I used an old long sleeved tshirt I found at a garage sale. The binding is from another tshirt that was super soft.

I really liked how easy it was to make. My pattern needs a little tweaking though. The front neck is too high but it is still wearable.

Isn't he too cute! This is him just woken up. lol I couldn't wait to try it on him this morning. (And for the record I did not wake him up; he was already up.)

I was finally able to use my "P.S. I Love You" tags that I bought at the Quilt Show I went to in the Spring. I think it's too cute!

More of these shirts will definitely be popping up. They are so easy to make! (Did I mention that already?)

Definitely Spoiled!

Last night I was browsing an online fabric sale and I was able to purchase some beautiful fabric to make a top for myself. My husband definitely spoils me. When he first saw me browsing, he mentioned that he thought I had enough things to make right now but he still said ok to buying the fabric!

What I bought was some of Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks voile fabric. I've been dying to see this fabric in person and be able to touch it but none of the local fabric stores carry it.

Coloring Garden - Sea (Main Fabric)

Diamond Mine - Ink (Accent Fabric)

Melanie at Above All Fabric was helping me out last night via Twitter figure out my yardage. At first I wanted to get the Torii Tunic pattern from her shop then I remembered I had this pattern:

Simplicity 3842 - Bias Tunic Top

I wanted to make a very "flowy" tunic top and this fits the bill! I'm not keen on those sleeves though. I'll be changing them to bell sleeves.

I've been wanting to fill up my closet with clothes that I've made for myself and this will be a nice addition to that.

Not Easy Being Green

I finished!! I made my top for the Spring Top Week event!

As I mentioned before I had a top that I loved but was shaped like a tent. Since I've no plans to become expecting any time soon I did a little reconstruction and took the sides in a little. I really loved the finished product! So much so that I decided to make my top for Spring Top Week just like it!


I really challenged myself in making this top (besides doing it at the last possible minute). Since I had no pattern to go on I had to make my own using the old top. However, I still want to wear said top and didn't want to take it apart so there was a lot of stretching and maneuvering to get the right size.

I already knew the fabric I wanted to use, some pretty white and green floral cotton knit I got on sale at Beverly's. And as an accent fabric I decided to upcycle my favorite green maternity shirt my sister bought me that was no longer stylish since the puppy decided to put some holes in it.

The most difficult thing about this project was designing the shape of the sleeves. I've never done sleeves like these before so was doing some guess work but they turned out great. This is also the first time I've done any shirring but I found it so easy and very fun to do. You should try it out some time! =)

I took a bajillion pictures to try to get a nice pic to enter into the flickr pool. I hope what I ended up with will be alright. Not sure if I'll win any prizes with this shirt (I hope so!) but I sure loved making this top!

Just under the wire for Spring Top Week

Tomorrow (ok today actually since I'm writing this at 1:00am) is the deadline for the Spring Top Week hosted by Made by Rae. As one of my Pattern Challenge goals I wanted to make myself a top for this event. Well, I believe I'll get it done just on time. lol I had my fabric picked out for quite some time, some knit fabric I bought at Beverly's. I was just waiting on inspiration for a shirt style. I finally picked out a top that I already own. I love how it fits me (especially since I did a little reconstruction to it). I've cut out all the pieces and in the morning (when the sun comes up morning) I'll sew it all together and cross my fingers that it comes out right. I'm having to do some new and daring things that I've never done before with this one. Experimentation! I love it! Especially when it works. Wish me luck! Deadline is 8pm EST. I'll of course post pics of the top when it is done.

Adding To My List....

of things I need to make!



I bought this pattern the other day hoping to use it with this fabric until I read the fine print and discovered it was a BIAS tunic/top pattern. I was a little disappointed b/c I don't think this fabric will look good cut on the bias. Oh well, I liked the pattern still so I decided to hang on to it and find some fabric to make a top with.

Well, this morning a friend of mine came over to visit my daughter (she's her Sunday School teacher) and I invited her down to ask her opinion on something completely unrelated to sewing (she's awesome at interior design). Then we got talking about sewing since my machine is out and there are boxes of fabric around. She pulled out one piece to ask me about it and as I explained I remembered this beautiful off white satiny piece I had in the same box (another friend went through her stash to destash it and gave me 2 boxes full of fabric and this piece was in it).

When I first had seen this piece I thought it would make a beautiful top and now I had the perfect pattern to go with it! There is slightly over 3 yards of material so I have plenty to make the tunic version. I've never worked with this kind of fabric before so it will be a challenge. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm planning on making a muslin one first to make sure I get the measurements and all the directions right.