Sunday 19 August 2012

Would I??? Could I???

DD (aged 19ish!) is out shopping with the girlfriends and sends me the following photo....
...and the added request of 'can I make this but without the threads hanging, hole in the side seam, baggy boob covers and crooked hemline?'  And reading between the lines I also could add 'within her price range, in her length (she is 6'2"!!!) and this weekend!!!' 

These light weight chiffon summer tops seem to be all the trend for the coming summer months for the younger age group. From the picture, I do like the use of 3 colours to also tick the colour-blocking-trend box. A simple loose design without many seams was needed to compliment the fabric. Chiffon is usually such a fiddly fabric, but well worth perserving with. And I will be in my element of joy with making a shirt, with French Seams! Ahhh, heaven...

So my plan of attack is to cutout a shirt from what I have, using pattern 6436 from McCall's. The sleeveless View A will be ideal, though minus the shoulder tabs. 
Not bad for an afternoon and evenings work, no cost and easy to do! I had an apricot chiffon fabric that was enough for the body, some blue dotty fabric, yellow binding, and 8 buttons all just sitting at the back of the cupboard waiting their turn. I quickly prewashed it, just incase it wasn't already, and while it dried cut out the pattern ready.


Close up of collar, sleeve binding and front placket. All these colours are 'In, In, In' in Australia at the moment. Whatever shop you look in, strong pastels are looking straight back at you. 

Cheating a little, the collar and front placket are constructed from a cotton. Just so much less fiddly than trying to work with that chiffon!!! But, since this is a one season knock-off I forgive myself.



Styled with a vest, you can see how I lengthened the shirt for her height. This normally wouldn't be necessary for most of us! So an extra button was needed.

I just loved the pattern! Though I did omit the back darts in this case, as DD was after a loose hanging top. The instructions were easy to follow, though I did notice that small hints such as clipping curves where omitted. This may cause problems for beginners. 

Main thing is at the end of the day, DD is really pleased with the top and plans on wearing it! Bonus! Current, trendy, and free! What else could a Uni Student ask for???

Will be making myself a few shirts up from this pattern in the coming months. But not in chiffon.Will stick with the light weight fabrics suggested. The pattern itself comes in various cup sizes A/B up to DDD. What a lot of time this will save.
That's it for me for this weekend, time to think about work...

32 comments:

  1. What a great mum you are! And this is a great top. Well done.

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  2. You must be the Fairy Godmother to whip up such a creation from thin air! I'm very impressed.

    Does your DD know how lucky she is?!

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  3. Wow! Your version looks so much better than the RTW shirt! I love your colour combinations with the blue, apricot and yellow.

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  4. Absolutely cool... May need to make on for me too...

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  5. I love this! Cheaper and better than you can buy in the shops, plus it fits. This is why we sew.

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  6. I love to see quality improve retail!

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  7. Great shirt, inspired mixing of fabrics - lucky DD

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  8. You are a wonder-mum. I can remember getting my mother to make me and my twin a pair of hotpants to wear the very next day (we were 13). She sat up all night sewing them and we were so proud of our designer hotpants.

    Nice to see this pattern made up as I have it in my stash.

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  9. It is a beautiful blouse. I think using cotton for the placket and collar is a great idea. It holds the chiffon in place and as you say, is easy to sew. I have been considering this style for myself(over a tank top) and I am way past Uni age.

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  10. Fabulous, Judith! What a CUTE top and you interpreted the original brilliantly and improved it. What a lucky DD! I don't make clothing for my 19-ish DD. :)

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  11. 900% improvement over the RTW version! SO cute - and I agree; what a lucky DD!

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  12. That's amazing! It will last five times as long too.

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  13. I'm completely impressed on many levels! Great job and I know she loves it!

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  14. Your version looks so much better! The color combo is so cute! The DD is super lucky to have a mom who sews...

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  15. Wowzers! That's ACE! That's so cool that your daughter knows you can create a better handmade version than the things she finds in the shops. Zoe xxx

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  16. How pretty and so much better than the RTW. What a lucky daughter.

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  17. Brilliant and she will get so much wear out of it and your stash has just got a wee bit smaller :)

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  18. Fabulous top! You did a great job. And a happy teenager is a bonus! :)

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  19. Saggy boob covers - you crack me up :)

    It's a great top - love the addition of the dotty fabric.

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  20. Isn't it great to be able to sew? You did a super knock off! Nice work.

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  21. What a fantastic job! Tee hee.... saggy boob covers. *snort*

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  22. Absolutely gorgeous!! You did a fantastic job with this, the colours are gelato-yummy and the style is real flattering and very now. I love it!

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  23. Judith, I just pulled out this pattern to make for my DD, (17). I was glad to see you make this up so stylish and current. It is the style my DD seems to be gravitating toward. I posted a similar top on my blog, purchased retail, crappily constructed. I'm off to cut!

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  24. Thats quick results. I bet your daughter loves your crafting skills.
    louise

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  25. Now that's a Super Mom. You did a fantastic job and the joy of your daughter loving it... priceless. Really like the idea of using cotton for the collar & button band.

    Thank you for the lovely compliment on my dress.

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  26. This is just beautiful Judith. What a fantastic top and loved the way your DD styled it!

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  27. Just beautiful - great sewing, and a clever use of what you already had!

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  28. this is a test....this is only a test....hide under your desk but do not be alarmed....

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  29. My test needs to be officially approved, but I believe a human is doing it, not a machine.... ;-D

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  30. What a super cute top! I love the fabric combination you used!

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  31. I love these quick jobs, that means instant gratification, but in this case it's double ... the gratification of a beautiful finished project with zero cost and gratification of your daughter smiling with her ​​new shirt. She looks fabulous!

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  32. That top turned out fabulous, bravo!

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