'crazy like a fox' top

here's what i made out of my fox fabric:  another variation of the pattern i used to make my purple palms and chambray squiggle tops ('A' from japanese pattern book: simple wardrobe).  this time i skipped the upper/lower panels on the front and back and  changed the curve of the bottom edge, making it come up to a point at the side seams (instead of the undulating curve of the original pattern).  i like the look better and it was much easier to hem.  the sleeves are shorter here and i gathered their bound edges just slightly.  on the two other versions i made flat-felled seams, but for this one i did french seams, which looks so nice with this delightfully light cotton voile.  i'm so glad spoonflower offers this fabric, it's perfect for summery garments like this, and although it's thin, the printing is still crisp.  i washed this before taking photos, hence the welcome crinkles.  yup,  this top makes me happy.  (in case you're interested, this fox fabric is available here).







 

floral cinch blouse

i wasn't sure if i'd like this style of top, but it seemed like it could be handy to throw on over a tank top on hot summer days, so i gave it a go.  turns out i like it quite a bit!  it's pattern A.01 from this japanese pattern book.  this is straight from the pattern with no changes (i made size 9).  next time i think i'll add a little extra length and maybe move the drawstring down a tad (usual tall-girl adjustments).  this pretty rayon fabric was a thrifted, gathered skirt.  i had my fingers crossed that all the pieces would fit on, and everything did!  (except for the bias tape that faces the front opening).  i could see making this top with a little button and loop closure and elastic through the casing, or even skipping the casing so it has more of an A-line, swingy shape.  hmmmmm.

chambray squiggle top

another shirt made from the same basic pattern as my purple palms top ('A' from the japanese pattern book 'simple wardrobe').  went with short sleeves this time, adding facings to the sleeve hems for cuff options.  the original pattern has more of an A-line shape and i wanted to remove some of the extra roominess, so i made the side seams parallel by trimming the edges of the front and back pieces coming straight down from the bottom of the armholes.  i'm quite happy with the fit now.  a perfect boxy shape for a lightweight woven tee.  this great 80s cotton fabric has been hanging around here for a while.  I actually like that it has some faded areas and a tendency to crinkle.  kinda just makes it all the more summery.

purple palms top

i want to make so many of the garments in the "simple wardrobe" japanese pattern book it was hard to decide where to begin...  so why not start with pattern A?  i like the dropped shoulders, loose/boxy fit and curved hem.  i made the smaller of the two sizes and lengthened the sleeves a good bit so i can roll them up, otherwise no adjustments to the original pattern.  this crinkly, gauzy fabric was something david had stashed away...  perhaps used as curtains at some point?   anyway, i quite like this quick and easy pattern and i'm exited to make another with a few modifications.

grey gathers blouse

here's a blouse i made recently using pattern #21 in this japanese pattern book with some pretty cotton fabric i picked up on clearance.

this was my second time using this pattern (first version here).  for this one i decided to dress it up by adding buttons and rows of lace to the front yoke (although, in retrospect, i think this made it look a bit like a pajama top).   i added 8 inches to the sleeve length and made a wide (3") hem for cuffs.   like lots of japanese tops, this was supposed to be pretty long...  to curb shapelessness i opted not to add the indicated allowance and finished the bottom with a 2" hem.



to make the button-up yoke, i added 1 3/4" to center front (for a 1" overlap).  here's the original pattern piece on top of the adjusted one:



a roll of half-inch masking tape came in handy for perfectly spacing the rows of lace.

blue pocket jumper

i was recently admiring this top, thinking about trying to sew something like it.  then, while flipping through one of my japanese pattern books (stylish dress book volume 3), i spotted a garment with a similar shape and pockets (N).  i must have passed it by a bunch of times, probably because the version in the book is make out of a bold floral fabric that really hides the details.

anyway, for my version, i shortened it as much as possible without showing the pocket linings,  put the neck facing on the inside (the pattern has it on the outside), faced the armholes and skipped the shoulder ruffles. 

i like the simple, utilitarian feel.  kind of like a work smock.  i might try drafting some sleeves next time.  the thrifted cotton fabric had some large, subtly faded areas which gives this top a nice worn-in look.

gingham picnic top

i'd been wanting to make myself a garment out of this vintage gauzy gingham for a while.  i like how the lightness and crinkles take the edge off the big, bold pattern.  went for simple and boxy...  starting with pattern D from japanese stylish dress book vol. 2, i shortened the body quite a bit and lengthened the sleeves a couple inches.  i finished the neck with bias binding instead of a facing and liked how that looked so much that i did the same on the sleeves and hem.  i cut the hem binding strips shorter than i normally would and stretched them to the max while attaching.  this pulled in and almost gathered the edges, giving the top a softer shape.  i'm really happy with how it turned out! 

(this first photo is one david shot with our polaroid land camera while we were out exploring).

floral tee re-make

my third top from my favorite tee pattern (#18 from japanese pattern book: check & stripe floral).

constructed the same as my beetle tee (documented here).

i really like this fabric, which was a second-hand tee.  i placed my pattern pieces so i could use the existing hem (even to make the little pocket), so this top came together super-fast.







before & after:





...and a stack of thrifted garments and fabric waiting to be (re)made into more tees!

beetle tee - finished!

i couldn't wait to share my first garment made from fabric i designed...  exciting!

i'll post some in-progress photos soon.

(buy beetle-bug fabric in my spoonflower shop).

    

new favorite

making custom clothing fit just right can be tricky, so i was happy to find that one of my japanese books had a t-shirt pattern that was (almost) perfect for me.

i used #18 from "check & stripe floral".  first i tested the pattern (luckily, my test tee turned out good enough to finish and wear).  the shoulders were a tad narrow so i extended them about 3/8" and brought the shoulder seams forward 1/2"...  and that's it!  i'm particularly pleased with the straight fit and narrow sleeves.

the striped and floral fabrics were both originally second-hand shirts.  i placed my pattern pieces carefully to keep the existing button placket and hem.  there wasn't quite enough of the stripes to do the entire back, so i added the floral yoke.  i finished the neck with a skinny strip of the same floral.  i'll definitely be using this pattern to make a bunch of new tees!











below:  the pattern pieces barely fit on the second-hand shirt. (i cut the original shirt apart at the side, sleeve and shoulder seams before pinning and cutting out my pieces).