Hello everyone, My name is Emma and I’ve been sewing for the last 4-5 years and my sewing adventures can be found @sewdoitemma on Instagram or over on my blog at www.sewdoitemma.com.
Amanda asked me ages ago if I would like to write a blog on one of the fabrics she has and I was bowled over. Not only has she got a beautiful collaboration of fabrics but I love watching her stories on IG as she has a lovely personality.
Choosing a fabric was hard from the stunning and extensive choice but my eye kept coming back to this little beauty, a mint linen-viscose blend. It’s perfect for blouses and tops and with this heat that the UK seems to be receiving, anything breathable and light is very welcome in my book!
I chose the Sagebrush top by Friday Pattern Company as I tested it and since then have thought about it non-stop. The fabric has incredible drape which will reflect well in the Sagebrush.
Since I’d already made a Sagebrush Top, the construction was straight forward. The fabric was really easy to work with and not slippery. I over-locked all the edges as viscose seems to fray and being a linen-viscose mix, it has that characteristic! Some people don’t over-lock woven’s but I do. It might not be the proper way to finish the seams or the edges but my goodness, it’s quick, simple and anyway who is going to look that closely?
The pattern pieces easily take up 2 metres of fabric because of the volume on the sleeve and the ruffle which is cut out on the bias. I’ve tried so many ways to try and save some more fabric but it hasn’t worked, so I just go with the cutting layout. Although I’m short, I’m plus size and sometimes that uses more fabric but I think in this case it’s the puffy and dramatic sleeves.
Firstly, I opted for the 4x size as that gave me enough ease for my hips. I didn’t alter the length as I like having the option of having tucked in fully or doing a french tuck.
As the ruffle went into the front pieces, I could see the end in sight, it just looked amazing if I say so myself.
I added two labels to the back of the top, “This Took Ages” one from Pink Coat Club and “Made by Me’ from The Crafty Pinup Shop. Both either blend or complement the mint fabric.
Sewing my second Sagebrush went like a dream. I already see so many potential outfits, both casual and dressy that will blend in with both shop-bought clothes and me made
I’ve already cut out another Sagebrush and I can see this top being such a wardrobe staple. Also, I’d love to do a hack to make the Sagebrush a dress and make a sleeveless top version
I wasn’t aware until I was typing this blog up that my finished Sagebrush looks like one of the models – so funny and I can highly recommend this or very similar fabrics for the sagebrush, it sews up beautifully.
Thanks for reading!
I’ve made so many sagebrushes and never realized I was supposed to cut the ruffle on the bias! Ah well, I still love how they turn out. I also usually shorten the sleeves on mine (a snug elastic cuff around my bicep doesn’t make me want to leap out of my own skin the way it does when it’s down near the tender crook of my elbow) and that has helped me save a little fabric, too. Anyway, I love this version so much– I’ve generally been too annoyed by fraying to work with slithery-drapey fabrics, but I also am an impatient beast and never finish my raw edges. Maybe that will be my sewing goal for this summer!