Hello Sewcial Sewists!
Ruth Potts here AKA @ruthypotts on Instagram and I’m back again sharing another of my sewing adventures!
Like many people around the UK I recently packed my summer clothes into boxes and pulled out my winter clothes from under our spare bed. I’ve come to really enjoy the annual switchover because it signifies the changing of the seasons (isn’t Autumn gorgeous!), but it also feels like I get a brand-new wardrobe. There’s something quite exciting about rediscovering old makes and finding new ways to wear them.
My winter wardrobe is quite distinct from my summer wardrobe, with lots of soft jersey dresses and jersey tops for layering, compared to swishy viscose and cotton dresses and tops. What I’ve realised lately, however, is that my winter wardrobe is somewhat limited when it comes to non-jersey separates. While I like the cosiness of jersey tops (I highly recommend the Tilly and the Buttons Agnes top!), they don’t always feel dressy enough for work. Consequently I’ve been thinking I should make some woven tops to wear to work over the winter (I’m still teaching in person at the University where I work).
I recently chatted with Amanda on Instagram video chat and she showed me some of the gorgeous new fabrics that had arrived at the Sewcial Studio. I may have gone on a bit of a shopping spree! How can one shop have SO many gorgeous fabrics!? One particular fabric stood out during our video chat was this gorgeous ruby red viscose with its tiny ditzy leaf print:
Over the lockdown period, I found myself eyeing off a few patterns for floaty and relaxed fit tops. I was quite tempted by the True Bias Roscoe Blouse pattern. as well as the Friday Pattern Company Wilder dress (made as a top) pattern.
However, the Tessuti Hillary Top Pattern popped up on my Instagram feed, and really struck me as a simple, but elegant top pattern than could be dressed up or dressed down.
The pattern has big statement sleeves and an elastic gather detail at the shoulder. It also has a peplum feature with pleats. I had found the ideal pattern! Ten minutes later I had bought and printed the pattern off, and stuck it together while watching a Disney movie on a wet afternoon during the Firebreak Lockdown in Wales.
I decided to make the pattern without the peplum, so when I traced the pattern off I simply lengthened the bodice by 15cm. Otherwise I made no other changes to the pattern, and made a size M (My measurements are – B: 37, W: 31, H:38).
This was such a simple, but satisfying sew! The top came together very quickly. After overlocking the edges of my fabric to prevent them from fraying (you can also zig zag them on your sewing machine if you don’t have an overlocker), I whipped up this top in a few hours.
The elastic detail at the shoulder looked tricky initially, but was actually incredibly simple to sew. It just involved making a casing channel for the elastic by folding the fabric over and sewing it, before threading some 20mm elastic through at the shoulder.
After that it was simply a matter of attaching the facing and sleeves to the bodice before hemming the bottom of the bodice and sleeves.
I’m incredibly happy with the finished top! It’s exactly what I had in mind. I think this top will be great for work, as well as trips to the cinema, brunch, or even the Christmas Markets in the coming months! Who knows, maybe this will even be my Christmas top this year! It’s definitely the right colour for it!
Happy sewing everyone, stay safe and see you next time!
Ruth