09 May Simplicity 2497
While sewing my casual knits the ruffles were calling my name, and I answered. The craving to sew ruffles was stronger than any craving I’ve ever had for chocolate, but I tried to be practical and made an all-purpose white shirt.
Of course it’s all-purpose!
Mood Fabric’s Ivory Solid Goes with Everything Silk really does go with everything in my closet!
It’s perfect with my re-fashioned floral pants….
party ready with my celebration skirt….
and very practical when combined with jeans for a walk in the park. That’s right – if Kate Spade wears silk to the flea market then I’m wearing silk to walk the dog 🙂
I believe I can even take it to a formal level!
Sewing this converted Cynthia Rowley dress pattern for the fourth time made for easy sewing. Since the ruffle is gathered down the center rather than along the seam line, my ruffler stayed in its box and I gathered it the old fashioned way. I also widened the ruffle along the lower neckline. The arms and neckline were finished with self made bias-strips from the silk fabric, and I hemmed the top by hand to get a truly invisible hem.
Just for fun I’m including the three previous tops from this pattern below.
Each is unique and my latest will certainly find its place in my wardrobe.
I truly love my new top but I don’t know which I love more, the pattern or this wonderful silk. I’ve already re-ordered four more yards!
… A very practical move if you ask me 😉
Cennetta
Posted at 10:13h, 09 MayThis elegant top is an unusual staple. It does go with everything! I love how you’ve styled it here. And it is just as beautiful as your previous version.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:41h, 10 MayThank you, Cennetta! One day I may find that I have enough 🙂
Zoe
Posted at 10:19h, 09 Mayhi: love it! how much fabric did you use for the blouse? I have the pattern and would love to use it as a blouse also. Thank you.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:43h, 10 MayThanks, Zoe! I’m out of town at the moment so I can’t be exact but I’m guessing 2 and 1/4 to 2 and 1/2 yards. The ruffle is cut on the bias.
Andrea
Posted at 10:36h, 09 MayI love this top and the fabric! Did you hand wash your silk or do you intend to dry clean?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:44h, 10 MayThank you, Andrea! I washed this silk to begin with but will dry clean now that I’ve made the top.
Andrea
Posted at 10:15h, 12 MayI couldn’t help myself – some yardage of that fabric is on its way to me now. 🙂
Art Attack
Posted at 10:53h, 09 MayYou truly are a dyed-in-the-wool ruffle girl. Make that dyed-in-the-silk. Uber flattering on you although you’d be cute as pie in a gunny sack…;D
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:47h, 10 MayHow kind, Dorcas! I’m out of town and received notice that you’ve made something on PR. Can’t wait to see what you’re up too!
lisa g
Posted at 11:58h, 09 Mayhow funny, i was just thinking about this pattern the other day because i made it up once (long ago…) in an awful shiny polyester before i knew anything about fabrics and am craving a summery re-do! love your versions!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:51h, 10 MayMany thanks, Lisa! I have never made the dress but saw a top in a boutique that I’m convinced was made from this pattern. One of these days’ I might move on 🙂
naehfreundinstagebuch
Posted at 12:24h, 09 MayI think, you did a great Job.
georgeous!
Wunderbares Top!
Liebe Grüße von Susan
http://www.naehfreundin.blogspot.de
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:54h, 10 MayThank you, Susan – love your blog!!
Irene
Posted at 12:48h, 09 MayYou look wonderful in ruffles! Looks like a winning wardrobe staple.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:55h, 10 MayHi Irene! Many thanks for the nice comment 🙂
LindaB.
Posted at 13:00h, 09 MayVery Pretty! The ruffles suit you so well!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:55h, 10 MayThank you, Linda!
Maggie Edger
Posted at 13:12h, 09 MayEven though I’m past the ruffle age, I do love ruffles and on you it is perfect. A.Maggie
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:56h, 10 MayThank you, Aunt Maggie! My next project is using one of your great fabrics 🙂
Alex in California
Posted at 13:29h, 09 MayFrames your face beautifully.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:57h, 10 MayI was drawn to this neckline from the beginning. Many thanks 🙂
Becky
Posted at 13:34h, 09 MayThis is lovely! A great, feminine wardrobe staple. It will look fabulous with everything. I predict you will wear this out! Did you raise the neckline from the pattern? The pattern looks much lower. I may have to have one of these!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:02h, 10 MayThank you, Becky! I did raise the neckline by an inch or so. My first two tops are lower but fit nicely, however the turquoise top was too low and I decided to play it safe and raise it – I like the adjustment and it makes for a comfortable top now 🙂
Karen Perkins
Posted at 14:20h, 09 MayAbsolutely fabulous! I love it , especially with your refashioned pants.
Karen
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:02h, 10 MayThank you, Karen! The ivory goes with several prints and I plan to make a pair of pants with the silk on order. 🙂
Claudia
Posted at 14:52h, 09 MayA beautiful garment and such a variety of possibilities, you look amazing in every style!
I need this pattern 😉
Best regards
Claudia
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:04h, 10 MayThank you, Claudia! I highly recommend the pattern for the neckline and ruffle! I’ve seen lots of cute dresses made from the pattern too. Go for it!
Gjeometry
Posted at 15:21h, 09 MayLove, love, love this!!! Now, I must go out and immediately buy that pattern. You did such a great job with it. The top is like a chameleon and everything you paired it with, it changes the look of it. I think my favourites are outfit 1 and outfit 4.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:07h, 10 MayMany thanks and you will look adorable in this pattern! Love your floral skirt 🙂
Julie Starr
Posted at 17:07h, 09 MayYep – ruffles + Sarah = fabulous. That silk looks wonderful and your top looks right at home with every one of those outfits. I’m still not brave enough to sew on silk.
Julie Starr
Posted at 18:01h, 09 MayOh- and it would be perfect with a ribbon skirt :))
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:08h, 10 MayThanks, Julie! One day I might have enough :)…………. a ribbon skirt would love fabulous with this blouse! What color do you recommend?
Julie Starr
Posted at 07:21h, 10 MayShades of coral would be amazing on you. Did you receive my email last week?
Cindy
Posted at 17:12h, 09 MayIf there is one consistent theme in your sewing besides a love of all things orange, it’s that you love and crave ruffles. Seems to me you’ve been a tad ruffle-deprived lately, and it was only a matter of time before another lovingly hand-crafted beauty showed up with you in it, glowing with happiness. This looks to be an excellent piece for your wardrobe and, as you’ve demonstrated, is the perfect interchangeable piece to center a lot of different looks. Excellent work as always!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:10h, 10 MayThank you so much, Cindy! Perhaps I should make an orange-ruffled garment 🙂
Cindy
Posted at 09:20h, 10 MayIt’s only a matter of time . . . ;=D
Vicki
Posted at 17:34h, 09 MayLove all of them. Looks pretty easy to copy – is the ruffle cut on the straight grain or the bias?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:10h, 10 MayThank you, Vicki! The ruffle is cut on the bias using up a lot of fabric 🙂
Karen
Posted at 17:34h, 09 MayVery pretty and very flattering!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:11h, 10 MayThank you, Karen!
missmarys
Posted at 19:15h, 09 MayVery versatile pattern for sure. The fabric choices are lovely.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:13h, 10 MayMany thanks! I’ve found this pattern works in several fabrics and may make one more in a cotton voile.
missmarys
Posted at 13:38h, 14 MayHi Sarah
I’m performing closet lipo for a garage sale. I’ve lost quite a bit of weight and have to get rid of clothing.
I could perform some refashioning on some things but lack the confidence to do so.
Mentioned four bloggers I follow in my post. http://wp.me/p1dbnt-XO
Any suggestions?
Mary Fioretti
MissMarys.wordpress.com
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:10h, 14 MayMary,
Congratulations on the weight loss! If you’re interested in refashioning any of your clothing then I would hang on to a few pieces. There is a Craftsy course on refashioning but I haven’t tried it. Good luck!
missmarys
Posted at 17:37h, 14 MayI’m so nervous about cutting into the fabric. But if the camel colored pants (wool/rayon) don’t sell, I’m going to try to make a skirt. I just need to find a good skirt pattern.
Thanks for your reply.
M
Myra
Posted at 21:11h, 09 MayThese blouses always look gorgeous on you! This one included!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:14h, 10 MayThank you, Myra! I’ll stop one day 🙂
poppykettle
Posted at 00:50h, 10 MayThat is one versatile little top. And every time I see you next version of it I keep thinking… I really must try this one for myself!! You look lovely in all iterations!!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:14h, 10 MayYou’d look so cute in this top, Poppykettle! Hope you’ll go for it 🙂
Deborah
Posted at 11:18h, 10 MayCan a woman ever have too many ruffles? I say not. Looks so pretty and goes with so many other items in your wardrobe. You know what works for you…..
Ann-Britt Uhrbom
Posted at 11:42h, 10 MayI have cravings for ruffles and chocolate too, and it´s quite okay. Your new top is very cute, especially with the pink skirt, pink toenails and the gorgeos shoes in pink and silver. Of course I also like the other combos, they are all nice and fits you so well.
CherryPix
Posted at 18:36h, 10 MayBeautifully ruffled and not a feather insight! You’ve got a great TNT/ signature look with this pattern!
Calico Stretch
Posted at 22:33h, 10 MayOh silk is gorgeous and works so beautifully walking the dog and beyond! I am learning about so much and silk is on my list to sew soon. Soon. Soon.
mzsweetpea
Posted at 10:01h, 12 MayIs this silk easy to sew, like dupioni is? Does it have drape? Like all your versions, I think Cynthia Rowley’s pattern is a good one, what about version B replacing the puffed sleeves with a short ruffle going around the sleeveless arm…..I think you could wear any kind of ruffle you wanted!
Laura
gingermakes
Posted at 12:10h, 12 MayLovely! The ruffles really frame your face beautifully! I love that you can pair this just as well with orange trousers and with a floor-length formal skirt!
Nay
Posted at 19:51h, 14 MayI love this ivory version the best. Ruffles are just elegant and gorgeous don’t you think?
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crystalpleats
Posted at 01:13h, 20 MayYou have done this pattern justice through your different versions. Love all the looks you put together with this one.
black label
Posted at 05:00h, 22 May{ WOW WOW WOW } those white ruffles remind me of delicate white chocolate…ive added this pattern to my wishlist purely based on your amazing results. evil woman!! 🙂
Katherine B.
Posted at 10:20h, 13 NovemberI just love what you did here..I am a beginner though..how hard is this to sew? is the ruffle collar pretty difficult?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 20:32h, 13 NovemberKatherine,
Thank you so much. It wasn’t difficult to make but the pattern is a dress which I converted. I have found the key to successful sewing is being careful and following the instructions. This top was one of the first I made after I started the blog. Practice on a muslin and you’ll have it figured out quickly. Good luck! 🙂