Sewing Tops

08 Jan Odds & Ends – Plus a New Top!

Posted at 20:45h in Craftsy, McCall's Sewing Pattern, Mood Fabrics, Ready to Wear Fast, Sewing Tops, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 56 Comments

While I wait for my Mood Fabrics to publish my first garment-of-the-year post, I believe it's a good time to clarify a misconception among some readers. I have recently received several comments from readers who believe I have continued my RTW Fast into a second year. Not so...

13 Dec Elizabeth McKay Inspired – Vogue 1323

Posted at 11:00h in Mood Fabrics, Sewing Tops, silk, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 52 Comments

I spent the first weekend of December in New York and was exhilarated by the Christmas sights and festivities throughout the city. I spent the second weekend of December visiting my parents in Southern Pines, NC thoroughly charmed by small-town Christmas celebrations including the cutest horse and buggy parade. I went from being among millions of people dressed in black to hundreds of people dressed in red inspiring me to do the same. On a mission to recreate this Elizabeth McKay top, I chose a red and white silk charmeuse from Mood Fabrics for my...

03 Dec Holiday Fasting

Posted at 08:17h in Mood Fabrics, Ready to Wear Fast, sewing blog, Sewing Dresses, Sewing Tops, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 31 Comments

A funny thing happens when sewers quit buying clothes…… they become very clothes conscious. At least that is what’s going on with the RTW Fasters, and it certainly happened with me. I became obsessed with all things clothes. I recently asked the Fasters to briefly comment on the experience so far and to date no one said they miss shopping for clothes – quite the opposite. Many have expressed a new sense of freedom as shopping for RTW is becoming a distant memory. So what are they doing? Robin bought a practically new Bernina Artista 200 last month and is all over the place...

10 Nov Vogue 8669

Posted at 10:00h in Mood Fabrics, sewing blog, Sewing Tops, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Thirty – eight degrees outside and a sleeveless cotton top? As temperatures go down thermostats go up ...

08 Nov Lagniappes

Posted at 16:24h in sewing blog, Sewing Tops, Style Arc Patterns by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Many years ago my dear friend from New Orleans introduced me to the word lagniappe, a word Mark Twain describes as worth travelling to New Orleans to get. A lagniappe is a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase (such as a 13th doughnut when buying a dozen), or more broadly, "something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure." I might be stretching the meaning here, but my new garments certainly bring the word to mind for they were partially obtained gratuitously……. and I do consider those couple inches of extra...

17 Oct Vogue 8833

Posted at 19:25h in Ruffles, sewing blogs, Sewing Tops, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 67 Comments

Here is my new top. If I was on Project Runway, Tim Gunn would walk into the workroom and tell me I needed to live up to my potential. Michael Kors would call me a One-Trick-Pony, and Heidi Klum would exclaim that I look like I’m going to a baseball game before saying Auf Wiedersehen with a kiss on the cheek. Does this mean I do not like the top? Not at all! I like it, but I’m starting to repeat myself and it’s time to regroup. ______________ Two weeks ago I went to Waechter’s Silk Shop in Asheville, NC with a friend who decided to start sewing for...

10 Aug Kwik Sew 2498

Posted at 00:02h in Amy Butler, sewing blogs, sewing clothes, Sewing Tops by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I hear many people saying they can’t believe summer is almost over. My youngest child graduated from college last spring, and I no longer follow a school calendar. Immersed in summer type activities for the next six weeks, I am in summer mode and that includes sewing! Recently, Irene made several tops from this Kwik Sew pattern inspiring me to give it a try.Determined to challenge myself during the past year, I chose more complicated patterns to sew, but adding five more buttonholes to my repertoire immediately qualified the pattern!Though there’s not much to it, I really like several pattern details...

02 Aug Proud of My Peppy – Butterick 5615

Posted at 21:36h in Butterick Patterns, Sewing Tops by goodbyevalentino 82 Comments

I’ve made two buttonholes and zero tailored collars during the last eleven months. Thank goodness I was finally inspired to tackle my fears and add to my skill set. This Butterick pattern offered all of the qualities I like in a blouse. Close fitting but not tight, and structured but not stiff. A straight and flattering peplum is attached at the waist, and the tie extensions remind me of one of my favorite tops I paid a fortune for at Sea Island, Georgia. I have always wanted to know how to make these ties. I took my time, made a muslin and worked out...

30 Jul A Sensible Top – Vogue 9771

Posted at 08:26h in sewing blog, Sewing Tops, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 45 Comments

Sensible. The opposite of exciting. I just returned from a real vacation, which for me means getting away in every respect. I often overestimate what I can accomplish in a certain time period, and the refashion I planned to do while away never happened. Determined to post a project from someplace other than my backyard, I packed my sewing supplies in my carry-on luggage. Oops. This meant I had to check my suitcase and p a y for my checked luggage carrying my scissors and seam ripper. I never looked at my sewing supplies. Then I paid another fee to fly my scissors and seam ripper...

11 Jun Style Arc Lexley Blouse

Posted at 17:15h in Mood Fabrics, Ruffles, sewing blog, sewing clothes, Sewing Tops, Style Arc Patterns, Tunic, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

“Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.” Richard and Karen Carpenter Not really………………… I have been out-of-town for nearly two weeks and came home inspired by the beautiful tunics I saw on women of all ages ……. on the beach, on the streets, in restaurants and concerts. Upon returning home, I headed directly to the sewing machine and finished this tunic just in time for heavy downpours on this dreary Monday afternoon. Earlier this spring I placed my second order from Style Arc which included the Lexley Blouse and Dress. I experienced a setback upon receiving the pattern when I realized the ruffles are intentionally...