27 Jul New Look Pattern 6372
I love silk and wear it for almost any occasion, other than feeding babies 😉
I was especially thrilled to recently find the Karen Kane Riviera and White Abstract Silk Crepe de Chine on the Mood Fabrics website – a silk crepe de chine featuring a casual print. With its gorgeous shades of blue and soft drape of textured silk, this fabric was right up my alley for the project I had in mind; a breezy summer top that could go anywhere.
No agenda, no deadline, no pattern matching, no tricky fitting …… all came together to create a drama-free and most relaxing sewing experience! Pure ecstasy 🙂
Having sewn version C of New Look 6372, I felt safe cutting into the lovely silk without sewing a muslin for View B.
One thing I appreciate about the pattern is the center back seam, providing an easy opportunity to tweak the back fit without making alterations.
I handled the silk carefully with sharp pins and excessive basting around the neckline and facings. Pfaff’s Integrated Dual Feed prevents shifting under the presser foot, making sewing silk much easier, but hand basting gives me better control of the fabric before it goes to the machine avoiding unwanted surprises. I have yet to regret taking extra pre-cautions!
For this floaty top, I used the narrow-hem technique I learned from Susan Khalje.
- Fold and press 1/4″ below the hemline. Stitch.
- Cut fabric right against the stitching.
- It looks like this once trimmed.
- Fold along hemline and stitch. You’ll have two rows of stitching on the inside and ……
- one on the outside!
There is no bulk whatsoever to prevent the top from floating to it’s full potential!
So here’s to the easy patterns with luxury fabrics ~ a true joy all sewists deserve 🙂
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I’m sharing my full post with the Mood Sewciety blog which recently merged with the Mood Sewing Network bringing all of the Mood Fabrics sewing projects together. Read HERE for continuing inspiration!
Doris Sayer
Posted at 07:10h, 27 JulyThis looks beautiful, i’ve Had this pattern for about two years and never used it, so now with inspiration from you i’m Going to give it a go.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:43h, 27 JulyThank you, Doris! I prefer this version over the backless halter. It is much easier to wear and far more versatile 😊
Gail Cunningham
Posted at 07:11h, 27 JulyVery pretty, I love this fabric and pattern. Your sewing, as always, is meticulous. I might just have to order that fabric for a dress in a few short minutes before your post causes it to sell out!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:43h, 27 JulyMany thanks, Gail! There was plenty last time I checked. Good luck😊
Suzanne Parker
Posted at 07:30h, 27 JulyBeautiful. Love the hemming.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:44h, 27 JulyMany thanks, Suzanne! This narrow hem technique is everything and I use it frequently 😉
Kathy McKenna
Posted at 07:57h, 27 JulyYour top is lovely. Can I ask how you treat (and pretreat) your silk? Can you hand or gently wash and line dry or do you dry clean? I am trying to work up my courage to begin sewing with silk.
Maryellensews
Posted at 10:29h, 27 JulyI’d love to know as well Sarah ! I have made a few things that I’ve hand washed before sewing .
This is a beautiful top on you – simple but classic in style & color
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:47h, 27 JulyThank you, Mary Ellen! As long as the fit is precise, simple is good in my books 😉 See above reply to silk treatment.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:46h, 27 JulyMy one regret is not prewashing the fabric because now it will need to be dry-cleaned 😡 I bought Linda Lee’s Craftsy course several years ago and learned the advantages to pre-washing silk. My bad for sure…
Maryellensews
Posted at 11:28h, 27 JulyThanks Sarah – expense aside – I would like the connivence of wearing the top when I want & not waiting for dry cleaners
Pam Tajima
Posted at 02:16h, 01 AugustHi Sarah! What a beautiful summer top. Your work is wonderful.
I thought I would post for anyone interested the method my design school teacher (who had been teaching for 50 years) taught us to wash silk. This was in the ’80s and has not failed me since. Of course, test a small piece first for bleeding in a print which would then require dry cleaning We used Ivory dishwashing liquid as she preferred it above everything for delicates. Using a tub with cold water and the Ivory liquid mixed together lay your silk in the water. It can be folded depending on how much yardage you have. With your palms and fingers spread out just gently push the fabric up and down under water without much agitation. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse all soap out — 2-3 rinses — using your hands again as above.. Lay the fabric on a clean white towel, roll it up and walk on the roll a couple of times. Fold It over a rod and let it air dry. Then you can press and cut your fabric. Hope this helps anyone who may be interested.
Liz Lancaster
Posted at 08:12h, 27 JulyOnce again, beautiful and inspiring.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:48h, 27 JulyMany thanks, Liz😊
Roxanne Reynolds
Posted at 08:46h, 27 JulyVery pretty.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:48h, 27 JulyThank you, Roxanne!
Mary Anne Chambers
Posted at 10:34h, 27 JulyI love this top and the fabric is divine! I was about to ask about the pre treatment and laundering of the silk but I see this has been asked already so I will watch for your reply above. Dry cleaning is so expensive here so I try to save that for special occasion wear. Really love this top, and you do ” look like a million bucks” in it !
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 10:49h, 27 JulyAh….. such a great comment, Mary Anne! Dry-cleaning is expensive here too and I could kick myself for not pretreating the fabric. 😕
Mary Anne Chambers
Posted at 04:05h, 28 JulyThank you, I will look for Linda Lee’s course, this would be valuable information to know. Sometimes the thrill of making the garment makes us miss steps we later regret 😔
Karon Cooke-Euter
Posted at 11:25h, 27 JulyThis fabric is beautiful, creating this simple top enabled the fabric to reflect its beauty. Fabulous make👍
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:35h, 27 JulyThank you, Karon! The fabric needed to speak for itself and you’re right – the simple top let that happen 😊
Cheryl Lemmons
Posted at 12:46h, 27 JulyLove it!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:35h, 27 JulyThank you, Cheryl!!
Kathy T
Posted at 15:12h, 27 JulyAbsolutely beautiful! You’ve inspired me to make something for myself once again. Thank you for that.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:36h, 27 July👏👏👏👏👏👏 Go for it, Kathy! Good luck and many thanks for your comment!
Wendy Weissman
Posted at 17:17h, 27 JulyI always enjoy your posts and your beautiful work! Thank you for sharing. A question: would you recommend this pattern for someone like me who is not new to sewing, but new to doing alterations? TIA 🙂
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 17:42h, 27 JulyMany thanks for your comment, Wendy!
My attitude is just do it, but do it with a muslin. Since I don’t know your height, size or fitting issues, I cannot properly comment or answer your question.
Alterations are a part of sewing and while the thought of making alterations may be intimidating you have to start sometime. Good luck and stay in touch!
Lodi Srygley
Posted at 01:20h, 28 JulyI love your comment – “I have yet to regret taking extra precautions”. Basting is so much more ‘Zen’ than spending time with my seam ripper!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:10h, 28 JulyIndeed! Plus, I’m never able to find my seam ripper 😂
Many thanks, Lodi.
Demented Fairy
Posted at 05:36h, 28 JulyBEAUTIFUL! I rarely pre wash anything, including silk, and have never had issues…but I would probably opt to simply hand wash anything particularly delicate, or do the theatrical trick of spritzing with vodka/water spray to freshen [does the same job as dry cleaning tbh, without the evil chemicals] Try it!
PS, I’m using the wonderful Pfaff from your prize draw, and think of you every time. Thank you SO MUCH!
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 07:09h, 28 JulyMany thanks for the nice comment AND for the vodka/water spray trick! Vodka seems to have 101 uses – I feed it to cut tulips to make them stand nice and straight 😉 So glad you’re enjoying the PFAFF!
Judy Duerson
Posted at 09:43h, 28 JulyThe top turned out beautiful and is so pretty on you.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 11:24h, 28 JulyThank you, Judy!
Celeste Yanisch
Posted at 12:17h, 29 JulyI used that hemming technique on my daughter’s senior prom dress, which had three layers of very billowy fabrics on a very full skirt. It worked beautifully, just as on your blouse. I hope never to do 3 miles of hems again soon…
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 18:25h, 29 JulyOoh…… that’s a lot of hemming, especially narrow hemming, but I bet the dress was beautiful!
Hilarie Dayton
Posted at 18:54h, 29 JulyThis top looks fabulous! Many years ago, I worked for Tom and Linda Platt- this is the hem technique that we used there too:)
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:24h, 31 JulyWow – Delighted to know it’s a high end standard ! Many thanks for the comment, Hilarie 😊
Joan
Posted at 22:08h, 29 JulyLove this fabric and pattern pairing! And it is super flattering on you! Great job, Sarah.
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:26h, 31 JulyThank you for the comment, Joan! I love a floaty top……….. as long as it’s not too full and the fabric not too heavy😉
Leigh Bischof
Posted at 20:35h, 07 OctoberThis is so pretty I bough the fabric and pattern to make the dress version. The fabric is slightly sheer. Did you line yours?
goodbyevalentino
Posted at 06:30h, 08 OctoberThank you, Leigh! I did not line the top. It is full enough to not require a lining, plus a lining would have made it too heavy in my opinion. 😉