A "Catch-Up" Post
I can't believe we are in August already! Where does the time go? I know I've been spending a lot of it in my sewing room. Unfortunately I have fallen far behind in blogging about it, so I will try and do a bit of a catch-up today.
Some time maybe last year I made this sleeveless version of Vogue 8815 out of a stretch cotton weave. I lengthened the bodice by 1" but still I still felt that the waist was too high. It is supposed to sit 1" above the waist. I also felt that it was too loose and not very flattering. I finally realized one of the problems was that I was wearing it with the wrong type of pant. A peplum top needs to be worn with a very narrow bottom such as leggings or a pegged skirt. I wore it with black leggings and it looked pretty good, although I still wasn't really feeling the love. I then took it in about 3/4" on each side and suddenly it went from ok to amazing! A peplum top must have a close fit to look its best. I have enough fabric left over to make a skirt, and I'm thinking I'll peg it.
Once I figured out that this top can look amazing I got very excited, thinking that this top *could* work in a knit. I have two pairs of plaid leggings that I am always on the hunt for appropriate solid tops to wear with, and I have both black ponte and light brown ponte that I think would make cute peplum tops. But of course I got sidetracked; on my way to finding those fabrics I found the leftover white ponte from another project and decided that would be good to use for a muslin. I cut it out to the original size 14 just to make sure I would be able to pull it on and off because I eliminated the zipper. That worked fine so I took it in the same as I did to the stretch cotton one. I also moved my dart points down an inch as they are too high in the first version (fortunately the busy pattern hides that). I was so happy with the final result that I then grabbed some red knit jersey from the stash and made one to wear with my red plaid leggings! How many peplum tops does one person need, anyway? Because I still want to make the black and light brown ones! lol
The next project is Butterick 5493. This pattern is written for stretch wovens or crepe. The fabric I used (rayon maybe?) has zero stretch, but to be honest there is enough ease in this top that I don't think it matters. I was using this pattern and fabric because I wanted to experiment with cutting on the bias. This top drapes beautifully! I usually wear my clothes more fitted but this looks really good on. Instead of turning under the hem I did a serged rolled hem. I did the same on the cowl.
I then gave it another go with some crepe. I left off the cowl and rounded the vee neckline. This time I decided to size it down to a 12 from my usual 14. I did this by just taking it in at the sides. Big mistake. I can still wear it but I completely screwed up the shape of the armholes. Then I tried to fix that but I didn't do a very good job. I can get away with it because it's not as obvious on me as it is on Gertrude here but still I kick myself because I should have known better. I wanted this top to go with my green/fuchsia tiered skirt. I think it looks great with it! If I make it again I will recut a 12 from the original pattern rather than cutting from the sides of the 14.
That's all you get for today, I don't want to spoil you. I still have to tell you about hats and a Luterloh pattern review. Happy sewing!
Some time maybe last year I made this sleeveless version of Vogue 8815 out of a stretch cotton weave. I lengthened the bodice by 1" but still I still felt that the waist was too high. It is supposed to sit 1" above the waist. I also felt that it was too loose and not very flattering. I finally realized one of the problems was that I was wearing it with the wrong type of pant. A peplum top needs to be worn with a very narrow bottom such as leggings or a pegged skirt. I wore it with black leggings and it looked pretty good, although I still wasn't really feeling the love. I then took it in about 3/4" on each side and suddenly it went from ok to amazing! A peplum top must have a close fit to look its best. I have enough fabric left over to make a skirt, and I'm thinking I'll peg it.
Once I figured out that this top can look amazing I got very excited, thinking that this top *could* work in a knit. I have two pairs of plaid leggings that I am always on the hunt for appropriate solid tops to wear with, and I have both black ponte and light brown ponte that I think would make cute peplum tops. But of course I got sidetracked; on my way to finding those fabrics I found the leftover white ponte from another project and decided that would be good to use for a muslin. I cut it out to the original size 14 just to make sure I would be able to pull it on and off because I eliminated the zipper. That worked fine so I took it in the same as I did to the stretch cotton one. I also moved my dart points down an inch as they are too high in the first version (fortunately the busy pattern hides that). I was so happy with the final result that I then grabbed some red knit jersey from the stash and made one to wear with my red plaid leggings! How many peplum tops does one person need, anyway? Because I still want to make the black and light brown ones! lol
I then gave it another go with some crepe. I left off the cowl and rounded the vee neckline. This time I decided to size it down to a 12 from my usual 14. I did this by just taking it in at the sides. Big mistake. I can still wear it but I completely screwed up the shape of the armholes. Then I tried to fix that but I didn't do a very good job. I can get away with it because it's not as obvious on me as it is on Gertrude here but still I kick myself because I should have known better. I wanted this top to go with my green/fuchsia tiered skirt. I think it looks great with it! If I make it again I will recut a 12 from the original pattern rather than cutting from the sides of the 14.
That's all you get for today, I don't want to spoil you. I still have to tell you about hats and a Luterloh pattern review. Happy sewing!
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