Friday 10 February 2012

I Heart Chloe: V2465 (OOP) makes a sweet top




This little top is my latest completed project - I feel like I've been a pretty lacklustre blogger and commenter lately, but there have been a lot of distractions round here. School went back, and I went back to work. We had some asbestos removed (scary) and then roof renovations, and meanwhile the weather has been pretty close to non-stop rainy except when it's just threatening rain with a low grey sky (where is our Sydney summer? I know we had one pleasant Sunday, but is that IT?), which does not go down too well when the front part of your roof is off and the latest tradie didn't know how to put a tarp on properly.

All the brown muck you see out there came off the roof I guess.    

Let's get back to the subject.





When I saw this pattern for sale I barely hesitated. It's a Vogue Paris Original, and I'm pretty sure it's from the mid 80s (around when my mum made me a formal dress in a similar shape... I should show you that one day, but it wouldn't even fit on my dressform). I'd never seen this pattern around before, but I thought it looked like it would be gorgeous in a pretty silk, with a coordinating slip underneath. That's not what I've made though, is it!

You can see the pattern in my smug little mitts below: 


Well that's because first up I had to confirm the pattern's credibility and sizing, isn't it!



I made the bodice as a little top with one of my Tessuti remnant sale pieces of fabric, a lovely lightweight great quality cotton. I don't know about everyone else, but when I make up these "test" garments, I still like to do it carefully with the hope that the end result will be a valuable wardrobe addition. So I went to some pains to match up the pattern over the button bands with the fabric of the front bodice. I didn't have enough fabric to get a match down the side seams but I think centre front is a place where matching or not matching a pattern is most striking... and I am seriously chuffed with how well the matching has worked.



Yes I know it's buttoning on the wrong side, but if I'd done it the proper way around the matching wouldn't have been perfect. I am not at all bothered that my blouse does up like a man's, to be honest.

Surprisingly for a little cotton blouse, it earned me TWO separate, unsolicited compliments when I wore it to work the other morning. The fabric is interesting up close, isn't it!

The sleeves are double layered, which means no sleeve hems:




Here are the stats:

Total cost = $41
$35 pattern (big gulp. Must have been really sleep deprived as I normally prefer a $10 max!). I really had better use this one again
$5? fabric from Tessuti's remnant sale last year
$0 thread (a couple of already half used spools)
$1 small pack of vintage buttons from my stash

Total time: 5 hours
Approx 20 minutes cutting out
About 4 hours slow-mo sewing* and pressing
About 10 minutes arguing with my sewing machine about sewing buttonholes 
About 40 minutes of hand sewing where the inside layer of sleeve attaches to the bodice, + buttons

Here's some of that hand sewing on the inside of the sleeve:



* Slow-mo sewing : I often sew on a very slow setting because I don't really have enough light in my sewing corner and I really hate unpicking the mistakes I make when I sew fast.  I'm also trying to savour the process...

18 comments:

  1. Nice top! Love your fabric and the elegant details!

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  2. I love the fabric. Very nice pattern match - I particularly like the way the buttons are placed in the centre of the circles. I'm not sure I would have such patience! :)

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    1. Um thanks - I have to take care not to get too fussy though!

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  3. I think this "cheap" fabric is actually Liberty. So the pattern cost is definitely off-set by the discount on the Liberty. Great pattern matching.

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    1. Yay! Thanks for letting me know - no wonder it was so nice to sew with!

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  4. LOvely top...cotton summer tops are my favourite.

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    1. Thanks - wish they were quicker to make though!

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  5. I agree with Betty. It looks like a Liberty print.

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  6. Thanks - I've realised it doesn't look as nice as in my imagination... I'm very glad to hear that this is likely to be a Liberty print; I sort of thought it might be but wasn't sure!

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  7. What a pretty top! I like the V-neckline.
    I hope you get some nice summer-y weather soon. We have been having a real hot one here.

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  8. I like the v-neck and the sleeves. They are my type of sleeves! Great pattern matching.

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  9. Beautiful shirt! You matched the pattern at the front closure beautifully. I've got to ask though - how in the world did you layout and cut in 20 minutes? I seem to take eons to get this step done and it's often the reason I lose my sewing mojo (such as right now). I just can't face the 2 hours (yes really) it'd take me to match, line up and cut out the fabric. I don't think of myself as an absolute beginner, but this stage never seems to get any quicker for me. What's your secret??

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    1. Thanks SewJillian!

      The thing with that little top was that there weren't too many pieces to worry about for pattern matching - I only really bothered about matching the front with the button band - and even though the fabric looks busy the pattern was very regular and evenly spaced. So not too hard to match really.

      I don't think I have any amazing secrets, but there is one thing I learnt last year that was useful - when cutting 2 fronts or 2 backs or whatever that need to match up, instead of cutting the 2 together, just cut one initially, then flip the piece of fabric over and place it on the fabric still to be cut out. Assuming you can see through the wrong side of your fabric you can then easily get the patterns lined up nicely. I'll try to take photos in my next project in case you hadn't seen that trick...

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    2. Oooooh, fantastic tip - I seem to constantly choose fabrics with regular patterns that need lining up and find it so tedious. What you say makes so much sense! Will try next time.

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  10. I was going to say that I thought your top was liberty lawn as well because I saw something the same at Cleggs in Melbourne . At $40.00/metre your new top is a bargain and your expensive new pattern has already well and truly paid for itself.

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    1. Yay! Thanks, yes I think you are all correct and it is Liberty. I don't think I would have enjoyed paying full price... and I would have been nervous sewing it if I had!

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  11. Oh wow. this is such a cute top. And what patience to have matched up that button band... and positioned the buttons in the centre of each pattern. I love the shape of this blouse and I bet it feels great. Certainly looks fabulous on you and Im not surprised you got immediate reaction. I had a bit of a gasp at the price of the pattern but hey... I've been guilty of spending (nearly) that much and I haven't even used the pattern yet! You will defo get use of yours again. Would be wrong not to!

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