Friday 7 February 2014

Geometric Silk Top

Right now I've got a bit of a blogging backlog, and this little top isn't the first in the queue but it IS the one that was photographed yesterday. The photos were a bit of an adventure (more about that later) so this is the one that's coming first.



So, this is a little top made from a metre of silk I bought at The Fabric Store about a week ago, when I was looking for something else (oops - but I'm sure that happens to lots of people!). I love geometric prints and all things tesselation-like, and I'd just been reading Lena's tips for sewing with silk, so I was really excited to try the gelatine treatment and sew something silk in stable form. If you're wondering if the gelatine trick works, it does! I used it straight after handwashing my silk in a silk wash, and initially thought there wasn't going to be enough gelatine to do anything - the water mixed with gelatine looked and felt like regular water.

 
I couldn't seem to find exactly the kind of pattern I wanted for this top, and all the runners up used more than a metre, so I sort of 'drafted' something for myself - a simple loose, blocky shape drawn roughly on butcher's paper - though in retrospect I could have looked among my vintage patterns, as I've made tops very similar in shape to this before. 

Tops to fit me need a length from shoulder to hip of about 60cm, and a width from sleeve hem to sleeve hem of about 85cm - so there was no way I could fit a top with cut-on sleeves in my single metre. Time for the Puzzles Department to wake up.  I realised that I could reduce the body length by making raglan sleeves, which could fit on the fabric if rotated 45 degrees. So I drew and cut some 45 degree lines, from underarm to neckline, to make a separate sleeve pattern piece. 



Of course I should have been able to line the fabric patterns up on the seams better than this, but since I didn't think I had enough fabric to play with I didn't worry about the pattern alignment across any of the seams.  


 

I made some darling self-fabric bias binding for the neckline with my new clover bias binding gizmo and the odd little leftover scraps, and it worked reasonably well for a first go, and with silk.  But I left finishing the neckline till the end, by which time I'd convinced myself the top was going to be a dog - so I didn't take enough care and the stitch finish is not great. Sill-eee! 

 
I did manage to pay attention to the seams and hems at least. French seams throughout, and nice straight hems that follow the pattern lines. Speaking of which, isn't the fabric gorgeous?



Lately I've either been asking other people to take my photos for me (thank you kids, mother-in-law, colleagues) or taking my own photos with a timer in the privacy of my own home / balcony / garden. Now that school's back and I'm back at work, I don't feel like I have time for interesting outings, but I'm getting a bit sick of my photos of the same old brick balcony wall! 

I took my camera in to work with me yesterday, and after work walked around the city looking for a good spot: somewhere not too busy and yet good looking and light, and somewhere I wasn't likely to bump into colleagues. This little street is in the Sydney CBD, and there were cars and people going past, but not constantly.



It's been a long time since I've taken my own photos in public, and boy did I feel awkward - so much more embarrassing than doing it with a friend - but at the end I also felt exhilerated that I'd done it! Once I'd taken a few phone snaps to check which direction / view would look alright, I set up my tripod and camera with the 10 second timer, with the camera on burst mode. I took loads of photos of the buildings and walls around me, pretending that's what I was about, and every now and then I'd mosey over to where the camera was pointed and pretend I was checking things out (camera silently going click, click, click). Have you ever taken photos of yourself in public? 


Finally, I have to thank the commenters on my pants muslin post - I'm looking forward to trying out those suggestions, and I will definitely give myself some sitting down ease :)  I'm busting to get back to the pants, but first I've a shirt to make for my dad's birthday - which is on Monday - yikes!

Thanks for reading! See you soon



- Gabrielle xxx

39 comments:

  1. You are so cute! And brave for taking pics in public! I always feel bad pestering my family for photos. Looks like a great street to take them though. I love your top, sometimes simple is best. The finishing looks perfect!

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    1. Thanks Margo, it was harder than I remembered! Your photos are always so great - you have some excellent photographers in the family!

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  2. I love tessellation patterns as well - keep meaning to design my own to make into a quilt. The colours of the photos are great - and I am particularly enjoying the lady in the top two photos who seems to be trying to out-power-walk you! :)

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    1. Tessslations are amazing aren't they! A tesselated quilt - wow - yes, do it!

      Thanks, I hadn't realised we had those colours in the Sydney CBD :) but they're nice aren't they. I enjoyed seeing that woman too - I wonder if she wanted to be in the photos!!!

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  3. I would have purchased that silk too, had I have seen it.I love this top. You look very chic and the photos are great!

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    1. I think they still have some of that fabric but it was a bit pricey, hence just 1 metre for me. Thank you :); it definitely turned out better than I thought it had... Might have to go back and re-work the neckline though!

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  4. Absolutely love the pics! Hope you had a cocktail up high to congragulate yourself after the photoshoot. Love the fabric and the top. Saw this fabric at the fabric shop in bris, but passed over it, wish i had snapped some up!

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    1. Hi Emma - just popped over to your blog and I recognise you - you were at Tessuti's with Kirsty and Jacinta the other day weren't you ! Do you come into the CBD much?

      Thank you :) it worked out so much better than I thought it did - but it was one of those fabric purchases made for the love of the print; I find it very hard to envisage prints sewn up!

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    2. Hi again, sorry i did reply to your comment on my blog but in the new comment box not the reply box, derh - am still getting used to this blogging caper. Vlisco is amazing! At the moment I work in 2 offices, one of which is in the CBD, have walked past your photo shot location many a time. Love your pics!

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    3. Sorry, I hadn't seen your reply but I have now. I wonder how many sewing bloggers work in the Sydney CBD... we could have a mini meetup!

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    4. Great idea! Am not sure how many work in the CBD, but would love to do a meet up.

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  5. So pretty! I do love the pictures, they look very natural.
    I also love that fabric, very classy and pretty.

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  6. Thank you Becki - I'm really glad you to hear the photos have ended up looking natural. It's a lovely fabric isn't it - and hopefully not the kind of print that will go out of fashion in 10 seconds!

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  7. I love it! Very liberating to take your photos in the CBD - I feel daft even in the privacy of my own backyard/living room! - and thanks for the raglan sleeve tip - I might possibly have the exact same metre sitting in my stash thinking it would like to be a tank ;)

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  8. Thanks - it was quite liberating, but I kind of had my fingers crossed mentally that no one was going to get interested in what j was doing. And they didn't, phew :). Yes this sleeve rotation thing works pretty well if you have limited fabric - and of course you can do it with any pattern!

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  9. Every single photo on my blog is in "public". I live in an apartment and my shots are taken in our communal areas. It is most embarrassing to be caught out and this happens constantly. There is just no avoiding it. I just pout like a high fashion model and get on with it! LOL! Love your silk, it's perfect in this style and being such a busy print I'm sure you cannot tell if the stitching is imperfect. Well done on the self drafting!

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    1. That's impressive - I'll think of you next time I'm trying to get photos in public! Your photos are always so good, and you really don't look like you've got the bother of neighbours catching you out - you look like you're in a lovely very private garden!

      Thank you, and yes the busy print may well hide the imperfections - sounds like another reason to sew more prints :).

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  10. Great top. Clever drafting. Love the fabric. You're brave with the pic taking but I think now, empowered to do it again. Brilliant:)

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    1. Thanks Maria, it is a lovely fabric isn't it. Honesty I felt more foolhardy than brave, but next time around will definitely be easier.

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  11. That is exactly the same method I've used on those few times I've embarrassed myself taking photos in public. Pretend I'm taking photos of something else then sneak in. Thanks for mixing it up a bit. Your top is lovely. Great to hear that you have a back log to show us :)

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    1. I am very glad to hear this is your approach too - great minds? Just a little subterfuge!

      Thank you, and I will have to pull my finger out and get blogging, won't I!

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  12. I'm more than a little in love with your top!

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    1. Aw thank you Gail! I think you should whip one up for yourself!

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  13. Fantastic top and the colours are amazing. Great photos and so far I have only taken a couple in public feeling very self conscious but as you say most people just walk by.

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    1. Thank you Sharon, I love the colours in the fabric and also those buildings - I hadn't realised we had pretty, colourful buildings in the city!

      Well, we had photos in public last May at the Opera House, didn't we - though I think we were unlucky the tourist that took our photo together wanted to do the arty perspective!

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  14. Really pretty top. It was great that you worked out how to make it out of a small length of beautiful fabric. I have never taken pictures of myself in public, Thought about it and chickened out. When I first saw your photos, my first thought was "what a great location, love the colors of the buildings.

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    1. Thank you Audrey, it's satisfying to finally work out how to use the silly 1 metre cuts of fabric!

      Well even though it's a bit scary to do, you do get a better choice of backdrops out in the public - and the good thing about taking your own photos is that you don't have to worry about someone else getting bored. And yes, aren't those buildings great!

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  15. Great top and I am so impressed with the cityscape photos! I see so many photos of bloggers from around the world, it's great to see some local scenery :)

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    1. Thank you! You're in Sydney too aren't you - I think it's quite a photogenic city - and I love getting glimpses of different countries through blogs too :)

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  16. Very proffesional finishes and the top, with those colours and geometric print is a great addition to your closet.
    Your photos are great!!!

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    1. Thank you Merche, you're too kind! I am loving the top - it goes with lots of different pants and skirts, so yes, it's definitely found its place in my wardrobe.

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  17. I love your photos - it's almost like you're in a Jeffrey Smart painting! That fabric is so lovely - I was in the Fabric Shop last week and didn't see this otherwise I would have snapped some up too. By the way I work in Martin Place and would be happy to meet up at a lunchtime somewhere in the CBD to take photos if you'd like a photographer? Email me next time you've got a new outfit and are in need of a snapper

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    1. Thanks Kristy, and that's a great idea - blog photos inspired by famous painters! Hard though... The Fabric Shop is very bad for my budget; I always find fabrics I have to have there :)

      Really? We're practically work neighbours! That's a really kind offer - and I'd be happy to do the same for you - I will definitely email you next time I need photographic assistance!

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  18. The photos are great. I enjoy seeing the backgrounds just about as much as the clothing I think. It is nice to see how other peoples makes translate into every day life. I love the silk top. Sadly it is not something I can buy here. Bring back Global Fabrics (The Fabric Store)!

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    1. Thanks Andrea, I know what you mean. I have been enjoying your recent backdrops immensely - NZ looks stunning in the summer!

      So what happened to Global Fabrics? I thought you guys had the mothership store?

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  19. Well I didn't even know I loved tesselations till I looked the word up! That fabric is gorgeous, no way could I have passed it up either. I love the way you've fine the sleeves on this & it looks great on you!

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    1. They're great, aren't they - I should've explained what they are though.

      I know, it's too, too tough to resist the 'pull' of gorgeous fabric.

      Thank you!

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  20. What fabulous fabric - works so well with this top - well done with the drafting!. I love the pics too - I don't think I'll ever get used to the blog pics in public either. You are not alone! I am lucky to have a patient photographer who puts up with my neuroses and still manages to take a great pic!

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    1. Thank you Lexi!

      Yes, I know... I took another lot of photos in public the other day and it was STILL nerve-wracking! However, my home and street aren't very interesting to look at so getting out and about definitely makes the photos more interesting.

      Lucky you, though I'm sure you don't have any unusual neuroses :). My photographers keep getting pregnant and going on mat leave, LOL (no, I'm exaggerating - it's only been twice!).

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