So I finally sewed up this tunic - hmmm , top homemade by Mum , trip to France with Dad - yep that just about balances things up !
Just to ' quickly ` explain about the trip - my eldest DD went to Japan for three months a couple of years ago on an exchange programme and since then our other daughters have been muttering that this is not fair . Then my middle DD said ` Just give me the money .` and my eldest DD said ` That`s not fair ` and I said `I am most certainly not just giving you the money ` and then my husband said he could go to France with middle DD and I said ` That`s not fair ` ( only joking about the last bit ) .
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| Simplicity 3786. |
Anyway I have now sewn Simplicity 3786 four times so I have it down pat although I have not sewn it in chiffon before. However, soaking the fabric in a gelantine mixture that I previously blogged about , using a walking foot, lots of sharp pins and lots of pressing ended up helping alot . Once the little pintucks and the mandarin collar are sewn this is a very easy top to sew. I used french seams where I could but otherwise sewed the side seams and armscye with double row of close stitching and then trimmed the excess fabric very closely ( and carefully ) to the stitching. I took in the side seams by several cms and added narrow ties because this is a loose fitting top and she wanted it to be slim fitting . We added some non - functional buttons to the front which match much closer in real life than the pictures show . In case you can not tell I highly recommend this pattern.
Anyway the end result is that my eldest DD loves her new top. While I was cutting this out my youngest DD said that is pretty fabric and luckily there was a sizeable remnant that is already cut out for another ( different ) top for her.
Cheers Janine.
That's beautiful and I think you're amazing to sew all those pintucks in chiffon. Love the 'that's not fair' story. I think you need a trip too!
ReplyDeleteI really love this top. The bird fabric is great, and you did an amazing job with those pin tucks.
ReplyDeletePintucks- they terrify me. This top is so enviable and I have the pattern, but I am so tuck-phobic! Your DD has excellent taste and a talented Mama!
ReplyDeleteLovely top with beautiful fabric. Great result.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for all the kind comments . THe pintucks are fiddly but if I can make them , you all can too. The fabric pre-treatment of the chiffon helps so much - previously I avoided sewing with chiffon and the few times I did it was wonky .
ReplyDeleteJanine, the top is beautiful. All your tips about sewing the chiffon will be very useful if I can work up some bravery to sew my own stash of this tricky stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely top, I hope your daughter appreciates the effort. My daughter wants to do an overseas trip with her school. With two younger siblings I fear we may be opening a can of worms!
ReplyDeleteThis top is so pretty! You did a marvellous job with those pintucks!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the comment on my daughter's raincoat, and yes of course she and my entire household knew about the hole, and the story behind the iPod pocket! :D
Your a good peace maker. The top is beautiful as well.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love the fabric--your daughter has a good eye, and you are a very good sport to take this on. What a funny story about the trips. I am myself an only child and have only one son, so the dynamics of multiple siblings fascinate me. Your blog is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLove this! I like the idea of the ties, too. I've made this sleeveless in lawn, a bit easier than chiffon! but yours has me thinking I'd like one with the cap sleeve, it's very pretty.
ReplyDeleteThat is SUCH a great top! I just love the fabric, and how nice that your daughter thinks you are cool enough to make things for her!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have inspired me to have a go, with both chiffon and pin tucks. But with trepidation. I almost have nightmares about my one previous attempt with the technique. I am less scared of chiffon - I have used it for bias binding and I have a lovely piece of Iris printed silk chiffon that I am itching to cut into, but I am scared of ruining it.
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