Friday, July 3, 2015

Blast from the Past

For months, Zara has been at me to make her a top.
She saw it somewhere.
Maybe Maddie was wearing it? Or a lady at the shops?
Anyway, it was linen, cream coloured, had a chunky exposed zipper, short sleeves and a cropped length.
May I make it?
Please?

I have learned the hard way not to assume with teenagers. Of course I could make it, but find a me pattern.

She came up with this.
Mmm, that was not expected.
(I made this up in silver Thai silk to wear to a B&S Ball around 1993).
I thought a muslin may be wise.
I have a roll of calico I use for muslin making. I can write on it and it is quite stable to handle.
Seams on the right side make for easy adjustment.
Only one sleeve is needed.
I left off the darts to create the cropped boxy style Zara was requesting.
The sleeve required a lot of tweaking.
I pinched a lot of the fullness out and shortened it to a cap sleeve style.
The centre seam gave me the opportunity to get a lovely fit.
It ended up looking quite an odd pattern shape.
Zara chose some lovely nubbly linen from my stash. I sort of wanted to keep it for myself.
We looked at lining with Bemsilk and voile but then found the scantest piece of silk satin in ivory.
Perfect!
I hand sewed all the hems, with the nature of the nubbly linen they were quite invisible.
Speaking of nubbly linen, it frays like the billy-o.
Sewing for the Twins is opening up the world of more tailored sewing. During my research on coat sewing, I read the tip of clipping the seams at alternating increments to reduce bulk and create ease with out risk of seam weakening.
Just the job!
Zara was super keen for an exposed zipper.
As we were using very luxe fabric I was not.
I was pretty sure it would date badly.
We compromised, exposed teeth not tape.
Another sewing tip, sew the zipper from the bottom up, on each side, to reduce twisting.
And baste first, basting is your friend.
 There was a lot of hand sewing on this one.
I like to carefully catch my facings to my lining.
I hand sewed the sleeve lining to the sleeve edge as well.
There you have it, a very grownup shell top.
With a thoroughly modern twist.
Lined with silk satin.
I used hemming tape to avoid bulk.
I would have liked to make a zipper guard but Zara was adamant she didn't want one.
I hope it doesn't scratch her.....
She insists it doesn't.
A boxy cropped shell top.
Luxurious and decadent in silk and linen.
Evidently it feels like heaven to wear.
For my sweet angel.

xx N

30 comments:

  1. I reckon it feels totally like heaven to wear. That fabric combo! Your girl has vision, I would never have picked that pattern for that outcome. Beautifully done!

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    1. Thank you Jillian.
      It is really interesting to see what they come up with. We all love clothes in this house, Jed and Hugo included, but with limited sewing time now everyone has to put a lot of thought into their four pieces.
      We have just discovered 'wardrobe capsuling' and I think that will be hugely beneficial.
      xx N

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  2. No, me neither. The pattern picture does nothing for me, but that top is divine! Very Chanel! Super vision and how incredible are you to realise it so well.
    Incredible Nicole (except that it's completely credible cause you're a sewing sensation)

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    1. T'was the 90's Shelley, shoulder pads de jour!
      To be honest, I was leaning towards a boxy tee-shirt so I am so pleased I insisted she choose the pattern.
      They are tricky at this age....

      Thank you for your lovely compliment.
      xx N

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  3. You are amazing. That is all.

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  4. This is an incredibly luxurious top! You worked so well together, mother and daughter!

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    1. Thank you SaSa!
      I have to work on my patience, sometimes I get a bit frustrated with her descriptions and her with my lack of comprehension, but we got there.
      xx N

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  5. This is elegant. The twins have great taste in clothes. I can see this top with the jeans as she is styling it but also for dress up, I imagine a long skirt would be fab with that top. Question: with a silk lining will this top need to be dry cleaned or can you hand wash it?

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    1. I passed on your suggestion Brenda, 'Oooh, yes' was the response.
      I pre-washed the silk in shampoo (rinsed with conditioner) it shrunk a wee bit and lost some lustre but will hand wash or gentle machine wash well now.
      Thank you.
      xx N

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    2. Nicole! That kind of tip is GOLD! I had no idea silk could be treated in such a way! Amazing.
      This top is also amazing... On so many levels - but it really encapsulates what has me so enthralled with your blog. I am so impressed with the vision that you & your family have for fashioning clothes (no doubt instilled by yourself); your ability to realise such dreams; & your commitment to sewing in the midst of an undoubtably busy, busy world; ...I could go on..!
      It's a toasty reminder that I have no excuse to not be sewing! :)

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    3. You are lovely Renae, thank you!
      xx N

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  6. Seriously, I bow down to you. I would never have seen this coming from that pattern. And look at how happy you made her! Well done Mum.

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    1. Thank you Brittney.
      This was a case when a muslin was essential, we just kept pinching out the fabric until we got the look she was after.
      Zara was so happy, that was pretty awesome.
      xx N

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  7. Your girls have such sophisticated taste! It is a beautifully sewn top. I really like e exposed teeth on the zipper.

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    1. Thank you Masha.

      They do have nice taste for young ladies, I am lucky.
      xx N

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  8. I love the story behind it, and it turned out so beautifully!

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    1. I am finding so much of my sewing has a story Catherine. Where the fabric is from, the inspiration behind the garment or where it is to be worn.
      Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
      xx N

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  9. Who'd have thunk it! The kid has vision. Maybe a future seamstress in her own right, or designer perhaps? I have to say (to you both) Ya did good kid!

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  10. Absolutely fabulous!! (loving the Chanel vintage vibe!!)
    Their closet is getting so fabulous these days - I could live there ;)

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  11. lovely fabrics, very worthy of lots of handsewing ;o)

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  12. It was a lot of hand sewing, which I normally avoid, but I think it was worth it.
    Thank you Colette.
    xx N

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  13. You did it again! You realized a dream for one of your children. What a beautiful blouse! To say that I am impressed is such an understatement. Your creativity, skills, and talent are amazing!

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  14. Thank you Karen, you are so kind.
    xx N

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  15. Well that was not quite what I expected coming from that pattern! Well done! And Z looks so happy to wear it!!

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  16. I know Jessica, she said she looked at the line drawings. I guess I have taught her something after all?
    Thank you
    xx N

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