Hi, again! Hope everyone is having a great week and looking forward to a wonderful weekend. I know I am! A couple of days ago, I decided to finally tackle a project that has been on my "to do" list for a while now. So, I gathered up some butcher paper, pencil, rulers, curves, scissors, etc. to make a pattern of a Carter's shirt I bought Ella at a thrift store.
I'd been putting off this project because I don't really enjoy making patterns from existing clothes like some people do. I've not had much success with it in the past, but I decided it was time to give it a go again. You see, my former career was in civil engineering, and all of my drafting was done on the computer with software like AutoCad or Microstation. After using these drafting tools for years, I've gotten lazy about hand drawing design plans, and since I no longer have access to those programs, I couldn't very easily sit down and just draft up the pattern from measurements (I tried that once or twice before; hence, why I don't favor making my own detailed patterns).
But this time, I was determined to accomplish this task! In fact, everything went fairly well considering this top was a little more detailed than most of the other shirts I have made so far. I even started sewing it the same night and finished it up early the next morning. There are definitely some tweaks I need to make to the pattern, and I really need to research the proper way to sew on the button placket. All in all, I'm sewVery pleased with the end result, and even better, Ella adores it! And in her honor, we now have--ta-da-
The Beautiful Flower Top!
Once I modify the pattern slightly and make another top, my new goal will be to create a pdf pattern and tutorial that I can share with everyone online. The most difficult feature for me to sew is the yoke and button placket, but I'm going to learn to sew them right. If anyone has suggestions or tips on how to sew these, please let me know!
Here are a few more pictures of the finished Beautiful Flower Top and its details...
This is such a great play top, and it even has two small pockets on the front to store treasures. Sorry I didn't take a close up picture of them. I know Ella is going to enjoy having this and maybe one or two more to add to her wardrobe!
Thanks for visiting. Become a follower of my blog so you'll know when I have the pattern and tutorial ready! Have a beautiful day!
The top is gorgeous, so much nicer than the original, love all the details too, and you have your own labels???!!!!***** Where did you get them from?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comments on the top. It may be prettier, but it is not constructed better than the original. I'm already planning to make another one though.
ReplyDeleteI made the labels from a tutorial I found on See Kate Sew's blog. Essentially, they were printed out as a yard of custom designed fabric at Spoonflower, and then I cut them out and iron them as I need them. I couldn't make up my mind what color I wanted to use, so I came up with a rainbow of choices in both big and small labels. I think I got roughly 450 labels for less than $20! Since I didn't use any images, I just created a page of labels in Word and uploaded it to Spoonflower's website. Next time I order some I will use their recommended software though because not all the labels printed out crisp/sharp like I wanted them. Let me know if you decide to make some!
What a beautiful shirt. I would love to sew something similar for my granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteVery sweet. The fabric is perfect
ReplyDeleteIt's a darling top! I daresay your version is prettier.:)
ReplyDeleteYour flower top is gorgeous!!! I baulk at drafting patterns. I don't mind for bags, but clothes are hard. I look forward to your tutorial.
ReplyDeleteLovely top!!! Will you send your email address to simplesimonandco(at)gmail(dot)com so we can get you your giveaway patterns.
ReplyDeleteBTW, LOVE your blog and projects--darling stuff!
Amazingly beautiful! And you made it from a pattern you made yourself too! That takes talent and hard work- nice job.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I've made another Beautiful Flower top after tweaking my pattern a bit. It turned out even nicer than the first one I made. Pictures were taken today, and I made a ton of pics in hopes of also writing up a tutorial. Now, to just find the time to scan the pattern, write the tutorial, and write the blog! Check back soon if you want to see the second version and (hopefully) get the pattern.
DeleteWhat a beautiful top, and I like it so much more than the original! I'm impressed that you tackled a curved yoke and button placket without a ready-made pattern - tricky stuff! I'd say you're much better at pattern-making than you give yourself credit for:) Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lucinda. The placket was my biggest challenge. After making some revisions to the pattern, I was able to get the placket cut out and sewn on (correctly?). A post about the newest Beautiful Flower Top will be up soon, I hope!
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