Firstly a big apology for posting my August Scrap Happy a day late. I got confused and thought today was the 15th! Sorry!
It seems ages ago now – although it was really only a few weeks ago, the UK was experiencing a warm dry summer.
Most summers I barely get out of my sweater, so I consequently don’t have an extensive collection of sleeveless tops. However with this year’s hot spell, I discovered myself in need of more sleeveless tops. Since I’ve decided to work on my rusty sewing skills, I decided to make a few.
I chose a pattern that didn’t look too taxing…
I dug through my fabric stash and happened upon the remains of the double width fabric I brought for the back of my floral quilt….
Eyeing them up, I wondered if there was enough for a sleeveless top. Then I made my first error: I washed the fabric and put it aside because I needed to finish my quilt for entry into our village produce show.
I didn’t finish the quilt until this week, when the weather had take a decided turn for the worse.
Unperturbed I checked my fabric remains to find I was half an inch short. But what’s half an inch in the length of a top? It’s not like I’m six foot tall and might possibly need to add length to the pattern – on hold on, yes I am.
After measuring various tops in my wardrobe, I decided I could stand the loss of half an inch.
Having cut the fabric, I made my second error – I didn’t have any soft interfacing and, since this was a Scrap Happy project, I could hardly go buying new materials. So I used a medium I already had weight instead.
The project didn’t take long to complete.
It would have taken even less time if I hadn’t sew the back armhole faces to each other – twice!
Having put the facings on, it became quite clear I shouldn’t have used such thick interfacing – oh hold, I already knew that. I’d just chosen to ignore it.
I top stitched around the neck and the armholes in an attempt help it lie better and although it’s okay and wearable for around the house and dog walking, it’s definitely not my best work.
Still, it’s free top made from scraps…
And I reckon there’s still enough left over to make a second top slightly different sleeveless top – but maybe next year.
If you like the idea of using your scraps (of anything, not just fabric) click on Kate or Gun(first two names in the list below) and join us on the 15th of every month – or just those months you feel like joining in. Here’s a list of both frequent and occasional Scraphappiers (?) if you want to see what everybody else is doing.
Kate, Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn , Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Johanna,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.
Dartmoor Creative 
I think that looks great. I’d be well chuffed if I’d made that.
And remember the September we had last year – you’ll only need to take a cardie with you 😉
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Thank you. Let’s hope so.
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PS – nice to see you; nearly-neighbour!
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Nice to see you. Whereabouts in Devon are you?
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Exeter, so nearly neighbours!!
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Oh yes, just a short jaunt down the A30 🙂
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The top looks great and the length perfect. If you wanted to hold that facing down and dress it up a little, and if you embroider, you could put a line of leaves or flowers around the neck and armholes, further in than the top-stitching. I hope you have some hot summer days to enjoy it! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you. That’s an excellent idea and I am an embroiderer, but sadly not a very flowery clothed person.
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Are you really nearly 6ft tall? I’m jealous if you are!! 🙂 That top looks just fine to me and wearable anywhere on a hot day – which I’m sure will come back to you soon. We had a ‘hot’ day yesterday. I got all excited and turned off the heating, opened the doors and window, went for two walks and had a wonderful day. Then as I prepared for bed last night I heard again those familiar sounds of wind and rain ……….. Just a little teaser.
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Thank you. I am.
Well at least you had a good day yesterday. Sun and cloud and showers are out here this morning, so keep your fingers crossed for me sun wins. It’s also produce show day, so please keep your fingers crossed for my entries in the craft section.
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It’s probably all over by the time I’ve read this – how many prizes did you win?
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And by the time I’ve got to this comment, I suspect you’ll have read about the craft section results in my Sunday Sevens. So off to have a look if you have. xx
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That’s a nice, versatile pattern you’ve got there – patterns are so expensive so I do like one with lots of options.
Would you have been better with the next size down? Just saying as there seems to be quite a bit of spare fabric between shoulder and bust and, if you are going to make more, you could treat this as a muslin/toile and play with it a bit to get the fit better for next time.
It could just be the way you’re standing of course 😉
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Me too. That’s why I brought that pattern.
I see what you’re saying – but I couldn’t get away with less fabric around my boobs and I think what you’re seeing is an effect caused by the too stiff interfacing which in making a small crease around the shoulder seams that stop it sitting properly on the shoulder and the camera exaggerates the crease too. The light was dreadful taking pics yesterday – too white/bright where I was, too dark elsewhere in the house and bucketing it down outside.
However I will definitely put it on and study it a bit harder, bearing your comment in mind, before I make another. Which is why I’m thinking maybe I should make a couple more now, while I have my head round the shortcomings of this one. Thanks for the thoughts/advice, always appreciated.
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Creases always seem to show up more in photos don’t they? I find it works like that for my face too 🙄
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Ha ha! Me too 🙂
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Great job!
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Thank you.
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What can I say? It’s a great looking top!
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Thank you 🙂
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Lovely top but very distracted by the beautiful beach photos 😎
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Thank you. Sadly that clear blue sky seems a long long time ago now. 😦
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Well I think it looks lovely!
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Thank you xx
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