My new year’s resolution to sew my fabric collection (AKA stash) is still going strong.
Formerly too-precious-to-use fabric continues to break out of my fabric collection and into my wardrobe.
This gorgeous fabric comes from Mood in NYC and was purchased 5 years ago. A beautiful cotton voile with a huge pattern repeat featuring birds, flowers, botanicals and the odd old map or two.
It has almost been a dress several times, but I never got to the cutting out phase.
This time I broke the jinx and its now a Cielo top
I used French seams for construction and bias binding on the neck and hems. This is a size 14.
The neck and hems are an inch higher and longer than drafted because I attached the bias binding flush with the cut edges rather than in the seam allowance.
I didn’t add the seperate back yoke – there is plenty already going on with this top and one of the shoulders looks like it has a yoke anyway.
Pattern placement was a bit of a head scratcher, but I settled on the pinker and brighter section on the front and the yellower and more muted section on the back.
This top works well with my grey blue linen wide leg pants (love the yellow wall, don’t love the messy hair so much – it was very windy)
It’s a beautiful match with a new pencil skirt.
This is BurdaStyle 11/2019 #110, at the #111 length and without the D rings, made as a size 44 with size 42 waist.
My fabric is a stretch cotton in dove grey with a lovely sueded feel to it.
I was not careful enough with cutting out so the front was a touch bigger than it should be. I added two small tucks to the front and solved the problem.
This pattern has the front pockets drafted as a single piece. It acts almost like a tummy control. And inaccuracies in cutting out this piece and the front skirt mean that extra design features such as tucks need to be added.
So, to sum up how I’m feeling.
- Love, love, love my top. Glorious fabric and beautiful lantern sleeves.
- Very happy with my skirt. It’s a neutral basic that I need in my wardrobe and its lovely to wear.
He Cooks... She Sews! 
Those two pieces come very well together, good job ! I’m fascinated by the term ‘french seam’, as in french we use the term ‘english seam’. Do that refer to a kind of sophistication that the one nation considers the other ? No idea, but the fact is that this particular seam is very nice with chiffon or voile. I use it very often as it gives a very raffinated inside, even if it is not visible.
Thank you for sharing your sewing endeavours, I enjoy reading about them.
This sounds a bit like French fries and French toast. Only known outside France.
Awesome! I think you just persuaded me I need the Cielo top in my life 🙂
You do 😀
Love, love love your new top. The fabric is gorgeous. The cielo is such a good basic pattern and those sleeves are quite something.
Thanks. The fabric and the sleeves make this top sing.
The skirt is a great basic and such a pretty color.
But that top! It’s fantastic. I have the Cielo pattern but since it’s mid winter here and below freezing I haven’t used it yet. You have convinced me I need to get started with it right away!
I’ve been thinking of ways to make it work for winter too. It would look fine with a turtleneck under it and made up in thicker and warmer fabric.
What a beautiful print and it worked so well for the blouse.
Thank you. It really is delightful fabric.
Oh, that top is especially beautiful! I am hoping to sew a Cielo top soon with those magnificent sleeve. Time to ferret through my stash! And I reckon that you’ll get masses of wear from that skirt. Great sewing (as always)
Thank you. That’s an especially special compliment coming from you!
I don’t have that pattern but it looks fun. Your fabric is amazing. You must be glad the special fabric turned out so well.
I am. Always a risk with precious fabric.
Love this top and the gorgeous colours – hot pink looks well on you!. Also love the top with different bottoms – I suspect you will find the top goes with a surprising number of things.
Thank you. Now off to the stash to find more hot pink fabric.
That top is a delight! So very pretty with that fabric! And we always need good basics in the wardrobe, otherwise what to wear with beautiful tops!?
You are absolutely right. I had to laugh when I first wore this outfit to work. People know I sew. Lots of comments about the top. Zero about the skirt.
Beautiful sewing and gorgeous fabric to boot. Then there is the top!
I love a well fitting basic skirt/trousers. Always overlooked yet in constant use.
Thank you. Basics are always overlooked.
Lovely top that works so well with both pieces. Well done for getting the stunning fabric out of the stash and into a versatile top for your wardrobe. I’m intrigued by the skirt design too, going to look it up……
It’s the first time I’ve seen a BurdaStyle pencil skirt pattern with tummy control. Such a great idea.
Love this top so much. You picked the perfect pattern to really highlight the fabric. It looks fantastic on you.
Thank you. It’s so nice when my sewing works out so well.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
LOOKS SO COOL!