Sunday, January 3, 2010

First project of the year - The Tessuti Top

Thanks for all of the ideas on how to salvage Butterick 5418 (the would-be New Years Eve dress). The suggestions included:

1) additional hand-stitching/tacking to hold the pleats in place on the lining
2) cutting the bodice lining smaller (~1.5 cm) and ease to fit the bodice, so that the front will be pulled to the inside (much in the way an undercollar is cut smaller than an outer collar)
3) inserting a weight in the bodice lining hem to give it some oomph against the heavy pleats
4) inserting boning to support the bodice lining

I am going to hang on to the muslin and I'll fiddle with the dress. If I find a solution, I'll be sure to let you know!

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First project of 2010! And honestly, I'm not trying to hide my pregnancy, but this top does a very good job of it...




A local sewing friend made Tessuti's "Our Fave Top", and after trying hers on, I was convinced I needed my own too. The pattern is available as a free download on the Sew Tessuti blog. It's super easy and fast to make up. I started mine sometime after 5pm and wore it out that same evening. I used a grey viscose/lycra that I bought in November at Stonemountain and Daughter. My special touches:



1) I stablized the shoulder seams with Japanese bias-cut woven interfacing to prevent them from stretching out



2) I fused the hem in place with Steam-a-Seam 2, then stitched it in place with the decorative and stretchy lightning stitch. Fusing the hem closed before stitching made the job much easier, especially considering this top has a lot of hem!



I need a good necklace to go with this top, so in lieu I wore a small across-the-shoulder purse. And with such a voluminous top, a fitted bottom is a must. Yup, I'm wearing the controversial garment known as jeggings. Let me tell you, when you are pregnant and you want to wear skinny pants, jeggings are your best friend. Anything with 5% lycra is your best friend.

Thanks to Tessuti Fabrics for the awesome pattern!

25 comments:

Leslie said...

I LOVE that top, love it on you, and love your jeggings. Perfect.

Erica Bunker said...

Cute top! You're such a cute mommy-to-be!

KID, MD said...

Adorable on you! Totally conceals the bump.

Elizabeth said...

Thanks for the jegging update. I had no idea that the word or garment existed and I feel much better now knowing that I'm up to speed. That said, I won't be wearing jeggings but they sure work for you. You look great.

Sew-4-Fun said...

Great outfit! Anything with lycra is your friend when pregnant. I bet jeggings were probably invented by a pregnant woman. LOL!

Colette said...

You've made my day Christina!

Great to see you in our fave top. It looks great with the jeggings and heels.

Thanks for the tip about Steam-a-seam....I'll have to try find some here in Australia, and the hem seam is a great detail.

Would you mind if I added your photo onto our Tessuti Flickr group ?

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

You should make that top in a couple of colors...it will make getting dressed as your baby grows (notice I didn't say you getting larger!) so much easier!! :)

laura said...

A very cute top! And lucky you to look so good in your 'jeggings'! As a very curvy person even when I weighed a hundred pounds I couldn't wear leggings, so I'm not even going to make myself sick by trying on a pair of these now!

gwensews said...

Your top looks really cute on you, baby and all!

meli88a said...

This looks so good on you! Very sleek!

Dei said...

Such a cute top...and perfect for a stylish mommi.

Gay McDonell said...

Great top!

Mauri said...

Love the top! I totally need to make myself one to accommodate for my growing bump. Very chic and love it with the jeggings. :)

dris said...

Your top looks great! Did you cut it smaller than the pattern? My version has a biger neckline. I think I'll work on fixing it today...

Trudy said...

gorgeous top. It certainly does do a good job hiding your growing belly. You look cute.

senaSews said...

Cute top and a great outfit!

Meg said...

Love the top, the whole look in fact.

Little Hunting Creek said...

Cute top - very chic!

Eugenia said...

That's a lovely top. I love the fabric - it drapes well and is a beautiful colour.

Anni O'Neill said...

Have I told you how much I love your blog? My New Years Resolution is to let all you great sewing bloggers know how much I loooove reading about what you are sewing and keeping me informed and inspired.
Thank you for all the work you put into this wonderful blog.

Gretchen the Household Deity said...

Very pregnancy chic!

nikkishell said...

It looks great! Yummy Mummy ;)

Anonymous said...

Today is first time that i see your blog and it is fabulous and your works are precious . A couple of years I studied to make clothes but was never satisfied because something was always wrong and some imperfection but today I saw your blog and other blogs too and now i have new senergy for with sew machine to work...

I am anxious returning to work with my sewing machine

Greetings and congratulations for your blog

Cindy May said...

don't you love being the fashionista pregnant lady? My favorite is the strappy gladiator sandles. I wore clogs my whole pregnancy! lol. wish i would have know you then.

Beth said...

Now I really want to make this top! It looks great!