Satisfying sewing and a floppy top …

Not long ago, I found a rather lovely skirt in a charity shop …

Unfortunately, there was no way I could squeeze into it but I absolutely loved the fabric and for £2.99 I had to have it. It’s floppy and silky and the pattern has a real 50s feel to it. Being a UK 6, there wasn’t a great deal to play with, but I knew I could use it along with my comfortable Miz Mozelle left-overs and create myself something new. I do love a bit of upcycling!

I used the one pattern that I know won’t fail me. The pattern I love and have used many times. The pattern that is so versatile you can make an entire wardrobe from it and still never get bored … in fact this is my seventh Sorbetto, that’s one for each day of the week, just like those sets of socks you can buy or those baby bibs only much, much better!

With the small amount of fabric I had to play with, I cut the back in two pieces and put a fake fastening in using a little vintage glass button.

Shush now! No one’s going to notice that wonky stitching … I used a wide bias binding on the neck to tie the whole colour block business together. It’s a nice soft one rather than the stiff versions, so much nicer to work with.

I’ve been making this top as and when I have a minute over the last couple of weeks. Today with the finish line in sight, I put in some sleeves and overlocked the raw edges …

Yep, it had to happen at some point, those pesky knives!

I had to unpick the sleeve, re-cut it and the insert it all over again, but I got there in the end …

I gently gathered the sleeves onto a band  and then tried to look (cough) sultry while Jimmy took a picture or two …

Yes, I am hugging the dress form for a bit of a back view …

And at my sewing desk all tidy (with the guilty overlocker) and ready for the next project.

Phew, I’ve used up some left over scraps and an unloved skirt and with the help of my free Colette pattern I’ve made a top that will get lots of wear, bingo! (After my last post, I probably shouldn’t mention bingo …).