Ginger Made: The “Oona Made Me Do It” Simone Top!

March 2, 2013 By in finished object, Mood Sewing Network, Uncategorized Tags: , , , 165 Comments

Friends.  The internet is a dangerous and scary place.  One minute you’re innocently setting up a Twitter account, and the next you’re accepting dares from a madwoman!  BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL.  Gillian‘s #sewingdares spread like wildfire!

Obviously, I’m no sissy, so I immediately agreed to this dare and headed to Mood with Oona and friends!

This is what happened.

photo stolen from oonaballoona

Oona pulled many the bolt of fabric down and wrapped me in colors and prints from head to toe.  It was a difficult decision, but, like the loose cannon she is, Oona decided at the last minute to up the ante and dare me to use TWO prints.  WHAT?  I’m a plain Jane, yo!  I do NOT mix prints!

But.  I’ve been looking for justification to download the super rad and sporty Simone Top from Victory Patterns, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.  Is it not crazy cute?  I thought its modern lines worked well with these abstract prints, and it felt like a good way to mix patterns.  Plus I just really wanted an excuse to buy it.

Speaking of patterns, let’s talk about the fabric for a minute!  The blue fabric with the larger print is sold in 1-yard panels, which made the yardage perfect for a top rather than a dress.  It’s a stretchy silk blend of some sort.  The gray and orange fabric is silk charmeuse (I used the wrong, less-shiny side).  I had a sudden inspiration to separate these two partners in crime with handmade piping (chartreuse!)– I love the extra pop of color it provides, even if it’s a bit over the top!

I really liked both the main fabric and the contrast, but they were a nightmare to stitch together.  The slippery charmeuse and the stretchy blend slithered and bunched together around the curves of the placket and back yoke– it wasn’t pretty.  I unpicked those seams so many times that I eventually lost count (even though I hand basted all of the seams before machine stitching!!), and it definitely took a toll on the fabric (and my psyche… I cried… SEVERAL TIMES…).  I was ELATED when I finally finished it!

Let’s just pretend that I’m not so pale and slouchy. The back is way cute, though, yeah?

As far as the pattern goes, I took the liberty of raising the armscyes by about 1″ from the get-go since that was an adjustment I needed to make in another of Kristiann’s patterns, but then I trimmed them back unscientifically.  Since my main fabric was stretchy, I skipped the zipper and I can just squeeze into it.  Win!

I think Oona was acting as my spirit animal or something because for some reason I went rogue and totally skipped making a muslin.  I didn’t even check flat pattern measurements!  It strains a little bit at the bust… whoops.  But I can totally live with the fit.  Even though I can’t close the top at the neckline.

What?  I TOLD you I didn’t make a muslin.  Don’t be like that.

This pic is so terrible that it would be wrong to deprive you of seeing it.

So, what do you think of this?  Am I channeling our beloved Oona?  Did I do her fabric choices justice?  Would you let her pick out fabric for you?  Who’s in on a sewing dare?

165 responses

  2. Dude. Dude. DUUUUUUUDE. This is SO great. I Absolutely adore this pattern and I love the pattern mixing. That piping is not OVER the top. It’s THE top. So fun to see you in something a little wilder, dare we say, more Oona.

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  5. i love it, i love that you went all-in on the pattern mixing and the oona crazyness. and i love the base pattern you chose, too – just all around a lot of great choices and great results here!!

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  7. I didn’t even know this pattern existed, but I think I might have to get it! I LOVE the racerback and I really love the colours and patterns together! AWESOME! (Makes me long for summer actually!)

    I feel your pain on the bunching and unpicking… I recently screwed up a simple jersey dress SO BADLY that I left the sewing room in tears and have had to give myself a little holiday from sewing! So I’m totally impressed with your perseverance!!

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    • Isn’t it a cool pattern? I love to wear racerbacks– they’re sporty and really flattering. They make everyone’s shoulders look so great, but not TOO exposed.

      UGH– unpicking jersey is the WORST. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have finished this if I hadn’t been working on a tight deadline. I guess it’s good that I’m not free to abandon tough projects. 🙂

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  11. It’s fabulous! Love the two prints together, and i really love the main piece. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to let Oona choose fabrics for me, but she can have a go at choosing for Daughter no2! 😀

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  12. Brilliant job and choice of pattern with Oona’s prints picks! I love your contrast piping! I am not sure that I am brave enough for a dare.. but I do want to try that Simone pattern!

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  13. Love it – what great colour combination. I think having Oona pick fabrics maybe shook things up for you and I would let her choose for me – and get me out of my natural habits in sewing choices!
    PS: love the piping- genius xx

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  15. I know I’ve only been reading your blog for a year or so, but that is one of the coolest pieces I’ve seen you make. Damn! I love the mixed prints. Nice challenge.

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  23. This is way too cute! And how daring to mix those 2 prints… I am NOT brave like that. I am always afraid the finished product will frighten the fashion police. But yours is most awesome! ~Laurie

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  24. This is awesome! I have always been too scared to mix two prints in one garment too! Well done for being brave! The piping looks amazing and really ties everything in! I bet sewing those fabrics together was such a NIGHTMARE!! I once stitched a stretch velvet panel into a wool crepe skirt for someone- there were tears…many, many tears. Hehe!
    Beautiful job! x

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  26. oh – oh – oh –
    you went and showed your raw talent!
    This top is amazing! So what if you cried while sewing it? Worth every tear. Seriously- I bet you get compliments every time you wear it!

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  29. Do you know how long it took me to scroll to the bottom of all these ginger-loving comments so I could leave one myself?? Hilarious post, love your style, and your top is awesome! Who’d have thought – brave combinations, fab result! Will be following your exploits – such fun!

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