Hi, guys! Hope you’re well! I’ve been feeling really scatterbrained in the sewing room lately. After a string of duds, I set aside my slow-going projects and whipped up a quick top. Sometimes you just need to feel some sewing satisfaction instead of just plodding along, you know?

This is Simplicity 1690, a Leanne Marshall design. I bought the pattern because I thought the skirt would look cute on my little sister, but I think I’ll stick to sewing her things with an adjustable waist for the time being as the last skirt with a fitted waist that I made, well, didn’t fit (sewing long distance isn’t easy!). I liked the simple lines of this top, so I thought I’d give it a try.

Big 4 patterns often run big, in my experience, so I checked the finished measurements before cutting. Lo and behold, it runs true to size! I’ve heard that the designer patterns sometimes do- has that been your experience? I wanted to use French seams, but the pattern has splits at the side hem, so I just turned and stitched the seam allowances to finish them. The neckline is finished with a bias facing- you fold the bias binding in half, match it to the raw edge of the neckline, stitch, and then press the whole thing underneath before topstitching it down. I really liked this- it’s a tidy, clean finish, but without all the tedious fiddling around you have to do with a bound neckline. The bias loop was too long for my neckline, though, so I had to shorten it, but maybe I stretched it out too much with handling.  I thought the pattern looked short, so I lengthened it by 2″, which might have been too much. Next time I think I’ll reduce that by 1″.

The fabric is a cotton-silk blend, and it’s really special to me because it was a gift from Stephanie! She sent it to me with the yarn for my grandpa cardigan and a few other goodies. I really like the abstract print, and it feels really nice on my skin. I’ve had it in my stash for a while, so I’m really happy to be wearing it instead of hoarding it.  The only thing that’s kind of weird is that the print sort of… flattens me? See what I mean? It looks like the shirt hangs straight down from my shoulders! I promise I’m not really THAT flat! But I’m guessing that wearing a longish necklace would sort that out. 🙂

I really, really like this top and would love to make a few more. It’s easy to wear, and the neckline is really flattering, in my opinion. Plus it’s a quick make and doesn’t take much fabric. Hooray for easy sewing!

I think I’m walking on an invisible tight rope here?

A few more items of business: first of all, the Felt Dogs giveaway winner, chosen by random.org, is Show and Tell Meg! I’m a little worried that my mom, an avid corgi-ist, will be inspired to do like Meg and make a corgi out of corgi!  😉

Next up, there’s still time to sign up for my sewing class and for the Sewing Swap Meet & Party! I have it on good authority that Gail will be in town and attending the party- I can’t wait to meet her!

Finally, I shared this photo on Twitter, but I was tickled pink when my mother-in-law sent me a pic of this dress:

It’s a dead ringer for the dress Megan wore in the season premiere Sunday night! She’s had it since 1969! Pretty cool, huh?

Well, that’s all, folks! What are you up to these days? Any special sewing on the docket?