king's fern
pattern: butterick B4549
difficulty (1-5): 2.2
pattern size: 10
fabric: 1.25 yd of amy butler's charm fabric in creams king's fern, invisible zipper
a kimono style top in amy butler's charm fabric. amy calls her fabric creams king's fern. hence, i'm calling it my king's fern. the shirt can be a little revealing, so i wear it with a cami. but, it may be a bathing suit underneath if i'm heading towards the beach.
there is very likely to be a second top with this pattern. kaffe fassett's purple chrysanthemum print with green floral borders. possibilities are endless, and i can't have them all this summer.
oh i so adore this sewalong project.
i was initially a little apprehensive about the fit. then, after reading a couple reviews online, i decided to make it a size smaller and i think it turned out just right. also, after working on a series of butterick's patterns, i think their designs tend to run big with a lot of ease; height waisted, too, for pants and skirts.
modifications were very minute for this project, a major one being the facings for neckline and armholes. i did not follow the directions but instead i had created what seamstresses would called the biased binding for hems. i was quite confused with the instructions and had misunderstood initially. anyway, i liked it better this way. i had also installed the zipper for the entire left side of the bottom pieces instead of per instruction. not sure which way was better, but this is simply just a personal preference.
in this particular project, i had tried to be neat on seaming and sewing the lines straight. sewing is a true testament for craftsmanship, i need to warrant it more attention and patience.
overall, i love this top, and i love it even more with the help of these little clips. i will never be able to sew without you guys. really.
the best sewing notion of all times: cute little butterfly clips
and trust me... that bottle of spray glue, you will love it. especially when folding hemlines and such!
butterfly clips also came with the following:
a cross-stitched initial (me!) framed in the most luscious silver...
check and stripe's dotty linen fabrics and others...
a pattern of a cute shirt (which i'll make with the polka dot linen fabric)...
leather handles for my future bag projects...
all of these lovely things from a talented girl who lives in room101, flat b...
thank you. joujouka. you made my day!
Comments
Beautiful as always Blossom! Those are great gifts you got as well!
posted by Angela on July 5, 2006 11:31 PM
very, very nice! i love it! with all this sewing going on over at your house i wouldn't be surprised to see more placemats appearing soon ;-)
posted by kris on July 6, 2006 02:50 AM
Beautiful top Blossom and the fabric is gorgeous! I have never seen those clips before but they seem to be brilliant idea!
posted by francoise on July 6, 2006 03:23 AM
Nice top, you're getting really good at your sewing. Those clips look very useful.
posted by Carin on July 6, 2006 10:15 AM
The top looks great...love the detail of how the front crosses...excellent sewing. Butterfuly clips? Great idea on that one too.
posted by Sherrill on July 6, 2006 10:24 AM
The top really looks beautiful!!I love the fabric.
...and can't wait to see your polka-dot blouse:>
posted by joujouka on July 6, 2006 10:31 AM
The top is gorgeous. As always, your project is a winner. I need to find some of those clips and some spray glue.
posted by Stephanie on July 6, 2006 10:34 AM
hhmmm, butterfly clips! great idea! so how do you use the spray adhesive? did you spray those hems around the neck and then clip them down instead of sewing them?
posted by gleek on July 6, 2006 10:40 AM
What an adorable top! Great job!
posted by Erica B. on July 6, 2006 10:45 AM
Pretty top. Those polka dots fabric is so adorable. I can't wait to see your next project.
posted by vanessa on July 6, 2006 11:03 AM
Very nice! I may have to look up that pattern - I really like it!
posted by Stacey on July 6, 2006 11:32 AM
All of it is just beautiful!! I love the top - and the new fabrics are wonderful. My favorite is the polka dot - it will make a wonderful little top!
posted by Kathy on July 6, 2006 12:10 PM
Beautiful top! That is a great pattern and a great fabric. And I love the bias strip edgings. You are so accomplished!
posted by hege on July 6, 2006 12:20 PM
The top is beautiful - as always. And the parcel from Joujouka takes my breath away. What a lovely friend! :)
posted by Philippa on July 6, 2006 03:27 PM
Great top! You look lovely.
posted by Charity on July 6, 2006 07:29 PM
That top is adorable. I love wrap and mock wrap styles. Threads Magazine this month recommended Burda 8217--a similar style. I have the fabric set to cut, and hope to make it soon.
posted by Barb on July 6, 2006 11:13 PM
Beautiful!
Whcih makes me think - everybody seems to sew, recently! I think I will jump on the bandwagon and finally dust off my sewing machine! ;-)
posted by Iris on July 7, 2006 12:44 PM
The new kimono style top is so elegant! It looks beautiful, Blossom ;)
posted by Lolly on July 7, 2006 12:54 PM
Pretty! I love that fabric.
posted by Elizabeth on July 11, 2006 12:32 AM
Very cute top! I sometimes you a brooch to keep the neck opening from being too revealing. Those new fabrics are so sweet, can't wait to see them turn into projects :-)
posted by Steph on July 11, 2006 12:54 PM
Very nice! I like your version better than mine. I like the biased binding instead of the facings. That's what I thought too, at first, but then I figured it out and went with the directions. Mine is too large. Wish I'd made a 12. Next time!
posted by Alissa on July 11, 2006 04:21 PM
The top came out really well! I would have done the facings in the same way as well.
Now I have to ask - where did you get the butterfly clips? Those look really, really handy.
posted by Kathy on July 12, 2006 11:53 PM
I think I am going to have to formally ask you to stop showing such gorgeous stuff off on your blog. I do not own a sewing machine. I don't have space for a sewing machine. And I have way too much yarn as it is. Yet you keep on tempting me. I love the shape of this, you got the size just right.
posted by Amelia on July 16, 2006 05:39 AM
This top looks perfect to me and I LOVE the pattern you chose, it's beautiful!
posted by Melissa on July 18, 2006 11:03 PM