Not a dress, Liberty silk New Look 6035 cami
Hello everyone! I’m sharing something slightly different today. I often wonder if you’re all sick of seeing my dresses. Sometimes I even wonder if I like what I’m sewing.
Do you ever get that feeling? Where you finish a garment and you’re not sure why you actually made it… like it was all just to use the fabric up and you didn’t really learn anything or love the finished make? I’m having a bit of a wardrobe crisis as I’ve got so much fabric waiting to be sewn up that doesn’t seem to fit with the clothes I want to wear lately, but I can’t seem to get rid of it. To distract myself I’m seeing what I can use from my disgustingly huge stash to help me practice for my wedding dress.
This simple looking top was actually a really good challenge PWD – Pre-wedding dress. I wanted to ease myself back into using silk and had been hoarding this piece of Liberty silk satin for years. I used one of those amazing Liberty tokens that has the building embossed on it. Very hard to give up in all honesty.
The print is called Alice Alina C. It’s a photographic winter garden print exposed in a dark room using photo sensitive paper so the leaves and buds have a ghostly feel. The yellow heart shapes in the print are especially gorgeous.
The top is part of a bumper pattern pack from New Look. I originally picked this up to make the jacket (another thing that isn’t a dress to look forward to) but decided to try the top first instead. There are no darts, just neckline gathering as easing for the bust and you can add hem vents if desired.
I used French seams throughout, a super fine needle and cut out with my rotary cutter. I didn’t need tissue paper or gelatine or any other stabiliser which was reassuring. When making the bias I tried my best to have as few joins as possible to avoid those unsightly seam lines showing. This is super skinny 12mm bias which was then folded in half to make 6mm trim. I basted the bias in place before topstitching so I wouldn’t go totally insane.
Aren’t the little yellow leaves adorable? The colour is quite dark for me but feels very luxurious. Focussing so intently on not warping the seams, keeping the fabric on grain and not slipping around as I topstitched the bias was a really nice exercise in calm careful sewing. I’m using duchesse satin as one layer of my wedding dress so I’m definitely going to sew some more slippery silks before it’s time to start just to keep my skills in check. I think I’ll also make another top in polyester or crepe to tuck into skirts. And really, it would make a great pj top too. It’s an all round staple throw on item!
If you have any tips that might help me with my current wardrobe predicament please let me know. Part of the issue is knowing that when I start my wedding dress and potentially the bridesmaid dresses I won’t have much time to sew other things so it puts more pressure on each garment I do choose to make. To-do lists never seem to work but I did start look at each piece of fabric I have, to work out what garment it may become one day. This was an exercise to justify it staying in my stash… I got through one box. EEEK HELP ME!!
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That top is so pretty – I love the less floral Liberty fabrics. I can totally sympathise with your current wardrobe crisis, I’ve been through a similar spell myself with sewing things almost for the sake of sewing and not actually being happy or wanting to wear the end result. I think I’m gradually coming out of the end of it now, realising I need to sew tops to wear with trousers and jeans and that I currently love the Closet Case Kalle dress and the Named Helmi tunic / dress… and I’ve never liked things with collars and button fronts before!
6mm bias in slippery silk sounds challenging! It looks beautiful, well done!
I think you’ve done a fantastic job with jumping in with this wardrobe basic – this is a top you’ll wear for years and never stop loving! It’s gorgeous. I made up a silk cami this summer (Springfield by Cashmerette) and wore it 2 times a week throughout June, July and Aug.Obviously I need a LOT more of these! I think you should make a few of these up for sure – do you have any more silk just sitting around your stash? 🙂 I would continue on this path – making staple items that you wear all the time – cardigans, pants, loungewear – how about a nice full out loungewear for your wedding night/ honey moon in some crazy lush silk?
YES! I 100% know that feeling. Probably 20% of what I sew falls into that category – things I make because I have the fabric, and I want to sew, but I know even as I make it that I’ll probably give it away or wear it rarely. I”m feeling all kinds of guilt over it lately… I have way too many clothes that I love, so why am I making more? But it’s my hobby, so dammit, I try to let the guilt slide. I think your top is lovely! To get the sewjo flowing, how about a post of 5 things you love to wear lately – might help you crystalize your style?
I did a really honest clearout of my stash recently! I sat down and went through every single piece – recycled all the scrappy bits I know I don’t need, gave to charity all the big pieces that I’m hanging onto for the sake of it, and kept only the pieces big enough to make something with that I truly love! I completely agree with the crisis though – I think we’re all guilty of making things just because. I often give things I’ve made away to the charity bag… but then I suppose my hobby isn’t necessarily the wearing, but more the making!
Your top is just beautiful. I’m almost finished a Liberty silk satin top myself. For very hot weather silk is a beautiful light fabric to wear……and with a gentle handwash really easy to care for.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who suffers from your ‘making things to use the fabric issues’. Like another of your readers I’ve had a really good cull of my stash, recycling and charity shops. Now the things I have left are beautiful fabrics I want to wear and awesome patterns I want to sew. No more buying stuff cos it’s a bargain!!
I absolutely love this top, Amy. It’s such a great use of this gorgeous fabric and a really versatile piece to have in your wardrobe.
If your stash doesn’t match what you most want to sew, could you take some pieces to a swap at a meet-up? Or there’s always eBay? I’m guessing there are a whole load of desirable items in your stash that other sewists would love to get their hands on!
Simple yet elegant Amy!
Ooo, your top is fabulous! And I take my hat off to you for making and sewing such narrow binding in silk! You did a brilliant job. Also, that print is all kinds of awesome, and I am going to google it right now!