Everyone loves a good pattern hack. Well check this one out.

This strappy top is loosely based on Simplicity 2362. I picked this pattern up at the V&A London meetup.

Now I’m sure those pockets are lovely in real life but I just couldn’t bring myself to use those lower bodice pieces. Enter the trusty gathered rectangle.

I could also see that the strap varieties on offer were all lovely. But why isn’t there an option for just a single spaghetti strap? It’s not like there’s a lot of dress to support weight-wise.

Finally, since I’d decided to turn this into a top rather than a dress I just couldn’t rationalise putting in a zip, so I cut the bodice on the fold and shirred the back.

The fabric used is a Liberty cotton I picked up quite some time ago and I did my very best to line up the fabric pattern placement as well as the pleats. I’m pretty happy with how I did.

(I feel like if you stare too long into the centre pleats you start to go a little cross-eyed anyway.)

Are you all looking at my chest now? Tut Tut.

This is EXACTLY the kind of top I love and have several RTW variations in my wardrobe already. I may have made this a touch too long though, at least compared to my other tops.

I’m totally making more of these. Definitely one in a plain colour (perhaps it’s time to break out my electric blue silk cotton?) – I mean look how great the pleats look on my toile:

Hope you’ve all had a lovely week full of sewing and fun.

My feedly app seems to be stacked full of new posts. So I can’t wait to catch up on everybody’s blog posts tomorrow during my commute! (Makes going to work a little easier.)