Tabatha’s April Challenge – Day 1, 2 and 3

Friday 1^st April

The plan:  I don’t have enough nice tops.  Nice tops in shops are too expensive.  Therefore I shall make myself nice tops.

Last weekend at the Sewing for Pleasure show, Julia was wearing a lovely top she had made for herself which I liked very much, so she kindly lent me the pattern (which she got free with Sew Magazine – Simplicity K2938).  She also gave me a remnant she picked up in Paris which she said she wouldn’t use – just under a metre of gorgeous red silk brocade.  I thought I might as well use the fabric for the top, even though it would end up being a very dressy top, but I thought it might look good to dress up jeans, or with a black pencil skirt.

I managed to get my April Challenge off to a good start by cutting the fabric in the lounge today whilst Mr Tweedie was reading to Little Tweedie – this took 35 minutes.  I then managed to do another 1 hour 20 minutes during Little Tweedie’s nap.  The top is mainly assembled – I only have the facings, armhole edges, zip and hem left to do.  The only thing is, it looks suspiciously big.  I’ve cut a size bigger than I normally would but I’m thinking this may have been a ‘big’ mistake!

Saturday 2^nd April

Already I’m finding my April Challenge difficult: last night we had friends staying and as a result I was desperately tired and in need of a nap when Little Tweedie had hers!  However, I managed to resist temptation, spurred on by the thought of finishing the K2938 top.  Little Tweedie’s nap lasted for 1 hour 10 minutes today, which allowed me to get the facings, armhole edges and hem done, with only the zip left to do when Mr Tweedie got home.  Once I had done that I’d filled my two hour daily quota and I tried the finished garment on.  Alas!  Too big.  I’m very disappointed – I should have gone with my instinct and cut the smaller size (or, you know, made a muslin – but I’m too impatient).  I’ll have to adjust the other tracings I’ve done now for some of the other patterns I’m using this month.  So annoying!  I can’t be bothered to unpick it and besides, I don’t think the fabric could stand it as it frays incredibly quickly and easily (I really appreciated having my overlocker for making this top).

I think the top is lovely, but it’s just much too big.  This is a bad start to my April Challenge.

Simplicity K2938 - beautiful, but too big

The reverse side of the fabric is also really pretty!

Sunday 3^rd April

Today my two hours of sewing time has been spent adjusting the size of the pattern pieces I’d traced and cut for a few upcoming projects, after yesterday’s disappointment.  Stubbornly, I refuse to be completely defeated by K2938, so I have cut some plain navy fabric which I hadn’t got any particular plans for in the smaller size and will try again.  I also lengthened the top by 2 inches because I’d prefer it to be longer.  Obviously the plain navy won’t be anywhere near as beautiful as the red silk brocade, but hopefully it will be a useful top, not too dressed up and will go with most things.  We shall see!  I cut the fabric for another top, and for a couple of baby dresses.  I’m not planning on sewing the baby dresses this month (I’ve got to focus on making things for myself), but I hate to have scraps of fabric lying around unused, and baby dresses are the perfect way to use these up.