Completed Project: Three Sewaholic Pendrells!
Back in January 2012, I made my first Sewaholic Pendrell blouse, inspired by Julia’s lovely versions, which you can see here. I really, really loved it… until I tried it on! I loved the way it looked on the hanger, and on Delilah (my dummy), but it just looked weird on me. It reminded me, somehow, of a nurse’s uniform!
I wore it a few times with jeans, then got pregnant and forgot all about it until earlier this year, when I decided to give it another chance. The first thing I had to do was shorten it: I lopped about 3 inches off as I recall. After a day of trying to wear the thing under a cardi, I unpicked the princess seams and ripped out the sleeves. Yes, they were pretty, but they’re a bloody pain in the arse if you want to wear anything over them! So I was left with the most basic version of the Pendrell, and I started to wear it more. Here I am wearing it with jeans:
Altered Pendrell – shortened & sleeves removed!
Slightly closer view
I decided to make another one, since I started wearing this one so much. This time I altered my pattern pieces to the length that suits me, but as I was using up a scrap of fabric only 73cm long for this version (150cm wide), I had to shorten it a teeny bit more. I used some co-ordinating plain cotton for the binding (which is turned to the inside so cannot be seen anyway). Here are some dodgy phone photos of me pulling faces wearing the second version:
Stupid face 1
Stupid pose
Stupid face 2
My final version (for now) is made with fabric bought from Birmingham Rag Market. I saw this at the novelty prints stall and bought the last length of it with the co-ordinating red to go with it. It isn’t the best quality – it’s a polycotton and it isn’t the softest – but it’s ok for a summer top and I just fell in love with the print.
For this version I modified the pattern so that it would have a contrast sections around the bottom, and I removed the seam allowance from the neckline and armholes so that I could use bias binding as a feature rather than as a facing.
Ring buoy polka dot print!
I would have liked to get a photo of me wearing this at the beach, next to an actual ring buoy, but I was too impatient to wait, so I went to the nearest equivalent of a beach – the sandpit in my back garden!
Sandpit shot!
I’m wearing my Sewaholic Pendrell with my Sewaholic Crescent skirt!
I love how this last version has turned out! These tops are so straightforward to make, so probably not that interesting to read about really, but I love this pattern now. The tops are really good wardrobe basics and I love how they fit me.
I shall leave you with one final silly photo, taken by Julia:
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
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They all look great with your fun fabric choices and I can see how those sleeves would become annoying. I laughed at the first photo – proof of kids and nappy rashes with the Sudocrem tub in the background – it took me back many years!
* third photo!
Ah yes, good old Sudocrem! Hahaha!
I love the difference it makes without the sleeves! Nice thinking! 😀
So much easier to wear without the sleeves!
Perfect summer tops love it
Thanks! Definitely a good addition to my wardrobe.
All wonderful but I’m particularly taken with the fabric for the second one!
Ooh thanks. That was leftover from one of my Colette Peony dresses. It was from the Rosenberg stall at Sewing For Pleasure – can’t remember exactly what is was called – something like ’40s by 40s Great Flower Designs’ or something similar!
I love your Pendrells, especially the third version with the contrat strip, what a great idea! Also I have your second fabric in a pink colourways, I never thought to use it for clothing as it is not very drapey, but it looks great as a Pendrell!
Ooh I bet the pink is lovely! I used it for a Colette Peony and this is what was left over! Waste not, want not!