The Bronte Top

So, I absolutely love the Curvy Sewing Collective. I love reading the contributor's blogs as well, especially Cashmerette, Idle Fancy, Mrs. Hughes, and Two Random Words. I kept seeing the Bronte top and just loved the style. A little elegance to a comfy tee. So I jumped on the wagon and bought Jennifer Lauren's The Bronte Top. I'm so glad I did!

It took a little fiddling, but once I got the pattern adjusted, I'm in love! I needed to do an FBA and then still had to shorten the shoulder seam. I still need to learn how to do a shoulder adjustment. Even as a teenager I remember my mom always having to move the sleeves up higher on my shoulders. I didn't think I had narrow shoulders, but I guess so! I've had to change it on nearly every pattern I've made.

 This is just one version that I've made and my latest one. I saw the fabric at Hobby Lobby. It's lightweight knit and sadly starting to pill, but I still love it. I wear it with my Fay skirt and just feel lovely! And check out that pattern matching on the side!! You can hardly see the side seam. Score!! I did elbow-length sleeves so it's great transitioning into Fall.

I've been longing for a dress form for quite a while since it's so stinkin' hard to fit clothes on yourself. My sweet husband bought me a dress form for our anniversary! Man does he know how to make his wife happy! Thanks Honey! I haven't adjusted it to my measurements yet, so the shirt looks baggy in the waist, but all versions of the Bronte were fitted to myself and are perfect (not baggy)! The form also comes in handy to take pictures of the clothes I make because, let's be honest, it feels weird taking pictures of myself.

The Bronte is a lovely pattern and now that I have the fit right, a great, easy sew. Perfect stress reliever! Plus, it's classy and comfortable...who could ask for anything more in a shirt?

Pattern Hack: Tonic Tee 2 into Ruched Maternity Tee

I have a dear friend who is pregnant (hooray!!) but struggling to find maternity clothes that fit and that don't cost an arm and a leg. SBCC has a free t-shirt pattern that I thought would be lovely as a scrunched maternity shirt. Plus, awesome pattern hack for the Sewing Indie Month.

 Ruched maternity shirts are so comfy and they look great. Now, my friend lives no where close to me, so I simply made do with my dress form.

To alter this pattern for maternity, I used this gal's tutorial as a guide. I used this to make myself a maternity shirt when I was pregnant with my last baby and did something similar to make a maxi dress with the baby before.

Cutting at the waistline, I added about 5 inches in length and an extra inch on each side of the pattern, grading from the top cut line down to the new bottom edge. It's a rather steep grade, but so is a baby bump! Then when sewing, I gathered the front piece from the original waistline down to about 2 inches from the bottom. Then I simply sewed the shoulder seams, sleeves, and then down the sleeves and sides. Then a simple neck band and hemming sleeves and bottom and we're good to go. I hope she likes it! I also made this 3/4 sleeves instead of long sleeves.Thanks SBCC for a great pattern!

Trying out the SBCC Mimosa Blouse

I don't know about you, but sewing is a stress reliever for me. Well, unless I'm under a deadline, but I usually avoid those with sewing. I read about the Sewing Indie Month contest and thought, "Hey, why not??" So I found the SBCC Mimosa Blouse and thought it was just what I'd been looking for lately.

I used a lightweight polyester I found at Hancock's in their spot-the-dot clearance. I actually went back and bought more to make my daughter a dress it was so cute!

I didn't do a muslin, figuring this would work as a wearable muslin. It turned out pretty well. Next time, I need to do a small FBA and lower the bust darts. Luckily with the busy print, you can't tell! All in all, I love this and will be making another in the near future.

The skirt is also me-made. It's the Fay Skirt from StyleArc patterns. I changed the pattern, since it was a little odd with a self-lining. I just eliminated the lining and hemmed the bottom. The fabric is a scuba fabric I found (also at Hancock's). I love how it turned out and I wear it a lot!