The Copycat Crepe Top – (Part 1) + Giveaway!!!

So last week heralded a couple of firsts for me.  Actually three to be precise! A week of learning new stuff you could say. Which after a week of battling with fit issues was a welcome change.  Sometimes, if something is getting on your wick, you just gotta park it and switch focus to shake off the fog I think. A change is as good as a rest after all. And after a week of what felt like pulling teeth, the week I spent doing this, went so smoothly I started looking around behind me to see where the sewing demon was hiding. Wondering when it was going to jump out and fluff my make right at the eleventh hour. Said demon must be off in the Bahamas somewhere. (Shedquarters is obviously too cold for that fiery little devil at this time of year 😉  )  Because nothing went wrong on this make and there was so much that could have!

So now you’re possibly wondering what my 3 firsts were? Well this top is actually a direct copy of a top I found in a charity shop. I didn’t like the colour and it was 1-2 sizes too big. But I really liked the style.  A crepe tee with a relaxed fit , simple scoop neck, and shirt tail hem.  I hadn’t seen a pattern exactly like this, so I decided to make a pattern of my own, copying the pattern pieces directly from that ready to wear top on the left (below)  I toiled it (middle below) and what do ya know? It worked.  But, still too big. Then people, I was really pushing my luck. I decided I would have a go at grading my new pattern to the correct size. And blow me, that only went and worked too! (below right)

So that’s two firsts. Producing an exact copy of a rtw top AND grading. I was going to include all of that process in today’s post but there turned out to be waaaaay too much for one post. So next week I’ll be sharing 2 additional posts. One on the copying of the pattern. (now available here) One on the grading of it… (now available here)

And what of my third first this week? Set in sleeves! Of course I’ve sewn set in sleeves before; but I hate them with a passion and I’m pretty rubbish and impatient with the traditional method. So this week I tried the method of inserting them flat (turns out pretty much everyone I know already does this) and oh my! I could have cried with happiness! Look at that sleeve head people! Gorgeous right?! Never again will I avoid sewing stuff with set in sleeves just because it’s a faff! (Yes I am that lazy!)

There’s still a few tweaks I think I need to make to the final pattern. Namely some discreet darts in the front,  and, surprise surprise, a sway back adjustment! But on a top like this, designed to be a relaxed, chilled out fit I was more than happy to make it up as is, in some delicious Isobel poly viscose crepe from The Splendid Stitch. As well as the black it’s currently also available in the three colours on the right. (I’m hoping Amy will expand her colour range on this one!) The cream best shows the gorgeous texture. It is SO soft. Super easy to work with. Drapes beautifully and best of all, straight out of the machine and onto the hanger with super minimal creasing. That my friends, is my holy grail of a fabric!

 

Giveaway details: Amy from The Splendid Stitch is offering you guys the chance to win either £30 to spend on fabric from her beautiful range (first prize) or a sewing pattern of your choice (second prize). To enter follow The Splendid Stitch on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or their blog. Each follow is an additional entry. Just leave me a comment here to let me know how many entries you made. Giveaway is open internationally (The Splendid Stitch is Glasgow based but ships worldwide) and closes midnight GMT on Monday 29th Feb. The winner will be selected at random and contacted directly by email. (Leave that in the comments too if it’s not easily accessible via your profile).

What’s more,  until the end of February, Amy is also offering you an extra 15% off your purchase when you enter the code PORTIA15 at checkout! Thankyou very much Amy!