Sleeveless Wrap Top

BWOF 01/2008 116 -Wrap top. Tie-bands wrap twice around the waist. This pattern calls for two-way stretch jersey knits only.


I used a cut of .99 onionskin that I purchased from Fabric Mart a few seasons ago. It was meant to be a muslin throw away fabric but it is charming. It is perfect for this pattern.

While tracing, I lengthened the tie band extension pattern piece 7'' and experimented with multi-sizing. This top is 40 in the neck and shoulders, tapering to 44 at the bust and sides. No FBA!

I lined up the extension with the bodice piece to see if I would be able to cut in one piece. Thank goodness it was possible because I really wanted to avoid a piecing seam. The bodice plus extension took up the entire width of my cutting table.

I followed Sandra Betzina's advice in Power Sewing and stabilized the neckline edge with 1/4'' wide cut selvage, then turned down and top-stitched with a double stretch needle.

I turned a corner with the double needle for the first time and was quite proud of myself! It looked terrible on the inside, of course, so I picked it out and tried again. I love trying new things.




Then this top hung out on Cassidy for a week or so while I debated turning it into a sleeveless top. My "SWAP that isn't a SWAP but actually a wardrobe now" is comprised of short sleeve and sleeveless tops so why not this one as well? Long sleeves seemed out of place in this grouping. Darn. I had already cut the sleeves so the sleeves would be wasted. But then, I wasn't sure if I would ruin my cute top.

In the end, I tired of debating myself and decided the high armsyce was going to work fine and to just do it already. I stabilized the armsyce using selvage strips, turned down and top-stitched and it looked fine. I sure can over-analyse with the best of 'em!

I heart BWOF

I am finally starting on my Spring SWAP. This is my first revision and I am delighted to share it with you.

I have changed the wardrobe pieces and made a few other pattern changes. Hopefully using three pieces from the same section in January 2008 BWOF, City Styles, will satisfy the Timmel SWAP wardrobe requirement. I am thinking I'll sew the dress as well.

Speaking of, I still haven't made a purchase from Julie and that means my storyboard might change again. I would rather use dark brown denim instead of dark wash for this SWAP on the HP trousers so maybe I'll find something at Timmel. I need some of their coral knit and hope it isn't sold out.

I *love* the January edition of BWOF! I'm working on the wrap as we speak and should post my review very soon.

Hope you have a great week!

BWOF -January 2008

I am so inspired by all of the reviews on PatternReview.com for various garments made from the Burda World of Fashion January 2008 issue. Take a peek at the gallery!

I found a copy on eBay and received it last week. I think I will change my SWAP to include the wrap knit top and possibly one pair of pants. Eventually.

I'm not so hot on the SWAP sewing right now. I've had too many things going on all at once. A dead animal (rat) in the wall... fixed that problem promptly at the beginning of the month but have now been trying to get the resultant and unexpected fly problem finalized.

Last August, little beetles decided they liked the flour in my kitchen but I killed them once I figured out where they were coming from. Somehow they came back this month to live in my raspberry tea but I now tracked 'em down and hoovered the kitchen this past weekend. Unfortunately, the little fliers that they are found my wool pants (previously mentioned Weekender chinos all cut out and abandonded but pulled out again to look over the zipper) and now I must darn some little holes. Thank goodness they don't like polyester as I had 6 yards of Gorgeous Fabric on the sewing table as well as they are a perfect match. Trying to decide what to make.

Needless to say I am thankful my entire stash is safely far away from all this activity. I *will* proceed to FREAK OUT if I find even one little flier anywhere near the beloved stash. Wish me luck I got them all... every last one of them!

Yes, done with griping. Back to where I started with this post.

I am inspired by Jan BWOF reviews, but tired from battling intruders. I might trace off the artist top to make myself feel better even though it doesn't work with my SWAP. It is so pretty!

I bought a Mozart CD of piano sonatas to sooth my frazzled nerves! I've been looking for this CD for YEARS and finally it turned up on eBay. Yay for me!!!

Mozart: The Complete Piano Sonatas Vol. 2 - Entremont