The June Blouse

Hey remember that upholstery fabric that was my Sorbetto muslin? Yeah, the one with that sad and unsteady piece of handmade bias tape pinned to it? Thats the one.
If you could only see it now! It has sleeves, a scalloped hem a beautiful detachable/reversible collar and many (but sadly not all) of its raw edges are enclosed. The sleeves were unbelievably easy which made me feel really stupid when I think about how long I've had a weird aversion to them...
Anyway, it's nearly finished, I just have to determine and execute the neckline finishing and voila! Something completely different than the previous 5 Sorbettos.

I've christened this top The June Blouse in honor of my grandmother. I just couldn't get her out of my mind while I was sewing it and I think this is probably because she would have loved it. It looks like her - fancy and elegant - and I know that if I could have showed her, she would have just been over the moon about how talented she thinks I am. She was the best, and I miss her very much.

This top is dedicated to you Nana :)

Pictures later.

Completed Sorbetto No. 5

Um...so I modified the Sorbetto pattern and well...I think I modified too much because the result is a little...off. First, I raised the neckline and extended the darts. I modified further by using 1" (instead of the customary 1/2") bias tape around the neckline and 1/4" around the armholes.
The trouble began when my darts did not line up to the top of the fabric. I had to eyeball them slightly off center. The 1" bias tape did not go as planned and stands up slightly with odd bunching/gaping in the back sort of like a strangle-collar gone terribly wrong. The larger neck tape also seemed to put stress on the armholes and even though I used 1/4" bias tape for them they still sort of flair up at the top. I think I may have needed to clip some curves before topstitching*. I am not ecstatic about the finished garment. It's just not that great and very...rectangular. I think it's wearable but more like work-out-in-the-garden/run-around-with-the-kids wearable. The kind of thing you wear when you expect to get dirty, sweaty and messed up. I am going to style it anyway just so it can be seen at its full potential.

Sorbetto No. 5
with
Modifications

* Despite some disappointing results, the upside to this project is that my topstitching is exceptional. I used contrasting navy thread to double topstitch the hem of the blouse as well as a single topstitch around the armholes. It looks very nice and even - which isn't surprising considering how many of these I have made in the last month.

Another Pillowcase Top

I am using another pillowcase to test my newest pattern modification to the Sorbetto Top. Last week when I was getting ready, I accidentally put one of my completed tops on backwards. Obviously it looked pretty wrong, but what struck my fancy was how nice the raised neckline looked. Almost a boatneck. So today I made another pattern with the neck darts meeting at a single central point and radiating out/downwards from a...raised neckline. I did not intend to sew much today but the weather is grey and rainy and I am cooped up indoors so it looks like another top is in the works. Pictures to follow if these mods are successful.

Here is the pillowcase fabric