The “Check and Check again” top
The Facts
Fabric: Red check crepe, from eBay, £3.49/m
Pattern: Simplicity 2406
Year: 2009
Notions: One button, from stash
Time to complete: 4 hours (2.5 for the cutting!)
First worn: Quiz night, Saturday 12th February
Wear again? Definitely
Total price: About £4
This red check crepe caught my attention while I was searching for something else – I bought it on a bit of a whim, with no project in mind. Then the ‘Red’ theme was announced, and as this was the only red thing in my stash, I suddenly needed a project, and fast!
Last week I had a bit of a strop about a contrary Clover trousers muslin, and ReadyThreadSew commented: “If I have the sewing “blahs” I nearly always end up sewing my TNT skirt pattern. It doesn’t use a lot of fabric, always fits and I wear the skirts a lot. I only started my blog in late November and I’ve already sewn three of them!” So on that advice, I went for something tried-and-tested, and made my 5th version of Simplicity 2406.
After five makes (plus an initial muslin) I can put this pattern together without the instructions – so why did it take so long? Because the fabric was a monster to cut. One of the dangers of buying fabric online – I read the description and just thought: “like the check… ooh crepe, nice”. I didn’t put the two together, and realise that the lines of the check would slide all over the place, in the slippery way that crepe does. Meaning, I would need to spend hours lining it all up with a ruler, pinning it down, checking again with the ruler, and only then cutting out the pieces.
I’ve previously made version B (cut out sleeves) and version D (ordinary sleeves), but here I’ve used one of each. I wanted bows – I’m often drawn to them, and they’re quite Valentine-y, don’t you think? - but felt double bows on both sides might be too much. Fortunately I’m always up for a bit of asymetry, so I experimented and I really like the way it turned out. I wore it to a quiz evening with these jeans and a pair of pointy boots, which worked perfectly for an outfit that’s casual (that t-shirt shape) but a bit dressy (the cut-out and bows). It could well become my default casual night out outfit…
Amy, this blouse is really cute. I love the asymmetry with the bows only on one side. It’s nice to have a go to pattern that you can count on. I’ll have to remember your friend’s suggestion about the sewing “blahs”. I’m stuck this week. I have a lot of ideas and dream different outfits, but it’s Saturday already and I haven’t started a thing!
What a great idea to do the two sleeves, clever you
This is super cute!
I love it. You are totally making me want that pattern.
Three cheers for the TNT. I like the different sleeves and the fabric is lovely.
So cute!
How cute.love the blouse with the bow accents.
I love the idea of making it one shoulder, and the cute bows
The bows are genius!!! Well worth the fussing.