Project Quilting 15.5 Wearables

I actually was excited about this prompt because I felt it would be the impetus to get me doing a little garment sewing again. I still have kept a few pieces of yardage in the thought (hope) I’d sew some clothes again one day. 

Here is the top I made!

A couple of years ago I made myself a pair of pajama shorts using the same pattern as we’d used when Brady was here visiting to make his. I originally had a dress in mind for this fabric but, since I had scads of yardage and I really liked the print, I decided to make the shorts. They turned out great and I thought why not make a top to go with them? A top would be a faster make since I only had from Thursday on to get something together before the deadline.

You may recall in my last posted mentioned we were off for a week in Cuba as we did last year, same week, same place. So Thursday afternoon I pulled out the rayon pieces from Island Batik with two patterns I’d thought would work in those fabrics, and had a little think.

Much as I wanted to make a sundress, or even a sleeveless top with those gorgeous rayons, I knew that might be too much pressure, which is when I thought of the extra fabric from the pjs and to make a top so I had an actual set.

After sewing nothing but 1/4” seams with a 1/4” foot, putting on theb#1 foot and sewimg 5/8” seams felt so strange. The seams are huge! I also had to take off my single hole throatplate and switch it out to the regular one so I could zigzag the seams. 

I don’t have a serger anymore; it seized and was beyond repair this past summer. However, I do have a credit at that sewing store that I can use towards a new serger… Wasn’t sure if it would be something in my future or not so I haven’t done anything with it.

Yet.

I omitted the zipper, first checking that the neckline was big enough to go over my head. I don’t want a zipper in my pj top thank you very much. I was glad that I have hung onto my dressmaking interfacing as I needed it for the neck facings. I omitted it in the sleeve facings; again this is a pyjama top and I want softness and comfort. Also, unlike the pattern recommendations, which have you stay stitch the facings to the seams to hold them in place, I elected to run an eighth of an inch topstitching around the neckline and sleeves, which serves the same purpose and, I think gives a nice finish to those edges.

I had fun! The top went together quickly and easily. I intend to make this pattern again, the top and the dress, perhaps even the cute jacket. It may be from 12+ years ago but it’s a classic style. 

Thanks for another great challenge, Trish!