Many years ago I had a RTW top that I loved and which I could wear upside down for a different look. I wore it until it had no stretch left, but it’s been on my mind and I couldn’t find a single photo of it, but then I found that past Sue had rubbed off the pattern before consigning it to the stuffing bin. I’m quite fond of past Sue sometimes!
When I looked at the pattern I wondered if I could turn it into a zero waste pattern, and did manage a minimal waste – I am full of admiration for designers like Liz Haywood – this is hard. I thought about uses for the offcuts, and I couldn’t apply pockets as when I wore it upside down they wouldn’t work and would be in the wrong spot, but I’ve since had thoughts on that, so I might do something.
I started playing about with it on fabric, and I’m not sure why I discarded this green merino – maybe because it reminds me of a school uniform? Oh, no, I just remembered that I didn’t have enough fabric. I needed two lengths for this pattern.
I had traced the pattern out on some of the spotted tracing paper I inherited from my mother. I hadn’t realised how useful the spots are. My tracing is a bit rough and ready so I wasn’t sure how this was going to go without the original to refer to. I did, sensibly, mark fold on the correct edges, which was helpful.
I had another dig in my stash and found some brown ponte given to me by my friend Jenny, and from which I’ve already made two jackets and a pair of trousers. After I cut this out I still have enough for a skirt!
This is how much fabric I had left from the little piece I used for the top, ruler and scissors for scale. There’s quite a big piece in there which I’ll find a use for colour blocking,and I’ll piece the rest together with some other ponte for something else.
The ponte doesn’t have a lot of stretch so I was a little concerned. This is the top worn both ways, and it’s pretty much how I remembered my other one, so I’m pretty happy.
I have been playing with embellishing this month, so decided to do a running stitch along the hems and horizontal seam line, inspired by Blanca from Instagram. I used a variegated gold thread, again inherited from my mother.
You can see that the bottom is a bit tight due to lack of stretch. I don’t know whether to make the next one a little wider at this point. Considering options. Wearing it both ways, with a newly mended mustard merino top and a Sanderson linen skirt – again fabric from my mother’s stash, and made in 2018.
A close up of the finishing. I thought I had worked out a way to stop the sleeves poking out, but I think it’s to do with the seam line. I shall play with this.
the poking out sleeves aren’t so much of a problem at the back, so this needs investigating.
It worked quite well as a layering piece – both under and over. Under my Dairing shrug and Tello jacket from Pauline Alice. I’m always amazed how many things this jacket goes with and how I don’t wear it as often as I should – it’s either too hot or too cold!
I really like it with my ponte Joan trousers. The weather was turning a bit wild and I was still fairly warm.
This top will be a really useful addition to my wardrobe. I now want to make an evening version, so stay tuned.. I may work on the minimal waste aspect. I will also look at colour blocking it, which might be fun.