First SWAP Top is almost finished

This was more SWOAP (sewing with out a plan) as this top formed no part of the original plan at all. Rather, the fabric leapt from the cupboard just over a week ago and announced it wanted to be Marfy 1757, a free pattern from the 2008 catalogue which I had previously made, with disastrous results, in flannel back satin.

Whilst it looked dreadful in that satin, I rather like this version. The fabric is polyester sheer, I think its georgette. It was from Abhakan Fabrics and is one of those small remnants of lovely print that often find their way into my stash. They aren't usually quite large enough for whatever I have in mind, this top was no exception. I squeezed the top out with only a small handful of scraps left. A small enough handful that I had to cut the remaining scraps carefully and accurately to get the three bias strips needed to bind the neckline opening and sleeve openings. There literally was no room for error, I had three scraps large enough for the strips and that was it. The top was also too short, again due to fabric constraints. I cut it as long as I could but it wasn't long enough to put the elastic in the bottom that was called for by the pattern. Never one to let these things concern me, I found an old mesh teeshirt, and after consultation with RuthieK to ensure I wasn't indulging in some kind of mad fit that just would not ever work, I cut six inches off the bottom of the mesh tee shirt (keeping the hem part in tact and using it as the hem, thus saving me changing over to coverstitch on the overlocker) and tacked the mesh circle to the top, stretching the mesh to fit the top. I tacked it first on the ordinary sewing machine, as advised by Ruthie, and that did work really well to hold the layers and stabilise them to make it easier to run it through the overlocker to sew it finally.

The intention was to tuck the mesh part into my skirt/trousers, and have the top blouse out, without escaping. This does work well, however, I was wearing my black jeans whilst I was constructing the top and found I rather liked the mesh worn on the outside with the jeans for a more casual look.

The top still needs buttons and loops at the back neck and sleeve cuffs, and then I will be able to take a picture of it on me. The top will always be worn with one of my trusty plain black round neck, tops beneath it, and that is the way its shown on the hanger. I've tried the top over other colour tops but the black just makes the pattern show better. Its not easy to see on the photo, but the fabric has little blue hot fix type crystals on it. Which I admit is a little blingy for day wear, but that is not going to stop me wearing it.

I shall search out some suitably blingy buttons for the closure at the weekend and also try and make a decision on the buttons for my jacket. I did have a quick look for the jacket buttons a couple of weeks ago but suffered from "too much choice, no idea which way to go." It seems a universal rule that no matter how many buttons you actually own (and I have two very large sweetie tins full), you will:

Not have the right kind/size/shape of button for the project

OR

You will have the perfect button... but only have one of them.

OR

You will have the perfect set of buttons... but be one button short of the number required.

Special circumstances which also mean buttons will be a problem:

Any item requiring more than ten buttons

Any item requiring two or more sizes of the same button style.

Any item where you know absolutely what kind of button you want because it will not be found until you've bought an inferior replacement. It will not then be possible to buy the perfect buttons and change them out because the perfect button will only come in a size that doesn't fit your buttonhole. The size discrepancy will be small, but it will be there.