Saturday, March 16, 2013

Sew Liberated Esme Top

I loved this pattern as soon as I laid eyes on it. It's the new Esme Top by Sew Liberated.

With the loose fit I just made up a straight size 12 without a muslin. Actually it's quite roomy and I could possibly even go down a size if I made it again.

Now, who can relate to this: I get up on a Saturday morning and finish sewing a garment while in my pyjamas. Have quick shower. Throw on new garment and feel pleased. Grab husband for quick photo shoot. Realise have done nothing with hair. Hair rather lets down photoshoot. Don't want to appear vain and waste time fixing hair and asking for more photos. Post blah hair photos. Seriously, sometimes I do something nice with my hair. Just never, apparently, for blog photos.



Anyway, you might like to see the Roman who has been hanging about our house all day. He even went to the supermarket.



And what does a Roman keep in the folds of his toga?
Why, jelly crystals, of course!

Want to know a bit more about the Esme Top pattern?  So glad you asked. It was a fairly easy sew, with a slightly tricky but clever way of joining the front & back facings and shoulders all in one. The paper pattern comes with rather brief instructions and there is a video tutorial online for more detailed help. Now, I have a severe lack of patience with video tutorials. They're just not my thing. I would rather skim over a bunch of diagrams. However, I imagine some people really like this way of learning.

I would have preferred the written instructions to be perhaps half as long again since I found them just a little too brief to use without the video. By the time I came to attaching the cuffs, for which there is really barely any written instruction, I just winged it because I am too impatient to sit through an entire instructional video. Nevertheless, I really like the end result. There is a small errata in the written instructions and they forgot to add the sizing chart so if you do buy this pattern, make sure you visit the video section on the website, even if just for those corrections.

Oh, and another thing: the fabric requirements just gives the amount for narrow (quilting cotton width) fabric and it seems quite a bit: 2 & 1/2 yards (about 2.25m). I used fabric that was 130cm wide and eeked it out of 1.5m. In the end I had to piece together the back facing from two halves but you'd have even more success using less fabric if you used a different fabric for the front and back bib lining/facings.

The pattern suggests hand-tacking the back facing down but I chose to stitch it down; I think it suits the look of this top anyway. If I made it again I would probably cut the back neckline up a bit higher, for personal preference.

And this is what happens when a Libran has to choose from her extensive vintage button stash... three different 'matching' buttons.
And I might need another whole post to show you my 'new' old Singer buttonholer!

Not to mention the post I really need to write about the shop I am about to open with a friend... if you are on Facebook you can check it out here. Eek! But that will have its own blog and won't be all over here all the time, I promise.

- Jane x

20 comments:

  1. Lovely top. I'm with you on the video tutorials- I'd much rather lots of diagrams too. Congratulations on your new venture. I 'liked' on FB and will look forward to watching progress. Sounds like fun. Cx

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  2. I love this top - it is just my kind of style, but obviously way above my level of competency :) good luck with the shop. I'm not on Facebook so hope you post details here too.
    Cute Roman -,jelly crystals - who knew?
    x

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  3. Love the seersucker! I love singer attachments but have never tried the buttonholer, so it would be nice to see it in action. Best of luck with your new shop - looks like it's going to be great!

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    1. I promise to post about the buttonholer soon... it's a little different to the one I already had so maybe I will do a 'compare and contrast' post!

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  4. Love the top, the Roman and the news of the shop - do tell, please!

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  5. I think that the top looks lovely too! (and the Roman - how cool). I'm with you on the video tutorials as well. Not really interested. I'm an instructions girl!

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  6. V nice. Perfect fabric for that top. And congrats on your shop! Hoow exciting.

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  7. Love this,love the roman and JELLY CRYSTALS Tilly's all time favourite!

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  8. So cute, and there's nothing wrong with your hair! I wish I looked that cute right out of the shower! I'm so glad you shared your thoughts on the pattern. I thought the video tutorial thing was a nice idea but I had no idea it meant less instructions, what a bummer. Especially if you have no way to watch an online video near your sewing machine. Love the Roman! So excited for your shop, makes me wish it wasn't a 20 hour flight away.

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    1. Really, when will someone invent the teleporter? I'd beam you right over :)

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  9. Wow, the crinkle plaid fabric! I agree with Gillian - what a perfect match of fabric and pattern.

    Love those jelly crystals! Those Romans really have their priorities bang on. :)

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  10. Cute top. What a great pattern. I can imagine so many interesting variations. Those sleeves are a great length. The state of my hair is usually the reason why I'm so far behind in my blog posts. I exercise most mornings then come home and have a shower and wash my hair. I am not a hairdryer person so always leave home with wet hair figuring it will dry soon enough. Therefore, the time when the clothes are at their best - ironed and unworn, my hair is a soaking mess so I don't take the photos. By the end of the day, I'm feeling hot, sweaty and shabby and also don't want to take photos...I do have dry hair however!

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    1. Ha, I'm glad you can relate to the hair/blog photos situation! It's not even so much vanity as wanting to show the garments to their best advantage, which would preferably be hot off the iron and with decent hair, in good daylight... not the easiest combo to find.

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  11. Love the top and the Roman and the new shop - how exciting but also how disappointing that it's so far away!
    I agree with you about videos v diagrams. Video always seem to have a lot of waffle at the beginning so I get bored and switch it off before the vital bit starts up. Even the tax office do everything by video now and quite honestly I lose the will to live as I watch some boring tax form fill with numbers. Just give me a clear diagram and I'm happy.

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  12. It looks great and super comfy to wear. The hair comment made me laugh, it's probably for similar reasons why you don't see me often on my blog, I think people imagine I am quite well turned out, despite my often saying I favour the bag lady look daily, and I'm not kidding. Loving the Roman as well! Bethx (thelinencat) PS, your hair looks fine to me!

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  13. WHAT? I space out for a couple of days and you ARE OPENING A SEWING/FABRIC SHOP? That is wonderful! What a fantastic venture! Wish I was local so that I could come support you and chat with you and take up all your time and generally be a pain in your ass. ;-) Congratulations!

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  14. First things first, that top looks fantastic! And I agree that the stitched down facing is the way to go. Not only does it add a nice detail to the top, but it also eliminates hand sewing (wa-hoo!).
    And secondly - what? you are opening a shop! That is freaking fantastic and I can't wait to hear more about it!!

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  15. I just LOVE this! I had my eye on a few of Meg's new patterns (love the dress too) with this on the list. It looks amazing on you. I can see an order coming on :) Though I will refer back to your notes. Congratulations on the shop!

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    1. Thank you! Yes if anyone is on the fence about buying this pattern I say DO IT... despite the small issues reported above I simply love this top and have been wearing it so often it's almost becoming an embarrassment... hmm think I need to churn out another one or two!

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  16. thanks for the helpful review - I was eyeing up that pattern, but hoping I could find someone else who had made it first to see what it looked like in "real" life.

    I always end up doing blog photos in the middle of the night when I just finish a quilt or softie but no one has put sticky fingers on it yet, so I totally get the nice shirt / good hair dilemma.

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Hey, I would really love to know what you think. Go on!

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