Melissa and I took a patternmaking class at Portland Community College this semester, and one of the assignments was to find a top in a magazine and try to copy it by manipulating the darts on the bodice sloper. I selected the following top out of a Lucky Magazine:
It’s a
cotton-angora top by Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato, and it costs a mere $315 (it’s on sale now for $158!). That’s not a typo. $315!! Anyway, I thought it was cute and kind of interesting, and I figured it’d be a nice challenge.
It was more complicated than I had anticipated, and it turned out not to be an exercise in dart manipulation, really. I ended up taking a t-shirt pattern and just cutting it up by eyeballing the seams. The placket was kinda tough, and really, after sewing the first pieces, I figured there was NO WAY the top was going to come together. I was really surprised that it turned out. I used an organic cotton knit from
Lucy’s Fabric (I happened upon the site just by googling), which is nice and hefty. Because of all the curves in the pattern pieces, I opted to stitch most of it on my regular machine and clipped the heck out of the curves. For the hem and the sleeves, I used a narrow rolled edge hem on the serger.
And the back. All in all, it was a fun challenge. I don’t know that I would buy a shirt like this, but heck, I’ll wear it!
In other news, it is blizzarding here, and it’s supposed to get even colder! Makes me just want to curl up under some blankets and eat a lot of chocolate. Speaking of chocolate, Deedle ate an entire bar of dark chocolate yesterday. I thought she was going to die. Instead, she threw up all over her bed, ran around for a while, and then was relatively fine.
Hope Deedle is all right!
That shirt is amazing! It’s like a puzzle come to life. You are truly a magician with that machine of yours.
I love this shirt…it looks really good!
I’m a little bummed we are missing the snow this year. We had a little snow a few weeks ago and people were going crazy [since it rarely/never snows here].
Glad Deedle is doing ok!!
Oh Deedle!!!!!!!!!
That shirt looks fantastic! The back is so so so cool!!!!!!
a patternmaking class. I am insane with jealousy.
the top looks great! Nothing like picking something easy for a first project 😉
Wow, you are seriously talented! That looks just like the $315 one, and now that you’ve done that, I’m sure you feel as if you can tackle anything. Poor Deedle, hope he’s feeling 100% soon.
Super cute top. I wish that I was cuddled up with you eating chocolate in a blizzard! Spank Deedle for me 🙂
That top is great! I’m glad Deedle is okay, scary!
Deedle is a warrior. daaaang.
i want that shirt. make another one my size. QUICK.
That looks difficult indeed.
But cute anyway
Very cute! I like your buttons better than the original – they’re more fun!
i would totally buy a shirt like the one you made. super cute.
Hey, that turned out really cute!
I’m glad that Deedle is okay; that’s pretty scary.
That’s a great copy, and it is definitely wear-worthy. I like the color you chose.
I love how the top turned out! Your fabric selection makes the top look more fun (less faux-sophisticated) and all purpose.
What a cool shirt! I really love how the back looks – and also the fabric. I think I like it even better than the original.
Glad your puppy is ok.
whew! good work. I’m beyond impressed by your superior “eyeballing” and pattern-making skills.
I’m just curious: For $315 freakin’ dollars, they couldn’t even IRON the dang thing before taking its picture?!?!
Seriously.
But never mind them: Good for you!