Elissa Sews Issue No. 7 The new "going out" top
You will see two blouses that I sewed this month and there will be a bonus newsletter in 2 weeks-ish with a third blouse! And, I need to know who else is ready to get a landline?!
Let’s start with a bit of honesty. I’m sick of myself. Maybe it’s from the last 15 minutes of choosing photos to share. Or from actually taking the photos in the cold. But, it could be that I spend a lot of time alone to sew. Don’t get me wrong…. I LIVE for the stolen moments I get with my sewing machine. I somehow manage to get a lot accomplished in the 20-60 minutes time frames. I have many sewing goals and I rarely regret the time spent at the machine. But, boy, I am sick of myself.
The remedy? Well, I’m working on it….but the best thing is to serve others and get out in the community. For my daughter’s 2nd birthday we invited various friends to celebrate, but they were all sick or out of town. We had a lunch prepared and a cake at home while we went to church and decided we’d invite some of the lonely, elderly folk to come and celebrate her right after church. And, they came! So imagine, if you will, a 2 year-old girl with her birthday cake being sung to by a handful of elderly gents. It was a delight.
The other part of the remedy is to say “yes” to all most things. Meaning, I’m taking my kids to the birthday parties, staying there, and talking with the other parents. I am saying “yes” to outings to the museum, working out with a friend, to organizing the Girl Scouts, and yes, even church activities.
So, onto my current take on the “going out top” It has nothing to do with going-out like it did in my early aught years (college). It has everything with being inspired by the working ladies of the 80’s, quality wool crepe fabric, and Margaret Thatcher(?).
These are my going out to dinner tops, attending the library board meeting tops, and taking my daughter to speech therapy tops. *gasp* they are both pink, again.
Let’s start out with blouse no. 1.
Floral Viscose Satin Jacquard
Here are some “messy middle” photos. I think I spent more time ironing and pressing this top than actual sewing. I so badly wanted the pleats to be crisp and lay flat, but this is a satin fabric and it will do what it wants. I still think it was the right fabric choice (deadstock designer satin fabric). This pattern did not call for shoulder pads, I thought about adding them but liked the billowy, dropped sleeve without the added support. This fabric is a treasure. I’m so happy that I have enough of it leftover for yet another top.
I used an old Butterick Classics pattern (3346) and bought stunning buttons from The Fabric Godmother.
Isn’t she nice? I’m loving her sleeve. It’s just a good one. Here’s the button action:
Wool Crepe Wrap Top
You got some sneak peeks of this blouse in last week’s newsletter. And, I am happy to say that it is finished. It required a lot of adjusting in the shoulders due to my sloped-shoulders and concaved collarbone area. But, I think I finally got the fit right. I actually did go to my previously made blouse of the same pattern and adjusted the shoulders there too.
This is a vogue (V1636) pattern, again, I needed to make many shoulder adjustments but the waist closures are easy to place because you can try on before committing your placement of the button and hook & eye.
Peplum trend?…Last year many styling websites and articles claimed that the peplum style was back from the 2008 days. And, I think we have to remember how trends morph. This top has a peplum design but with the wool crepe fabric is has a structure to it that a cotton jersey wouldn’t. In the end, if a style works for your body or interests, than one should simply wear it and not worry about “trends”. Someday I’ll write a whole post about that.
I need to get used to taking videos horizontally again! But, this video shows the two inside closures helping the wrap stay in place effortlessly!! I used the selvedge edge of this fabric for the closure rather than a ribbon. And I used the selvedge to enclose a seam! Couture techniques!
Thoughts
First, one of my favorite reads, mostly because I could NOT AGREE MORE. I am excited to know that some families in my neighborhood have adopted the landline again and now I am ready to join them. Do you have a landline?? Can you get one please?? Cause this is important for the family and the home. Cellphones are too individualized. But, we live in families and communities, let us connect better.
This moment from the Grammy’s was a gift. I grew up watching all the award shows on Sunday evenings during awards seasons. But, I have not been interested in the shows due to the intense egos that live there. I can’t help but think of the wars, sufferings, earthquakes, refugees, and poverty in the world; so the shows have lost the luster for me. But, from what I gather this year’s Grammy’s show was well produced and included artists throughout the decades. So nice to see the respect towards some of the greatest artists: Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Annie Lennox, Tracy Chapman. Just great.
I’m gathering the ingredients to Sophie Richie Grainge’s Erewhon smoothie. She is an “it” girl I can get behind. I love her style and her character. So happy she will become a mom soon! I have a few sewing projects for this year that are inspired by her. But, my question for this smoothie is WHY are we getting Almond milk AND powdered cow’s colostrum??? See, the trends don’t make sense in food either. Why not use regular, grass-fed milk rather than those two ingredients? Regardless, I plan on making this and enjoying it.
Thank you for taking your time to read the newsletter! I’m so grateful. You will hear from me sooner than one month for a bonus blouse and I’m reaching for the stars for the next newsletter and hoping to have sewn up three little girl Easter dresses.
I actually would love to insert an “ASK ME ANYTHING” box here!! Please consider the comment section as an “ask me anything” box :)
Thank you!
Love, Elissa
Lovely tops! I gave up my land line earlier this year and I kind of miss it.
Both tops are stunning!! I love the floral pattern and buttons on the shirt, and the fit of the second one is amazing!