My "Spring Top Week" Top Numero Uno

Yay! Another contest that I'm actually participating in rather than thinking about participating in. Before you know it I won't be able to hang onto that Queen of Procrastination title.

 Last year I didn't make a top for Rae's Spring Top Week because I'm a dork. No, really I was pregnant and didn't really feel like making a maternity top. This year I have no excuse and I have had a couple of top patterns ready to try. The first I've been wanting to make is the Schoolhouse Tunic by Sew Liberated. I wanted to make it out of a similar fabric as the one pictured on the cover, but the fabric I have is not enough yardage. It takes kind of a lot of fabric and I usually have smaller yardage because all I sew is kids clothes, so I had to get creative. I had some white rayon with a super nice drape that I was originally going to use for a curtain (I think). The photos don't show it, but there is a small stripe woven into the fabric which gives it some nice depth. 

The pattern was really easy to work with. It's a simple design and I pretty much followed all the instructions. Since the fabric I chose is really drapey I added a button to the top because the opening was flopping down. I made an elastic thread loop. I also lengthened the sleeve and widened the bottom a bit to have a flare (next time I'll do more). The pintuck detail was a pain in the ass, but is my favorite part of the top. I wish the photo showed better detail but I made all the tucks different widths and also sewed them unevenly to create wavy lines. The pattern calls for a center box pleat in the back which I changed to a slight gather. I forgot to photograph it, but it's pretty unexciting. When I make this again I'll probably make it with the box pleat because I plan on making this out of a cotton which will be more bulky. Two things I wish I had done differently was to make the seam allowance smaller for less bulk and I should have faced the entire front bodice because the fabric is so sheer. Luckily I sewed this garment with a little patience so it kind of looks o.k. to see the facing through on the front. This top definitely needs a camisole underneath (I'm freaky about wearing one everyday anyway. More on that another time). No one was home to take a picture of me wearing it (the baby doesn't count) so I had to throw it on the dress form. Phew! That's about it.