The Kate Jersey Dress and Top by Simple Sew

I haven't blogged in a while now, I've had a bit too much going on. I changed jobs, but now hopefully I will get back into regular sewing. I have finally found the time and the motivation to share my latest make.

I got this pattern with the Love Sewing magazine a few months ago. I have a similar styled top that I bought from Monsoon a couple of years ago, and I absolutely love it - I have been looking for a pattern in the same style that I can sew. 

The instructions are easy to follow and explain clearly how to lay and cut the fabric. The only thing I will say - it seems as though it would have been better to cut the ties along the fabric grain, so that the topstitching won't rip if the ties are overstretched. I cut mine along the width, to conserve some fabric - its so lovely that I'd like to make a T-shirt or a skirt from it. It is possible to make a Tabatha T-shirt (Tilly and the Buttons book Stretch) or a plain miniskirt from 1 metre of fabric. 

I do like to try make my fabric go a bit further, whether it means I can make a skirt or a pair of joggers (the excess from my Stella Hoodie, allowed me to make a pair of trousers without pockets to complete my tracksuit) or keep enough fabric aside to make T-shirts with colour blocks.

I made the top in a scuba fabric that I had in my stash. I had originally intended to make a Burda pattern with it, but I couldn't resist when I saw this top...

I made one change to the pattern - the neckline was a bit too low for my taste - after all, I want to wear it to the office, but I don't want my cleavage on show. I held the pattern up to my body and worked out exactly where I wanted it to finish. I then took care to retrace  the neckline and a new neckline interfacing. They need to match.

Excuse the lighting and the unflattering camera angle, but here is what the top looks like. The style can easily be worn smart with suit trousers or casual with jeans. You can wear it on holiday or to work. I think I will definitely make another version. I'm just not sure whether I will make it exactly the same way, or whether I will make the dress instead.

I don't know if you are familiar with scuba, but, to begin with, I hadn't topstitched around the ties and they kept springing out and looked a bit like big fat sausages, so I topstitched them today, and I think they look much better.

I will be uploading a YouTube video soon - keep an eye out.

If you love sewing and are looking to buy a project book for keeping notes on your projects, take a look here: https://www.sewandeverything.com/2023/02/my-new-sewing-project-book.html