Liberty Print Shell Top

Hi everyone! How are you all? I didn’t get a chance to post last week as I had a manic week at work and then a packed weekend with a big choir concert in Birmingham – which was absolutely brilliant!

Back to the crafting though, and this week I’ve got a Sleeveless Shell Top from the Great British Sewing Bee Fashion With Fabric book. This was actually one of the projects from the previous series of the Sewing Bee but the pattern was so popular they’ve included in the new book. It’s a fairly basic top with wide straps, scoop neck, longer back hem and a button loop fastening at the back neck.

I’ve made it in this pretty Liberty Tana Lawn in ‘Capel’ print that I got earlier in the year. I love the colour and print anyway, but the name is particularly special as it’s the parish where my Nan used to live. I traced the pattern from the sheets that came with the book – based on the finished garment measurements given I went for a size 14 to fit my bust.

Sewing the top together was all pretty straightforward – sew the bust darts, join the shoulder seams, interface and sew the shoulders of the facing, then attach the facing round the neckline and armholes. This is actually quite a neat trick – because the back is in two pieces it means you can attach the facing all in one go and then pull the back pieces through the shoulders to turn everything the right way out. This cotton presses beautifully so I’ve got lovely neat seams and everything sits where it’s supposed to.

Joining the side seams next, then the back, leaving a section at the top open for a button and loop fastening. I’ve done my usual ‘belt and braces’ by zig-zagging and pinking all the exposed seams.

I found a little piece of silver ribbon and a purple button just the right colour in my stash to finish off, and did a narrow-ish double folded hem which worked out OK with a little bit of easing in because of the curved shape.

I’m happy with how this one turned out; the neckline is much more modest than the Silk Cami I made before so didn’t need adjusting, and it’ll be lovely and cool to wear in the summer. Only a couple of little niggles – the front hem is perhaps a little shorter than I would have liked but not disastrously so, and the armholes gape a little – I probably need to learn how to do a full bust adjustment!

Definitely a useful pattern to have in the arsenal, and a quick easy one that doesn’t use huge amounts of fabric. I’ve got a couple of other similar patterns so I might try those and see how they compare for fit.

In other news, I’ve finally finished knitting my second Leonora jumper and am in the process of sewing it up so should have that to show you next week. What are you all working on at the moment? I’d love to see!