Remember those rust pants from a previous post that I was trying to find tops for? Well here is the second instalment : a casual summer blouse using Lekala 4420
Fabric :
A rayon print in a Jacobean style print. The red is a little brighter than the colour of the pants but blends well. Colours also include denim blue, black, sage on a cream background. Should also be able to pair this with jeans, cream linen pants and khaki green pants.
Inspiration:
The idea for the project came from this RTW top. Long sleeves rolled up, centre front seam, gathered neckline with long ties, loose fit, shaped hem.
Chosen pattern:
Lekala 4420. It had most of the features of the inspiration top but with the bonus of pleats at the neckline rather than gathers. I had original bought this pattern to make in a sand-washed silk but, as always, feared messing it up. This was a good chance to make a test garment before committing the silk.
Construction:
Lekala pattern instructions are fairly limited but it was fairly easy to put together. There is a facing for the front slit which is applied after the centre front seam. I cut a double yoke and used the burrito method to sew it to the front and back pieces.
For the ties, I extended the length of the bias strip for the collar and attached tassels to the tie endings. I could only get black or white tassels locally, so I’ve made my own using a weaving cotton thread which was a closest match to the red in the fabric that I had on hand.
Fitting:
The fit is a little on the big side though the shoulder and neckline, even though I used the same custom measurements that I usually do. The shoulder seam drops off the shoulder a bit too much and will need to be adjusted for the silk version.
I love the positioning of the back tucks at the yoke – there are two each side, set wide apart. It gives the shirt a very nice fall. The back hem is quite long and I’ve been tossing up whether I like it or not. It covers the bum nicely, but cuts me in half from the back view. What do you think – should I shorten it?
Another area of concern was the front neckline tucks. The outer one points to the armhole notch and just pools fabric there. I’ve unpicked the neckline ( fun 😦 ) and changed that tuck to face the other way, ie the upper edge is facing the shoulder rather than the CF, and it sits much better.
Final thoughts:
For a casual summer top, I think this is OK. I was wearing it around the house during a couple of 30-35oC days at it was quite comfortable. For the silk version, I’ll need to adjust the width of the neckline and shoulders for a better fit. And adjust the back length so it can be tucked in.
At a Glance:
| Pattern: Lekala 4420 Fabric: Rayon woven print Rating: 3/5 It’s OK but would need some more modifications Difficulty: 2/5 Fairly simple to put together. Bias binding on neckline. Cost: $15 |
30 wears: Possibly Quality: Medium Durability: Medium Fad factor: Medium Flexibility: Medium( 3-5 outfits) Expected life: 4-5 years |
sewTREEFROG 
Very nice! I love this type of print, and I think the top will be comfortable for summer. And it matches your pants! What do you consider to come up with your “30 wears” calculation? Just curious. I think I wear my casual clothes more than 30 times before I give up on them, but maybe I need to pay better attention.
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Thanks Becky. The “30 wears” is more of a gut feel about how often I will really wear it.
I’m not sure about this top because it isn’t my usual style and the neckline is a bit wide for my liking. I suspect that I’ll wear it because I want to wear the pants, but would tend pass it over over another top with anything else. So if I have it for 5 years say… will I wear it 6 times each year? It’s possible, but I couldn’t say for sure. I’m trying to be honest with my answer.
Since the start of the year, I’ve kept a tally sheet to see how often I do wear things. It’s very simple, and I try to update it after I do my weekly wash. Jeans, lingerie and ‘favourites’ tend to rack up wears very quickly, as does my “paddock” clothes. Other things can be a bit more sporadic depending on whims and weather.
I hope that makes sense?
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I was wondering about that number too. I have a relatively small wardrobe and I can’t think of any seperates in my closet that only get 6 wears in a year. Maybe I’m wrong and I should make a tally sheet as well!
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You probably also have more of an idea of what works for you too. While I’m getting better, I still make things that don’t quite suit me or is not quite right; experiments gone wrong etc. It is interesting that the handwoven top I made earlier in the year has only been worn 3 times so far, mainly because I’m to afraid or ruining it by spilling food on it. Silly really.
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Yes, that makes perfect sense. I was misinterpreting your rationale. I think keeping a tally sheet is a great idea! It would certainly establish a record of what I actually do wear as opposed to what I think I wear.
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Lovely blouse and I like the back length. I don’t think it is cutting you in half. Perhaps it would with a straight hem, but the gentle curve is distracting the eye in a good way!
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Thanks Marianne, that is good feedback. I need all the distraction at the back hemline that I can get 🙂
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I like the shirt tail as it is, but if you are looking for a dressier silk blouse then I would remove some length. Love the shape as it sits now. Nice print, too. Thanks for sharing
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Thanks for your feedback Chris. I was a bit unsure of the back length so it is great to get your opinion on it.
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Beautiful fabric and the blouse looks very smart and even the back length is flattering as it is shaped.
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