Thursday, May 8, 2008

Sweet Completion


I'm excited about the way this top turned out. Once I finally got a chance to sit at my machine, it went together easily and sewed up in a snap. In my vision, the top had a pretty ruffled bottom edge, but I was so stinkin' ready to finish at least one project this week, that I jumped the gun and put a straight hem at the bottom. I made the straps a little wider than the ones on the original top because they slipped off Sara Lynn's little shoulders too easily. I'm hoping this helps.


I did take the time to do the topstitching. It makes such a difference in the garment's appearance, and it makes it easier to launder. It only takes a minute or two, really. It takes longer to thread the bobbin and change the needle than it does to sew. I've learned to keep various colors of thread on hand (I use thick embroidery thread in a coordinating color for my topstitching) so it doesn't slow me down.



I'm wishing now that I'd added the pretty little ruffle to the bottom that I existed in my head. Oh, well. There's always next time, right? Now all I have to do is whip up some bloomers in that stripey coordinating fabric. I better get to it...

3 comments:

Ann said...

Lovely top Melissa, I wish I had a little person to make clothes for!

Anonymous said...

I bet your are pleased. The top looks absolutely gorgeous. And the finish is really neat. Sorry if I ask an ignorant question; what do you mean by top stitch? Is that just the hem line at the bottom? You know, you could still put something on the bottom. One of those zig-zag ribbons which you can sew on to. But I say, the top looks lovely as it is. Well done.

Melissa Price said...

Aima, I'm glad you asked - there is no such thing as an ignorant question in my opinion. It's the best way to learn. Topstitching is basically used to make the seams lie flat. It's kind of like hemming. On the inside of this garment, I sewed on a lining (with right sides of fabric together) and then turned it right-side out. Then I came back on the top side of the outfit and sewed with a small seam allowance.

This not only looks prettier to me, but it also keeps the seams together even after it's washed. Making it easier to iron. If I had sewn a ruffled edge to the bottom, I would have topstitched just above the ruffle to keep the ruffle and it's seam lieing flat. I hope that makes sense!