First project of the year - The Tessuti Top

Thanks for all of the ideas on how to salvage Butterick 5418 (the would-be New Years Eve dress). The suggestions included:

1) additional hand-stitching/tacking to hold the pleats in place on the lining
2) cutting the bodice lining smaller (~1.5 cm) and ease to fit the bodice, so that the front will be pulled to the inside (much in the way an undercollar is cut smaller than an outer collar)
3) inserting a weight in the bodice lining hem to give it some oomph against the heavy pleats
4) inserting boning to support the bodice lining

I am going to hang on to the muslin and I'll fiddle with the dress. If I find a solution, I'll be sure to let you know!

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First project of 2010! And honestly, I'm not trying to hide my pregnancy, but this top does a very good job of it...

A local sewing friend made Tessuti's "Our Fave Top", and after trying hers on, I was convinced I needed my own too. The pattern is available as a free download on the Sew Tessuti blog. It's super easy and fast to make up. I started mine sometime after 5pm and wore it out that same evening. I used a grey viscose/lycra that I bought in November at Stonemountain and Daughter. My special touches:

1) I stablized the shoulder seams with Japanese bias-cut woven interfacing to prevent them from stretching out

2) I fused the hem in place with Steam-a-Seam 2, then stitched it in place with the decorative and stretchy lightning stitch. Fusing the hem closed before stitching made the job much easier, especially considering this top has a lot of hem!

I need a good necklace to go with this top, so in lieu I wore a small across-the-shoulder purse. And with such a voluminous top, a fitted bottom is a must. Yup, I'm wearing the controversial garment known as jeggings. Let me tell you, when you are pregnant and you want to wear skinny pants, jeggings are your best friend. Anything with 5% lycra is your best friend.

Thanks to Tessuti Fabrics for the awesome pattern!