There's a hole in my wardrobe....

Friday 1 July 2011
Anna has a CD full of children's songs which includes the very annoying song "there's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza....".  Please forgive me if that line is now stuck in your brain, because it's been looping around on replay on my internal ipod for a few days and is driving me nuts!

But it does aptly describe the way I felt when my favourite top came out of the wash like this:


After many washes and soaks in whitening powder, this simple white shell top made from a white cotton waffle weave finally waived sayanora with a little tear in the neckline in the centre front.  I made this many years ago, pre blogging days in fact, so I certainly got a lot of wear from it.

I suppose I could have undone it and cut the neckline a little lower than that tear, but that probably would have taken more time to do than just to sew a new one.  So I just made a new one.  In fact I made two new ones, because even though this is just a plain sleeveless shell top it's actually quite a versatile garment: I wear it under suits because there's no bulk or collars to worry about, it looks good with full skirts because it's quite fitted and it even wears well with jeans because it's long enough to wear with mid rise cuts.

Using Vogue 1826, an OOP Michael Kors pattern, I made a replacement one in white from another piece of textured cotton I had in the stash. 

Actually this is a remnant from another white shirt I made, because this top is sleeveless, collarless and princess seamed there are only four skinny pattern pieces and I can eek it out of the smallest amount of fabric.


The pattern calls for a zipper at the centre back, but I like the look of the buttons so that's what I went with instead.  The top is fully lined with a thin white cotton poplin, and I made this using the method for lining sleeveless dresses - sewing the side seams last and pulling the back through the shoulders.  I also bagged the lining and sewed the buttons on by the machine, which meant that this top was entirely done on the machine - so much quicker than hand sewing that's for sure. 

In fact this was so quick I made it Monday night and wore it work on Tuesday, and then on Tuesday night I made another version which I wore to work on Wednesday.  And this second version isn't a plain white version, but rather a bright orange and navy blue patterned wool crepe that I picked up in an opshop a few years back.  To make this one a little different I used navy satin piping around the neckline and armhole, and navy blue buttons down the back:




It's much brighter than I would normally wear, but I guess it's good to break out of your mould once in a while, especially for office wear which can get pretty dull at times (especially with my predilection for grey).  But since it is winter around these parts, it was mostly hidden under this navy RTW suit I wore it with:


These two tops are actually versions 4 and 5 that I've made from this pattern, with the original white top being the first, a black one the second and white/beige print the the third, but I doubt they'll be the last!

21 comments:

  1. Love the both, but esp the orange and navy one. I love piping, it creates such a lovely finish.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Re: neckline on the torn top - you could unpick the neckline, cut off the seam-allowance. Turn to the right-side out and then trim with bias-binding? :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great tops and agree they are a wardrobe essential.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great pattern! I like the buttons down the back as well. That navy and orange one is a real stunner, especially with the piping detail.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The navy and organe fabric is lovely - your tops look great.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Both tops are so cute. Love the piping it realy makes the shirt pop.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really love the orange and navy and the outfit is gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The first blouse is certainly a "go to" top, but the lovely fabric of the second makes it something extra special--a complete success!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really like this top! The orange and navy one is so nice and the white, very classy. You look si stylish in it! Great job!

    Catherine from Bury (QC)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh how I heart your orange and navy print top. Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love the orange/navy one. Great shape and very versatile

    ReplyDelete
  12. Chalk another 2 up for Kristy! Way to go... I really need to get on the ball!
    Oh... and the song... yeah... it's one of those that once you've heard it, years from now... You Will Remember It! (whether you want to or not!)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lovely tops! My Mom used to sing that song to me when i was younger on car journeys :) it used to drive my Dad mad.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love both tops. How wonderful to have a go to pattern for wardrobe basics. I'm looking for one myself now.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fantastic shell tops. You've given me an idea for using up some leftover pieces of fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  16. That orange and navy top looks so good on you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love all 4 of your current versions . The buttons are great - are they hard to do up? Yay for old patterns.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I really like the orange/navy print on you. The color just makes your face and eyes sparkle. You should wear autumn colors more often.

    ReplyDelete
  19. How did I miss this top! The printed one is really lovely and gives such life to the navy blue suit. And of course you needed the white one because it is such a basic.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You have amazing taste in prints. I'm in awe!

    ReplyDelete