A Sorbetto Parade!

I thought you might be interested in how you can take one pattern and make it into several different looks. This is the Sorbetto shirt pattern, free, from Colette Patterns. 

The first batch I'm going to show you are from my dear friend and sewing enthusiast Jen. She is really amazing people. If she decides to learn how to do something she is an expert before I have time to make a batch of cookies! She has two little girls (can you imagine having two people that will wear pink and flowers!) and is one of my best friends.

Jen made these three shirts into nursing tops. The purple shirt is made from a knit and has an inverted pleat rather then a box pleat. The floral tops are lined with flannel so as to be a bit warmer and detach at the shoulder. The cuter then cute baby is wearing a coordinating cape and also has several matching bibs in the fabrics (Gaaaaaahhhhh Sooooo Cuuuuute).

 The yellow floral top has an inverted pleat instead of a box pleat and was finished with bias tape made by Jen. She also added sleeves. AND (this will blow your mind) it is made from two thrifted pillow cases!!!!

The next sorbets are from my sewing machine. The floral sorbetto was the first one any of us had made. I added piping to the neck line and to the inverted pleat along with a few vintage buttons. I also added sleeves because I don't love the tops of my arms. I wish I had made the sleeves a bit bigger for comfort.

That's my dad. He totally rocks and is awesome and taught me how to marvel at nature and see God in trees and stuff. I love my dad so much it makes me crazy!

The next sorbetto we have is one I made from a dress that was stupid. I loved the fabric and it's light as air, perfect for summer. I added vintage lace and vintage buttons. I also added fluttery cap sleeves (with lace). I don't have two daughters so I have to lace-ify my own clothes.

Lastly we have a Sorbetto that I made for my sister for Christmas. She's not modeling it because it's lingerie and she's a nice girl. I also made bloomers to match using the fabric from the bias tape. I did an inverted pleat to make it more flowy and finished the inside with ribbon.

So there you have it seven different shirts from one pattern (and a free one at that). For me it's great to stretch my brain and play with my creativity making different things from one base pattern. It's also great because you can change it to meet your needs (nursing mother, hot summer weather...). Hope you enjoyed our parade!

The Blouse is Done!!!

Lace on the sleeves, down the front and as trim along the bottom.

This shirt, as you probably know, has been taking a long time. It cost me much brain power and gave me a very wounded finger. Actually, finger aside, it was a pretty pleasant project to work on. I took my time got great advice my sewing friends and came up with a decent shirt to wear.

There is lace along the back but you can't see it very good.
Also this is my "Edwardian" hair

I live in great fear that all shirts I make look like pajamas. I guess I'm just drawn to that light and girly fabric that seems only appropriate for pajamas in women. This top was no exception and I think if it had matching pants (which it won't there is no more fabric or lace) it would definitely look like a swanky pair of lounge wear.

What it was suppose to be, however, was something completely different. This blouse started it's life out as a super soft, light, cotton, japanese fabric that I fell in love with. Then it became an Easter dress that I made using a vintage pattern. I hate the dress. Old patterns assume you know what your doing and when I made this dress I had no idea what I was doing. I mean any kind of skill you practice means your going to get better which makes this dress just... blech. But I still love the fabric. So I thought, "it's an entire dress why not make it into a shirt? Surely there is enough fabric." Well, there really wasn't but I made it work!

The lace is so cool I wish you could see it better.

I had in mind a cross between a light girl inspired summer top that would breath and be a joy to wear. And something inspired by "Downtown Abbey". To be honest I've never actually seen "Downtown Abbey". But literally all the sewing blogs I read go on and on about it so I totally do feel like a fan of it. I'm like a collateral fan? It's in my netflix queue I just haven't gotten around to watching it yet. I did however see and love an episode of "Dr. Who" that took place in that same time era and am a big fan of "Anne of Green Gables" and "The Secret Garden", so you get the idea. Edwardian period clothing.

I used vintage lace and vintage buttons both picked up during an antique/junking trip with my mommy. I lowered the neckline from the original pattern (the sorbetto top, I've made it three times now) added sleeves and had to piece together the front and back instead of cutting it on the fold.

I'm not 100% pleased with it. I mean when am I ever? I know it's flaws and it's more flower child then "Anne with an E" but I think it will be a pleasant enough top to wear this summer.

What do you think? Honestly if you just think that it's too pajamas I want to know! But if you think it's wearable I'd like to know that too.