Red Lace Pussy Bow Top (Self Drafted)

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It's been a long ol' while since I've made myself a scandalously sheer lace top (nearly two years since I made this striped number) so I thought it was high time I put this period to an end. I've had some beautiful burgundy coloured stretch lace in my stash for probably about half a year (quite a short time compared to most fabrics in my stash), and I actually bought it with this very purpose in mind, so I was keen to get cracking with it at long last.

The pattern I used for this is one I've used before, for a brown and also a blue version. You know the drill by now, I like it, I make it again, and then again.

There are four pattern pieces for this top - a front, a back, a sleeve, and a pussy bow. The front and back were originally derived from a close-fitting shop-bought top, and have been tweaked ever so slightly to better fit my measurements, so that they can be used as generic stretch block pieces. So if you're wanting to draft your own stretch block, tracing over other garments is always a great way to start out, provided, of course, that the garment you're tracing does actually fit you the way you want it to!

The front and back are then French seamed together, which is also how I sew up the sleeves, and then the sleeves are set into the armhole. Then it's time for the pussy bow. The pussy bow is literally just a rectangle - I make mine the length of the fabric (which is around 50 inches, I think) and whatever width I can get away with - I believe this one was about 10". The bow is then folded right sides together and then sewn together, leaving a gap in the middle the length of the neckline. Then one side is machine zigzag stitched to the right side of the neckline, after which the other side is hand sewn in place. Every time I write a blog, I think to myself, these explanations would make so much more sense with making of photos. But do I ever think to take making-of photos at the time? No. Never. Sorry about that.

And that's really all there is to it. I think this may be my favourite one yet - I love the floral pattern on the lace, and the deep red colour is something I gravitate towards so much, it goes with most things in my wardrobe, which is always a plus. Here, I'm wearing it with pink tartan* trousers I mentioned in my recent trousers post, another rendition of the McCall's 7726*, which I have written about over on Minerva* (and full disclosure time, this tartan fabric was provided to me by Minerva in exchange for that post).

So that's it from me for now. See you next time!