the blue blog archives: always sew with a buddy

Hooray for sewing buddies! My sewing buddy, Johanna, and I had a little sewing party over the weekend where she helped me make this fabby Amy Butler top.

The Cabo Halter is such a cool design with a sexy little cross-over bodice and a tummy-hiding lower skirt, perfect for this wishing-I-was-hot-after-three-kids mama. Having had three kids, I also wanted to stitch the halter ties down so they would cover the nowadays much-needed bra. And having a sewing buddy meant no hassle try-ons and fittings! (Try pinning straps in the right place on your back alone!)

The back has an especially neat look as it is closed with an invisible zipper. The pattern goes on and on about how you gotta get a special foot for your sewing machine to put the zipper in. Naturally, I didn't have one, but my sewing buddy Johanna did!

With help from Johanna, who'd made one of these for herself, I finished up the top in one night and it came out fitting great.

The best thing about sewing buddies? Sewing buddies don't let sewing buddies have flower boob! Just before I sewed on the bottom section, Johanna spotted the unfortunately placed flower on one of the top triangle sections. Way too suggestive. So I flipped everything around and used it as the lining. Thanks for saving me, sewing buddy!

posted by alison at 12:55 pm | in spring sewing

Comments

Love it! I'm not thin enough for strappy tops anymore, but it sure looks great on you!

Posted by: Wendi at June 2, 2009 1:15 PM

Flower boob--love it--so glad you didn't end up with one!
I'm working on a lace sweater and I was worried about a similar situation. Did not want a big ol' yarn over in the wrong spot--so I started the pattern after working past the boobs!

Posted by: cath at June 2, 2009 1:21 PM

Ok Ok I give in. I keep seeing this pattern and have been trying to decide whether I want to make it. Yours looks great. I think I'll have to try it!

Posted by: Laura at June 2, 2009 2:01 PM

If you have enough patience you can do an invisible zipper with a regular zipper foot. It's amazing what a poor grad student can dream up when there's money required to do it right :D

Posted by: Regenia at June 2, 2009 2:02 PM

Fabulous top!

Posted by: Brandi at June 2, 2009 2:03 PM

I was going to buy this pattern this weekend to make, but I have really broad shoulders and halters don't look great on me. Love the straps sewn down - thanks for the great idea.

Posted by: MKLR at June 2, 2009 2:33 PM

Great Top.... I made one last year they are pretty easy to make after you understand the directions... might have to make another one this year

Posted by: Tammy Nicolas at June 2, 2009 2:48 PM

OMG -- I love this top (and can totally relate to the wishing-I-was-hot-after-kids mama dreams!). :) Great job. Your flower boob comment cracked me up too.

Posted by: Leslie at June 2, 2009 3:06 PM

That is a really nice top and you don`t look like a mom of three and it looks very well sewn, wow.

Sibylle

p.s. did you get my answer on flick? Send you a flickr email thing.

Posted by: Sibylle at June 2, 2009 3:06 PM

Great top. Looking good.

And avoid flower boob or paisley boob, etc is very important. One of reasons I make sure to try things on before buying.

Posted by: red at June 2, 2009 3:17 PM

Beautiful top and it looks just great on you.

Posted by: Linda at June 2, 2009 5:50 PM

Love everything about that top - the fabric, the color, the style. And it makes you look like one hot momma of 3!

Posted by: Donna at June 2, 2009 5:57 PM

I love the top, I just might have to make one. I remember my first invisible zipper and the trip to the store only to find out they don't fit my machine!
What fabric did you use?

Posted by: shelle at June 2, 2009 6:13 PM

Love it! I actually cut the pieces for that pattern the other night but haven't sewn it yet, so I am glad to hear you like the pattern. The fabric you chose is great!

Posted by: Ellen at June 2, 2009 7:52 PM

Great job on the Cabo top! I have the pattern and fabric and have been too chicken to start the project. I, too, will need to make changes to ensure I can hide bra straps. Speaking of flower boob - Vanna (Wheel of Fortune) had a bad case of flower boob on last night's show (from Hawaii) - someone should have caught that!

Posted by: Katie at June 2, 2009 8:56 PM

What a great top. I would take like 10 of them! Almost every top similar to this that I buy I need to shorten the straps because I'm not as busty as they would like me to be. But, you get to make this one fit perfectly!

Posted by: KERaven at June 2, 2009 9:41 PM

Nice job. I really like the straps sewn down better than tied at the neck. The top looks great on you.

Posted by: knitterlee at June 3, 2009 12:01 AM

You know, I just made this same top over the weekend, but with a not quite so invisible zipper. It looks great, and I love the idea of sewing down the straps, I may have to modify mine. Thanks for all the inspiration.

I just started the Lotus tunic by Amy Butler and love it! You should give it a go!

Posted by: Jeanne Kaliszewski at June 3, 2009 12:14 AM

I've had that pattern for a few years and haven't made it yet. I'm also the mother of three, and I like your strap modification. You've inspired me to buy some material and finally make the Cabo top!

Posted by: Joanne at June 3, 2009 5:54 AM

Great top! I am jealous of anyone who can sew. I've never been able to manage it.

Posted by: Eileen at June 3, 2009 12:59 PM

The top looks great on you! I hope to look half as good after I've had kids.

Posted by: Seanna Lea at June 3, 2009 1:06 PM

That top looks fantastic on you! Great choice of fabric!

Posted by: grumperina at June 3, 2009 4:37 PM

What a beautiful tank top! I just love Amy Butler too! Wish I could find a sewing buddy around here....

Posted by: Knittindiva at June 4, 2009 5:05 AM

That looks fabulous! And I like that you made it a regular strap and not a halter.

Posted by: Kim at June 5, 2009 2:09 PM

I must AGAIN thank my sewing buddy, Johanna, for the idea to sew down the halter straps. She'd found several pictures on Flickr of folks who'd made the top this way. We didn't make any adjustments to the straps - just pinned them to a comfortable spot and stitched them down.

Posted by: ALISON at June 5, 2009 4:09 PM

Ohhhh! I love that! Nice job. And hooray for sewing buddies.

Posted by: karin maag-tanchak at June 9, 2009 8:47 AM

Love the top! It looks great. Friends don't let friends have flower boob. :)

Posted by: Alicia at June 9, 2009 3:31 PM

I've been wanting to make this FOREVER but never dream of going without a bra...I just didn't get a set that would hold up without help. I'm going to look carefully at your pattern mods and get crackin' on this before it heats up here. Thank you for posting this~and you look darling, mama of 3!

Posted by: anie at June 9, 2009 7:36 PM

beautiful job! great fabric and a perfect fit too!

Posted by: meg at June 11, 2009 1:46 PM