5.13.2013

crescent

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Lucky Me got to be a pattern tester for Megan Nielsen's Crescent Blouse! How lovely is the new line of patterns, you guys? So lovely. I've gotta get my hands on that Cascade skirt - I was all ready to pounce on the sewing kit because I'm literally dying over the fabric used in the look book, but they're all sold out!!  I'll just have to put my fabric dyeing pants on and get crafty...

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But anyway! Here is my Crescent Blouse!! I was super excited to test this pattern - it's such a fun, unique design.  As soon as I saw the line drawing that Megan sent me I knew I wanted to try some sort of color-blocked scheme with it.  In my mind's eye I was envisioning a gradation of blue-y-turquoises, but of course those colors didn't exist at my local fabric store (why does that always happen??) so I just had to start playing around with what was there until I found three colors that I thought worked well together.  All three are a medium weight silk crepe, which worked really well for this pattern.

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I really wanted to make this blouse sort of feminine and 'date-night-ish'.  Typically I shy away from sweet little collars like this one, but there was something about pairing it with the bare shoulder, and the echoing of all the curves throughout this design, that made me feel like I just had to go for it.  There's a nice balance of sassy and sweet in the Crescent Blouses' design. So I decided if I was going to do a feminine collar, than I was gonna do it up!  I decided to try my hand at beading.  You know, because I'm sure that's something you can just pick up... (wink) I bought purple and silver seed beads, did a "how to: beading" google search (which, surprise surprise... turned up some very strange things...) and went to Bead Town!

And then I left Bead Town. Because, turns out, beads are heavy! Even these teensy tiny seed beads! The three rows that I did already started to pull the collar down, showing the grey binding on the inside.  Also, it was time-consuming, and a bit boring. So I stopped. I figured it was fancy-fied enough!

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This was my first time working with one of Megan's patterns, and it was an absolute joy.  Her instructions were thorough and easy to understand, and she was full of useful little tips (like trimming all those curved seam allowances with pinking shears instead of clipping/notching to get a nice, smooth line). This blouse may look a little intimidating at first with the shoulder cutouts and all the bias binding, but it's actually quite simple to sew.  Megan did a wonderful job of making this an accessible pattern for less-experienced sewists, and even those who suffer from bias-binding-phobia, like me!

I only have one, itty bitty complaint about this top - and it's a really curmudgeon-y one, at that. It requires me to wear... a strapless bra (looooonnngggg suffering sigh...) And anytime I'm required to wear a strapless bra I'm reminded that the only one I own is way too big for me (thus the odd lumps and pulling apparent in my boob region in these photos) and I really need to buy a new strapless bra.  I'm sure this is not an issue for anyone that has a relatively grown up underwear drawer, but the general state of pathos that my underthings have been in for, oh, I don't know, the last seventeen years means that me and strapless bras are not on good terms...

Also... I wish I would have made the top half some other color besides this dusty-rose pink. While a lovely color all on it's own, it's not exactly pleasing to my complexion... But! That's why there's always a next time, am I right?!

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I coerced my husband to take these pictures of me the other night since our camera remote has decided to go it's separate way... Nick's always a sport about taking my blog photos, but I always find myself more self-conscious about posing when he's behind the camera!

As we were walking around the neighborhood trying to find decent light (and, you know, the perfectly disheveled looking abandoned house - because there's so many to choose from!!) we walked by our little neighborhood handmade ice cream joint.  Gotta love beach towns! Ice cream is never too far out of reach! So I suggested an impromptu ice cream date. After all, I was wearing my 'date-night' top... I mean... how could he resist this face?

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Until next time!!

xx

28 comments:

  1. Sallie Baby! Missed that face! Yes, the ice cream one! I really loved this pattern when it came out but I also hate strapless bras.... but perhaps this is incentive to get your tit gear in order, don't you think? The tones of crepe are lovely and I think the beading totally works, although with that sweet shape it could so easily have gone to crafty town, instead of chic curvy town....

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  2. Sallie - your hair is getting so long!


    I've been seeing this blouse around the interwebs and I love your version just as much. Okay, maybe a little more. What can I say, I'm biased towards a former Philadelphian. Interesting tip about using pinking shears to cut down curved seams. I haven't heard of that one.


    Wintertime or summertime - ice cream date nights are always in season.

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  3. asewingodyssey.blogspot.co.ukMay 13, 2013 at 9:36 AM

    You look sooooo pretty in this top, I loved it since I saw Megan's launch and I love it even more seeing your version! I hear ya on the strapless bra front...mine's too small which is also unsightly, Must buy a new one!

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  4. i love the colors you chose, and the beading on the collar is an awesome touch! hmmm... now i need ice cream...

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  5. You're so right, this shirt really does hit that perfect note between sassy and sweet! I too shy away from wearing collars (or anything really) that takes its name from a children's story, but what, what? You make this look amazing! Really like the color choices (despite what you're saying about the pink). Those bare shoulders are the bomb! Think you might be inspired to "get your tit gear in order" by whipping up a strapless bra?!

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  6. Beading the collar is such a clever idea!!! Your whole look turned out great!

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  7. Ahhhh I love what you did with this! The colorblocking is such a fun spin on that pattern. And ooh the beading... gotta say, I like what little you have on the collar, it's like a ~suggestion~ instead of a statement. Or something :) Very pretty!


    I hear ya on on the strapless bras. I'm telling you, a tighter band makes ALL the difference in how it feels throughout the day. If it makes you feel any better, I just sized down to a 30 band... finding that size locally was a real bear, as most shops start at 32. I actually got laughed out of a couple stores, THANKS MACYS.

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  8. Love your colour blocking and the beaded collar is perfect! Your photos always make me wish I lived by the beach!

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  9. Very pretty and feminine! I love the beading. I was wondering what sort of trim you put there until I read that you actually beaded it yourself. And I'm with you on strapless bras. I think the one and only sad strapless bra I own I purchased to go to prom.

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  10. I LOVE what you've done with the collar and I think the overall look of the crescent is too modern to look overly "sweet". It's a perfect YOU pattern! Awesome awesome awesome!! Oh, and I'll take some of that ice cream please :)

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  11. OH! This version is making me regret choosing single patterns over the 4 pack! I love what you've done with it!


    Also, I hear you on the hubby taken photos. I make that same closed mouth subdued face when mine takes flicks for me ;o)

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  12. Cute! I was pretty sure this top was way too feminine for my tastes but you may have proven otherwise. I gotta say, I'm impressed you beaded even as much as you did, beading is a real drag (in my opinion, maybe because I get roped into helping out with it at work when we're really busy). Anyway, the top looks great and the ice cream does too!

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  13. I'm liking this! Beading fascinates me, but no way would I have the patience to actually sit down and do it. I happen to rather like the dusky pink on your skin tone :) Lovely!

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  14. I love the color blocking and a bead-touch :) Makes it a perfect 'date-night' top ^.^ What flavor was your ice-cream?

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  15. Fresh and quirky, it looks fab! Love the ice-cream pic. ;-)

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  16. Very sweet - colours are gorgeous! Love pink and grey together. Beading sends me cross eyed, good on you for doing so much!

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  17. This is such a lovely top! I really like the colors you chose to mix together. The beading around the collar is the perfect touch.

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  18. Great sweet outfit , the top is very cool !

    www.facebook.com/GloriaAgostina

    www.gloria-agostina.com

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  19. Oh wow! Your crescent blouse makes me want to start this pattern even more! It's so gorgeous. So excited to make my own one :)

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  20. Very pretty! Great "dress up a pair of pants top"! The beading was an extra pretty touch!

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  21. I love this! Silk crepe is a perfect choice! I'm with you about strapless bras-- mine are pretty pathetic, too. Mine is kind of a tube-top-y one, if that makes sense, so it's INSANELY flattening, boo. Gotta get my undy drawer set up!

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  22. Your crescent blouse turned out beautifully! The color blocking is such a fantastic idea.

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  23. More lovely summer tops! I haven't seen this pattern yet. I totally would've done the last minute beading thing, too. It's fun just to try things even when I don't know what I'm doing! I bet you're getting so good at hemming silk... those curved hems drive me mad!

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  24. Totally know what you mean about the undergarment issue. I've been rotating the same three bras for about 7 years. I need to do something about it, big time.



    Love the colours you chose, looks gorgeous. it's such a detailed and feminine pattern, you wear it really well.

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  25. Oh. my. goodness! Best colorblocking ever, because the colors gently flow, not jarring at all. Can't wait to make this pattern myself.

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  26. Such a lovely blouse! Your description of it is great: "There's a nice balance of sassy and sweet in the Crescent Blouses' design." So true!

    It's such a pain in the rear when I have a design in my head but the availability of supplies does not cooperate with me. So, I fell you. It turned out really beautiful despite your little bump in the road. The colors look sweet together and, that collar! I can't resist sparkles.

    There's a short list of things I love more than ice cream and beach towns (sewing is definitely in that list) - so, to me, this is the best post ever! Period.

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  27. I love this pattern and your version is darling! Totally perfect for date night. I'm also impressed with your beading skills. I was worried about the whole strapless bra thing. I don't even own one. That's how much I dislike them.



    How do you care for your silk handmades? Especially with beading! Do you dry clean??

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  28. i love this version. you're always so creative with patterns. beading on the collar? color blocking? silk? that's the triple threat of great ideas right there.

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