Crafty Bloggers' Club - Kim's Everyday Amazing Top with Frill Sleeve in Viscose Lawn

Posted by Kim Burley Jones
on June 27, 2021

This weeks Crafty Bloggers' Club post is from Kim.  You can find more of her makes on Instagram @kimmy_lizzie_sews


Recently there have been days when only a floaty, cool top and shorts will do, and even a t shirt has seemed too close fitting and warm!  Enter the delightful viscose lawn - a soft natural fabric (made from wood pulp) with lots of breathability that comes in a wide range of lovely colours and prints.

 Viscose Lawn Fabric

When I saw this viscose lawn in this gorgeous colour and print, I knew I had to make a loose fitting garment - one without seams which would break up the pattern - and the My Handmade Wardrobe Everyday Amazing Top fitted the bill. It's a simple garment to make up - intended to give beginners a chance to gain their confidence in garment-making, but it also has an optional more demanding feature - the frill - and I wanted to take on the challenge.

My Handmade Wardrobe Everyday Amzing Top in Viscose Lawn Fabric
I’ve tended to stay away from sewing lightweight, slippery fabrics, thinking that they are hard to work with, but I needn’t have been so timid - I actually really enjoyed sewing with this lawn. It felt beautifully soft and luxurious in my hands and all I needed to do was use lots and lots of sharp pins and take my time.

My Handmade Wardrobe Everyday Amzing Top in Viscose Lawn Fabric

I was so excited to make my Everyday Amazing Top with this lovely pink viscose lawn, I put my fabric into the washing machine as soon as I got home. I had heard that viscose fabrics shrink quite a bit in the wash, and I absolutely did not want my garment to get too small - so I washed it twice to be sure. And yes, my fabric did shrink - by almost 10cms along the length - even though it is a lovely quality material.

I would have like to use my rotary cutter when I cut the pieces out, but I only have an A2 sized self-healing cutting mat, and it would have been impractical to move it under the fabric (I am putting an A1 cutting mat on my birthday wishlist, because I know I will be making more garments in this soft viscose lawn fabric in the future). I got by with my lovely sharp sewing scissors, taking care to keep the fabric as close to the table as possible.

I knew I liked the design of the pattern, as I had made it in a French terry jersey before. I chose to raise the neckline a touch this time - and to do this I stuck a piece of paper under the neckline of the pattern, and drew a different neck line before I cut it. Then I placed the fabric piece on my mannequin and adjusted the shape to round it off (I was making this all up - so it was a risk, but it worked out fine).


My Handmade Wardrobe Everyday Amzing Top in Viscose Lawn Fabric

After I cut it I tried it on my neck and decided I was happy with it, so then I made the same adjustments to my front facing piece.

My Handmade Wardrobe Everyday Amzing Top in Viscose Lawn Fabric
I really love using my overlocker, and so I used it to finish all my edges as instructed (this was a good job as this fabric doesn’t half fray!) and then I got started on the construction. The Everyday Amazing Top is a pretty straightforward pattern, and the instructions were very clear and detailed, with really helpful photos, and having made it before I knew I would get on well with this project.  I started out using my memory - as I had taken my instructions booklet to work, to browse in my breaktime, and I left it there over the weekend! I was getting along fine until it came to putting in the frill. I thought I’d be able to figure it out but ….. after unpicking my work for the third time I accepted that I would have to wait and follow the instructions in the booklet.

The frill actually sits in the dart at the front - this is unusual and very pretty - and this is why I was making such a hash of itI I really did need the photographs and instructions to understand what to do - and once I had retrieved the instructions and followed them, I was able to get the job done - phew!!

My Handmade Wardrobe Everyday Amazing Top and Dress
I found it straightforward to create the elastic loop and button fixing at the back of the neck - and I like this as a fastening method as I find it easier to manipulate than a hook and eye, which is another option.

My Handmade Wardrobe Everyday Amzing Top in Viscose Lawn Fabric

When I tried my top on I decided to shorten the length of the scoop at the back by a couple of inches and I just drew onto the garment with my frixion pen and a ruler, then I softened the line into a curve. I am 5ft 3” tall, and most patterns are designed for taller people. I could have shortened the whole garment using the double parallel lines on the pattern pieces at the cutting stage, but I do like the longer look at the front.

The My Handmade Wardrobe Everyday Amazing Top in Viscose Lawn Fabric
I absolutely love my top - I can pair it with shorts, jeans and lightweight trousers and it is so soft and light I hardly feel like I’m wearing it!

My Handmade Wardrobe Everyday Amzing Top in Viscose Lawn Fabric
Thank you for reading my post.  I hope you are encouraged to sew with viscose - it really does make soft and swishy clothes that feel great on!

Happy sewing!

Kim X

 

“Crafty Bloggers' Club Contributors are given products and materials to test from Crafty Sew & So. We hope you enjoy their honest and impartial reviews of the products. All opinions are their own.”