Arizona Tops!

Jaime and I couldn't resist whipping up some garments from April Rhodes' debut Arizona collection!

 

Amber's Scout 64 Mash-up

Pattern: Scout Tee by Grainline Studio x Top 64 by Merchant and Mills
Fabric: 1/2 yard Arizona Canyon Walls & 1 yard Chambray Union Light
Size Made: Scout Tee - size 4, Top 64 - size 10
Alterations: I mixed the two patterns together (upper part of Scout with bottom/pockets of Top 64)

I love April's Canyon Wall print mixed with this Robert Kaufman Chambray Union!

I decided to do a garment "mash-up", mixing the classic and simple Scout Tee from Jen of Grainline Studio with the pocket construction I fell in love with from Merchant & Mills' Top 64. Every garment needs pockets!

I traced out my Scout Tee pattern onto Swedish tracing paper to make my alterations. The top half of my tee is the Scout Tee, and the bottom pieces are drafted from the Top 64, just changing the side seams to match the shape of the Scout Tee.

The summery golden geometric and lightweight chambray is perfect for my summer wardrobe, and the pockets are the perfect place to stash interesting stones and feather finds. Using the Canyon Walls print for the pocket panel and the bias neck finish allows me to wear this mustard-y color that I love, but I feel I can only wear in small doses.

Jaime's Voile Bianca 

Pattern: Bianca by Made by Rae
Fabric: 1 3/4 yd Triangle Tokens Voile
Size Made: small
Alterations: none

Bianca is a new pattern from Made by Rae of Washi Dress fame. I love Rae's simple yet interesting women's patterns and wanted to check this new one out immediately.

There is one voile print in April's Arizona collection and it is lovely. The super-soft fabric features a light triangle print with metallic triangles every so often. I love it. Art Gallery is known for their soft hand and their voile take this to another level. Beautiful drape and flow make this fabric the perfect choice for summer garments.

This pattern was quick to sew up. It can be made as a top or dress. I love the cut out neckline and the shirred waist. The shirt has an easy fit that is both flattering and comfortable to wear. This top has a super summery feel to it thanks to the soft aqua color and lightweight feel of the fabric. This will get heavy rotation this season. Bianca is currently available as a digital download here.

We have plenty of these inspiring fabrics in stock so let the summer sewing games begin!

Jaime's Josephine Top

Rae of Made by Rae makes awesome patterns. Her patterns tend to be simple to sew and flattering to wear - the perfect combination for anyone looking to get into garment sewing. We carry and love her Washi dress pattern which has a cult following among indie sewists. Her newest pattern, Josephine, caught my eye immediately and I couldn't wait to stitch this up.

Pattern: Josephine by Made by Rae

Fabric: La Venta voile print, 1 3/4 yds

Size and style made: view c, small with A-B cup

Alterations: none

Josephine features pin-tuck pleats on the front for a sophisticated, feminine look. The pattern comes in 3 variations - I can't wait to sew them all! For my first go, I made the sleeveless variation which also features front and side vents.

I choose to use one of our new voiles from Cloud 9's Palos Verdes collection by Leslie Shewring. These organic cotton voiles have a lovely hand and I was super excited to sew one up as a garment. This print - La Venta - was my favorite from the beginning so it was an easy choice. The voile fabric is soft and light, perfect for the feminine design of the pattern.

One of my favorite things about this pattern is two cup-options. Each size can be made in A-B or C-D cup. Brilliant! So many patterns tend to be loose on me in the chest, so it was awesome to try the smaller cup size option. I love the fit! The pattern was easy to sew up and Rae has helpful tips, tricks and tutorials throughout the pattern for those new to garment sewing. If you're more confident with garment construction, you can breeze though this top in just a few hours.

Josephine is currently only available as a digital pdf pattern here, but we have our fingers crossed we'll be carrying it in print version soon. I know I'm going to be making more of these and I'm excited to explore the variations - nice work, Rae!