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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

MOAR Leopard!!

Because one can never have enough leopard, amirite?

I took advantage of being snowed in over the weekend to sew up a little top I've been wanting to make for quite some time.  I first saw this on my friend Debbie, and went nuts for it.  I knew I had to make at least one, so when I saw this fantastic leopard sweater print at Fabrications in Michigan, I picked some up for this top.


Later that weekend, when Andrea and I were hitting up the pattern sale at JoAnn's, we both picked up a copy of the pattern - by that time she was also in love with it!  This is Burda 7866.  Y'all know how much I love a kimono sleeve!


As you can imagine, this is a pretty simple top to make.  The only thing that's a little fiddly is the neck facing, which is cut in two separate strips and then folded back at the corners and hand-stitched to make a miter. 


Despite being so simple, it took me the better part of the weekend to complete this, because I used all three of my machines!  I sewed the facings to the neckline with a short, narrow zigzag on the regular sewing machine, then did all the construction seams with my serger.  Finally, I finished off my hems with the coverstitch machine.  So each time I switched machines, I had to dismantle the one and set up the other.  Gosh, I wish I had a sewing room!

coverstitched hem

I did the teensiest bit of adjusting on this pattern.  The entire top is a EU 36, and the yoke (waistband section) grades from a 36 to a 38 at the hip.  I probably could have gone with a straight 38, but since it was my first time using this pattern I wanted to make sure the garment wasn't too overwhelming up top. 

I really love that the hem allowances for the sleeves and the bottom are very wide - 1 7/8 inches.  It gives the edges a nice substantial feel.


After I finished the top and put it on, Hubby liked it so much he immediately took a picture and sent it to his sister!  Awww!  My honey is so supportive of my crafty obsessions.

so interesting - you can really see my forward shoulder!

This morning I decided to take some pictures, and so that you guys don't think that the only bottoms I have are skinny jeans, I put on this old suede skirt (GAP, circa 2003!  I love when the label states the date) with the top.  I'm really loving how this looks!  But it also looks great with jeans :-)


Check out my sleeves:


When I was laying out my pattern pieces, I got a little confused because the sleeves are actually much wider than the body section, LOL!

And because it's Jungle January, I had to have a little fun.  So I put some bones in my hair and pretended to be a cannibal. 

Come here, you!  I'm going to put you in a pot and cook you!

They aren't really bones.  They're my hair sticks :-)  Also, I'm a vegetarian.


And this last picture, because it's the only one that shows the neckline well, even though I look like a goof with my hair up like that!  I was worried that the neck opening would be too small even for my tiny head, but it worked out OK, and I think having it smaller helps the top not to fall off the shoulders.


So there you have it!  My first FO of 2014, which is also my first Stash Diet FO, and my second Jungle January make!  Hurray!

55 comments:

  1. boo on bloglovin' for eating my comment.

    anyway. I love the top - the sleeves rock, and it is very slimming

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  2. This looks great! I love it! And I love that your husband is so sweet and supportive! :)

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  3. Awesome! And that outfit with the black skirt and gold shoes is a winner. I really can't wait to make this top now. Oh, and you do realize you live with an enabler, right? No wonder your stash needs to go on a diet :)

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    1. Darn my camera! The skirt is actually brown - an almost perfect match for the darkest brown in the print. I'm thinking my second one is going to happen soon!

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  4. Looks great! I love that top and have made it one for myself and twice for my daughter.

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    1. Thank you! I had only ever seen Debbie's, but when I went to get the link via google, I saw tons of these! Going to have to go back and take a good look at them, for fabric ideas!

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  5. I cut this pattern out a long time ago and then used the fabric for something else. Now you're making me want to bump it WAY up in queue! This is perfection! It looks so good and like you, I love my kimono sleeves!! And that banded waist is slimming and cute.

    That "cannibal" picture is hi-larious! :)

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    1. You would look great in this style! Make one, make one!

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  6. I love this top on you! You need to make more in non- jungle-y prints (not that I don't love a good jungle print). The style really suits you!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa. My next one will be more subdued: magenta!

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    2. My FAVORITE color! Can't wait to see the fabric!

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    3. It's luscious stuff too: washable merino!

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  7. A very wearable top, and great styling. I love those shoes; they look much like a favorite '80s-vintage pair that I still have (and wear!)
    -- stashdragon

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    1. Thanks, Gretchen! Isn't it great how pointy toes keep coming back? These are new, but I've had various iterations of the same thing plenty of times over the years!

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  8. What a great top, so simple, but so stylish!

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  9. I conclude that your top is ROAR-some!

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  10. Love this top! It's a great shape - I have a purchased sweater in a very similar shape and I wear it loads - and looks lovely with the suede skirt.

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    1. Thanks, Same! I have a purchased sweater almost just like this too, only red! I used to wear it but haven't in years. I think I'm going to dig it out again!

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  11. You are on a Jungle January roll! And I want all of them, muahahaha!

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    1. Hahaha! I have been waiting for JJ all year! I have three more JJ makes up my sleeve, if I can manage it!

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  12. Ah I love this fabric! The top is so great - looks great with your skirt but could also work with jeans or leggings! Great job - I wanna see moar :) haha

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    1. Thanks, Eleyna! Definitely with jeans. I'm not quite ready to wear leggings yet!

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  13. ROLF when I saw that cannibal shot. I love how your hubb supports you and I hope his commute to work is safe. I always hear Chicago mentioned in the artic freeze reports. Hope it thaws out some for you this week. The top is awesome. I wish I could shop in your closet.

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    1. Thanks, Stef! Hubby has been taking the train this week - we all love to rag on CTA, but it's there when we need it! I ran a bunch of errands today and it was 20 degrees - it honestly did feel quite warm after the last few days! It's all about your perspective I guess!

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  14. Absolutely gorgeous, you look wonderful with your hair up in the last photo!

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    1. Hahah! Thank you! That topknot was balanced somewhat precariously on top of my head, LOL!

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  15. i love this! i may have to pick up that pattern... your pics are too funny!

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    1. I may not have paid "full price" for this, but there was a $2.49 sale on - so glad I got it!

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  16. Wow. I did not like this pattern from the envelope but really love it on! I really imagined crazy sleeves but they totally work! At least in this fabric. I may have laughed with a mouthful of coffee when I saw your cannibal picture. Led to an interesting combo of coughing and snorting that brought a little crowd of my labmates to my desk. Good one.

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    1. Uh oh! I hope you didn't snort coffee all over your computer! I'll try to tone it down in the future. (No, I won't!)

      I think the proportions are pretty good on this design. And I like it much better without the belt they show on the envelope.

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  17. This is a great top! I may have to pick up this pattern! Also, you have the best Jungle January photos EVER! :)

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  18. You crack me up!

    I LOVE this top. The drape and spots look great!

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  19. I was just thinking 'does Gail have bones laying around her house?' until I scrolled down a little further - too funny and I love the pose! Very pretty fabric with that little bit of metallic in it. I agree with MrsSmith that this makes your waist look tiny! I may have to pick this pattern up.

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    1. Isn't the metallic great?! I love this fabric so! It was such a pleasure to sew too. It might have spoiled me for the cheaper stuff!

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  20. Oh my gosh, Gail ~ you totally had me laughing out loud. Love this new top ... and your hair? It's gorgeous! xo

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    1. Thanks, Evelyn! It's funny - people are digging the top knot, but I don't like it at all! I think it's because I once worked for a very mean lady who wore her hair like that every day!

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  21. One of my favorite patterns AND leopard print! It doesn't get much better than that :)

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    1. RIGHT up your alley! I just wish I could pose as well as you - you always look like a model!

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  22. You can never have too much 'Pard. Or kimono sleeves! Fab!

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  23. I would not have looked twice at that pattern but it makes up so great. Such a great fabric choice for a very stylish cannibal.

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  24. What a fantastic top! Love the sleeves, and in the print it just pops! Great photos, btw. :)

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  25. Love the outfit & the fun photos! Great pattern & fabric combo.

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