Terrace Top for the Literary Sewing Circle

I had a bunch of ideas for my project for the Literary Sewing Circle this round. I decided to make this quick one to start with.

I have made a few Terrace dresses by Liesl & Co and have always wanted to make a top version. I had this very soft vintage tablecloth in a bright yellow floral that reminded me of the marigolds that Violet and Bliss planted around the sign for the Purple Barn. So I decided to use it! 

I feel like it fits the book both because of the marigold link and because it's upcycled-- it looks like a 70s piece that could have been for sale at the Purple Barn! 

I cut this to a top length but otherwise just followed my regular process from the 3 previous Terraces I've made. However, I was sewing late at night so made a few rookie errors! I sewed it with a 5/8" seam allowance when it should have been 3/8" - but thankfully it still fits! I raised the neckline a bit so I could fit the entire flower in but I think it's a bit high. I may go back in and cut it down again, or I may not. 

Anyhow this is a bright Dopamine Dressing top that I'm going to enjoy wearing. The 70s vibe goes well with my jean skirt, too! 

Terrace Dress Into Tee

I have made quite a few Terrace Dresses in the past, and it's one of my favourite easy projects. I decided that it was time to shorten this into a top, since I know it fits well and I thought a simple woven top would be a good addition to my closet. 

This was an easy project, although I have only got as far as a muslin version this week. I used some thrifted cotton blend fabric and gave it a go. I traced off the Terrace onto a fresh sheet of tracing paper, and decided on the length I wanted, which was 26". Once I measured that straight line across the pattern, I finessed it by adding a curve at the side seams. 

To do this, I marked 1/2" up at the side seam, squared that off, and then traced a curve down to the original hem about 2 or 3 inches in. This gives a nice fall to the blouse but the hem looks even when you wear it. 

Slicing off that 1/2" wedge at hem

After making up my sample version, I realized that the sides were winging out a bit near the hem, since the dress has a wider angle to go over the hip. I took 1/2" off the sides at the hem, grading it to nothing by just under the bust darts. That gives it a straighter and more unobtrusive fit. Then I made the same change to the pattern. I really like the easy shape and the comfort of it! 

Purple 1/2" wedge gone from side seam 
& pattern ready to go

I have some nice fabric that I think I may use to make one or two basic shells to go under jackets this fall. It's great to have a quick, well-fitting top pattern in hand!

Back view

A Terrace Dress in Knit

I've made my second project for the Liesl & Co Advisor's Circle, and it's up on their blog now. You can read all the details there! But I'll share a bit here as well. 

I chose to make a knit version of the Terrace Dress, one of my favourite Liesl patterns. I've made quite a few in the woven material that the dress is designed for, and love this pattern for a bold print, since there are very few seams to worry about matching up. This time I used a knit -- it's a lightweight but stable knit from Sew Much Fabric. I actually won it as part of the Black History Month Pattern Designers Challenge last year, but just finally used it! 

This fabric is low stretch so I thought it would adapt nicely to this pattern; it's working more like a stretch woven here. Because it's a knit and has more of a wintery feel I also lined it. I cut the lining a wee bit bigger and finished it in my preferred way, by basting the lining and dress together at neck and sleeve edge wrong sides together - as it will be worn. I then stitched on the bias neck facing and the lower sleeve. I prefer to stitch on a facing over a lining since I like the tidy finish and also my lining always seems to peek out otherwise. 

I made my usual adjustments to the pattern - grading from M at neck to L at hips, and moving the pocket placement up by 2". Otherwise this sewed up just as easily as ever. I did have a bit of trouble setting in the lower sleeve (the lining was bulging a bit) so had to redo that to get everything sitting right. I'd suggest basting or pinning while it's hanging up rather than flat so that everything is sitting where it should be when you get it put together, to avoid the unpicking and redoing step! 

Anyhow, I'm glad I had the impetus to finally put this fabric to good use. I love the print and am so glad I'll be wearing it instead of just looking at it in my stash :)