Pale pink linen top

It's time for my first spring top of 2013! This pale pink linen top is one of five tops I've finished so far this spring, and I can't wait to show you!

I like making sleeveless tops in the spring because it's so easy to layer sweaters over top. This top was constructed in almost exactly the same fashion as my "Time for Tea" Washi Dress: start with the Washi Dress pattern, then add a peter pan collar, full bodice lining, and (as you can see if you look carefully at the sultry shot below) an elastic casing in the back. In addition to that I gathered the skirt, added a pleat to the center front, and narrowed the shoulders quite a bit.

UPDATED: Check out the Washi Expansion Pack, now available as an add-on to the Washi pattern

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I'm really happy about how nicely the bust darts turned out on this top. Sewing angled (French) darts can be tricky and, as many of you know, often produces puckering at the end of the dart -- which is not cool. I've been meaning to go back and fix some hastily sewn bust darts on my Ruby Star dress but keep finding other things to do. Despite my track record with iffy darts, I do actually possess the skills to sew them properly if I'm patient enough, and have actually even given talks before on how to sew darts to accomplish a nice smooth end. That could be a blog post for the future, for sure. Speaking of darts, did you guys see Liesl's new video on Dart Manipulation over on Creativebug? Love how simply she shows you how to move darts. So great!

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A nice peter pan collar is not particularly difficult to draft, though it can be a bit time-consuming, and I do feel that it takes a bit of skill to get just the right amount of curve away from the neckline. A flat peter pan collar is easier to draft, but often does not stand and curve away from the neck properly, which just looks a bit sad and wimpy to me. It took a couple un-sews to get the curve of this collar just right, but I finally got it right and am v. pleased with self.

I know that many of you would love a pattern piece for this peter pan collar. As far as that goes, I will say that I have put a bit of work into a companion version for the Washi Dress (an "expansion pack," if you will) that can both stand alone and easily interchange with the Washi Dress pattern pieces. My thought right now would be to offer the both peter pan collar and a tie-neck option in the expansion, along with one or two new sleeves and instructions on lining and making elastic casing instead of shirring. I'm still unsure exactly what this will look like -- it needs to be different enough to justify being a whole new pattern, but it would be nice if the price could be lower so that those of you who already have the Washi Dress wouldn't have to lose too many more dollars to get the new pieces and variations. In other words, still awesome, but not so awesome that it outshines Washi, haha. So there you go. I'm sure you have opinions; feel free to share them!

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M'kay, just had to share this last pic with you because that bicep there is starting to look like it might have future aspirations of being one of Madonna's. Also, am looking pretty fierce. Woot to the hoo for three months of yoga finally paying off!!!

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Want to join in with me and sew yourself a top? Spring Top Sewalong is going on now, so get sewing and add your tops to the pool!