Top: DIY from Aster pattern & Spoonflower fabric
For a few years now I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect dotty top. A couple of years ago I had one made by Loni at Love To Love You on Etsy, and it was wonderful, but recently I’ve been thinking that I quite fancied the idea of having one made with smaller dots.
I spotted this fabric on Spoonflower and thought that it fit the bill, but I didn’t pay much attention to the measurements (rookie mistake) and when the fabric came the dots were much bigger than I’d anticipated. Still, I’d bought Colette’s Aster shirt pattern especially, so I thought I’d give the project a whirl.
The fabric that I chose was the basic cotton, and I’ll be honest – I don’t love it; it feels a bit cheap and crunchy, but the colours are spot on and it washes really well. It’s possible that the fabric will soften over time, but at the moment it’s probably a bit more crisp than I ideally wanted.
Colette’s Aster pattern was also just ooookay. It definitely wasn’t really a beginner-friendly pattern, which surprised me a little, as Colette’s instruction booklets are usually so well written that anyone can follow the steps without too much trouble. The shirt is collarless, but has a lovely yoke at the back.
The instructions for the front placket were kind of inscrutable, and even after I’d finished I wasn’t confident I’d done it correctly. The sleeves were far too long, so I’ve rolled the cuffs, and I also put more buttons in than necessary so that the shirt stood a chance at staying fastened over the Rack of Doom.
I found the fit a bit problematic, but the wonderful Laura recently dropped by to teach me how to do a full-bust adjustment, so I’m definitely planning to give it another go down the track (perhaps with a less starchy fabric).
The good thing about this top is that those wonderful watercolour dots will go with everything. Black yellow, red, green, grey, mustard… I’m wearing it with (another) Breathtaking Tiger Lilies skirt from Modcloth.
If you get in quickly, Modcloth has a 25% off Family & Friends sale on right now, with the code F13m64G, and don’t forget, you can get free International shipping for orders over $150.
It looks great! Well done. Also does not appear to be transparent, which is a big plus for a white top in my book.
Hi Anna, definitely not transparent! That’s definitely the benefit of the slightly-crunchy cotton!
You made that? So impressed!! I’d like to try making my own clothes, but I need to learn to use a sewing machine 1st. Love the outfit!
It’s definitely a good skill to have, Katie – Have a look and see if you can find one of those beginner classes, you’ll never look back!
I’m working on an Aster myself at the moment – it’s my first Colette pattern, having sewn with a number of other indie and Big4 patterns, and I honestly haven’t been terribly impressed by the included instructions (compounded by an error in the original release on how to construct the back yoke). I also found the placket instruction a bit of a head-scratcher until I referred to the Aster Sewalong, which illuminated things a bit more. And FBAs seem intimidating but they do really help!
(ps long-time reader first time commenter, hello, your blog is lovely).
Hi Zoe, I’m glad to hear it’s not just me! What’s your favourite brand of indie patterns? I’m always looking for new ones to try 🙂
Hooray indie patterns! I’ll rep for Cashmerette very strongly – I’m solidly plus-size (about a 22-24 in RTW), and have found the built-in FBA/multiple cup sizes an absolute boon. I also love Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Patterns (the name is a bit unfortunate) – the owner drafts specifically for petites. I’m not sure how tall you are, but they’re easy enough to lengthen if need be.
The other brand you might look into, although I’m sized out of their range, is Sewaholic, which are drafted for a pear shape and apparently very good. Hope that helps 🙂 happy sewing!