A Ten Minute Dolman Top: My Version

I recently lost some weight and now I am on a mission to make myself some new clothes. I want to make clothes that are cute, fast to make, and that don't require a pattern. From what I've gleamed so far from the internet, that appears to be mostly tops and skirts. I am posting all of my finds on Pinterest so that they are all in one convenient location for future reference. I really like that site! But that's for another post.

The first item that I made was a dolman top. I had seen a really cute one on Ross's website on sale for $12. The design looked like it couldn't be that complicated so I did a bit of searching and found Hungry Hippie's Poppy Top. Hello! The top fit all of my criteria. A 10 minute top with only 2 seams that required no hemming? How could I not make it?

I pulled out a yard of fabric that I'd gotten on clearance from Fabric.com. When I purchased it I didn't have a clue what I would do with it. But who can turn down a yard of jersey knit for only $1.95? OK, maybe you can. But buying fabric on sale is one of my favorite things. Anyway, I immediately got to work following Hungy Hippie's tutorial to the "t".

This was the result.

I kind of liked it but I wasn't wild about the neckline. It was just too big for my taste. I had traced the neckline of a stretchy shirt that I already owned, thinking that the size would come out just right. But for whatever reason that didn't work out like I thought it would. I almost gave up on the top, figuring it was only  about $2.00 and a little bit of time that I had just spent.

But then I remembered my friend shirring. I have used the technique a few times and it is beyond easy. So I added one row of shirring about 1/2 an inch from the neckline.

It took less than a minute to do but the shirring made a huge difference! I went from wanting to abandon the top to wanting to wear it as soon as possible.Which I did, since we had company over for  dinner that night.

Kaftan Patterns and Tutorials

Michael Kors kaftan

I recently got to go to a Michael Kors store. The designs were so beautiful it was almost more than I could handle! Kors clothing is not currently within my budget. But I was inspired by the simple designs that he uses to create such feminine items. I noticed that several of his tops and dresses were variations of the kaftan, peasant blouse, and shirt dress - made using gorgeous fabrics.

I recently made a peasant top because I saw a Kors one that I really liked. And now I am on a mission to create a beautiful kaftan. I think that I've already found the perfect  tut (the 1 hour one) but I am compiling as many links as possible and studying them all before I proceed.

• 1 hour  kaftan tutorial
• How to sew a simple caftan 
• IndieTudes dashiki
• Sunny resort blouse
• Weekend Designer caftan

OK. So there aren't as many simple kaftan tutorials online as I thought there would be. But I think the 3 above are enough to help me get the job done.

Plus, I held up a kaftan in the store and immediately noticed that it was basically just a giant hemmed rectangle of fabric that was folded in half with a neckhole in the center and seams stitched up below the armholes. It almost looked to easy to be right. But the 1 hour tuturial confirmed my suspicions. It really is that basic.

The Plan
So, I'm going to use the neckline instructions from the "sew a simple caftan" instructions and stick with the 1 hour design for the rest. Then I'll put buttonholes in the blouse for belt loops like the sunny resort blouse.And I will be praying too; that always helps. :)

Found an Adult Peasant Blouse Tutorial

I am on the hunt for some simple- but cute - blouse patterns that I can sew for myself. I have found several for my GG (she's 5) but coming by tutorials for adults has been a bit more challenging. So of course I was so excited when I found a pattern for an adult sized peasant blouse. This link goes directly to the PDF that came up when I did a search on Google. I usually link directly to the site's page but when I went to Things of Cloth I couldn't find the page that linked to this tutorial.

Anyhoo, I am very excited about getting started on this project. I want to make myself several tops because I ALWAYS wear t-shirts and I think it's about time that I make my wardrobe a bit more stylish. I kind of lost the inner fashionista once I started having children. But I feel that she's in me somewhere trying to get back out. So, hopefully making this top will be a first step toward helping her find her way back.