Washi Tunic in Nelly

I have had Made by Rae's Washi Dress/Tunic pattern  on my to-sew list since it came out last year.  Not quite sure why I didn't buy the pattern and just make the damn thing until now, but I was so happy with the result that I wore it out approximately an hour after finishing it!

 

I sewed up the tunic version of the pattern using this beautiful fabric, Sapphire Nelly from Sis Boom's Honey Child line.  The colors in the fabric are awesome.

I made a few changes to the pattern:

 

1. I lowered the neckline so that it was even with the bottom of the Washi's U-shaped cut out. 

2. I have a facings phobia, so I skipped them and used bias tape around the neckline as a facing.

3. After wrestling with the elastic thread and my machine for a while in a failed attempt to shir the back of the tunic, I gave up and sewed a strip of fabric across the back on the inside and made 4 rows of casing for thin (1/8") elastic.

4. After making 2 muslins of Washi bodice, I decided to go one size down from what my measurements called for.  

I can't wait to make the dress version of the Washi.  Maybe I'll line the bodice to eliminate the need for facings and make the elastic casing in one go.

Floral Washi

When Chuck was in Bangkok we went to Sampeng Lane to do some fabric shopping... she picked out some nice floral printed cotton from Belleboo and decided it should be a Washi top.

She chose the sleeveless version with the u-shaped cut-out neckline (the "fun" neckline, as she called it), so I did some things a little different than my last Washi top (which I love and wear on the regular!):

• Last time I used bias tape on the neckline rather than facings, but with the u-shaped cut-out, I decided that following the directions and using the facings was prudent... 
• I top-stitched the facings down and sewed them to the shoulder seams to make sure they don't flap out.
• I'm still having trouble with shirring on my machine, so I decided to make internal casings for 1/4" elastic using bias tape and the pattern's shirring lines as my guide.  
• I was able to get the stripes of flowers to match up in the center of the bodice and skirt, but the pleats threw off the matching a bit. Meh.

Floral Lawn Washi

My sister really liked the last Washi top I made her, so I whipped out another one for her in this 

pretty floral lawn.

Areli in Speckled Mochi Lawn

Damn, I love the colors on this blouse!

Me Made May: The Fourth Update

May 20: I wore my neon striped Plantain again, but totally forgot to take a photo of it.  I blame it on martial law being instituted in Thailand that day. Ok, martial law was instituted that day, but it had no immediate effect on my life or my ability to take selfies... or any of Thailand's ability to take selfies, for that matter.

May 21: Jorna tank (soon to be blogged!!) and leggings:

May 22: Thailand's martial-law turned military coup can't keep my Me Made May down.  My polka dot Hawthorn peplum blouse worn out to lunch with my new boss and then to the Jim Thompson factory outlet for some fabric shopping (PS: if you ever find yourself in Bangkok and are in the market for silk fabric, do hit up the Jim Thompson outlet for high-end stuff at [relatively] discount prices. Take BTS to Bang Chak, exit 5, walk down a block to Soi 93, turn right and it's a couple blocks down on your left.):

May 23: More polka dots; this time my polka dot Tessuti Suzy pants:

May 24: A Staple Dress (soon to be blogged) for a jaunt out to our neighborhood market:

May 25: My ikat Anita ponte pants for a trip to the BKK Farmers Market:

May 26: My Made by Rae Washi top with lowered neckline for a Memorial Day movie outing:

Me Made May: Week 1 Round-up

Here's my wrap-up for Week 1 of Me Made May!

Testing, testing: Cashmerette Ames Jeans

Cashmerette has a pants pattern! Jeans, specifically!

Watercolor Floral Beatrix

Oooooh, I am in love with this top I just made with the new Made by Rae Beatrix pattern!