Matching Tops!

I am behind in my blog posts! A big and belated THANK YOU to HeathersSphere of the blog SEWspicious Minds for giving me the "One Lovely Blog Award" for newly discovered blogs. I really appreciate it, especially coming from HeathersSphere! She is an awesome sewist and I have enjoyed her creative, entertaining and informative reviews on PatternReview for a long time, and love her blogs as well!

In fact, HeathersSphere's sewing inspiration is a good transition to today's post, because she often sews fun outfits for herself and her daughter using matching fabric! I did that recently when I sewed a birthday top for one of my sisters, and included a top for her 1 1/2 year old daughter as well!

These Spring Ruffle Tops are from a tutorial from Rae from Made by Rae that was posted on the Sew, Mama, Sew!  website blog:

The pattern pieces are basic shapes which are created based on the person's measurements.

I made the following changes for my sister's top:

I thought the edges of the ruffles would be finished nicer if they were folded, so I made them twice as wide as suggested (6") and then folded them lengthwise and ironed them and gathered the raw edges. I also made them several inches longer than recommended to add a bit more fullness to the ruffles.

I left a couple inches off the bottom of the "trapezoid" piece, as I was trying to squeeze 2 tops out of the fabric I bought, and my sister is not short but the top was still plenty long. I also made the band and straps 4 1/2" wide rather than 5" wide - again, to save fabric.

For the pockets, I constructed them the way the big pattern companies normally have you make them.

I zigzagged raw edges. 

I hand sewed the top band down after attaching the bodice.

I sewed the pleats down about 1 5/8" - not quite 2" as the instructions say.

In case anyone makes the top for a little one, like my niece, here are the specifics for her version:

Her chest measured 20" and her hips measured 21", so the "x" and "y" in the directions each equaled 11.5.

For her ruffles, I made them 3" by 23" (resulted in much more "ruffliness" than the adult version).

The bodice was 17.5" wide and 12.5" long (not a trapezoid, but a rectangle based on her measurements)

The straps and chest band were 2 1/2" by 11 1/2".

I did not add pockets, and rather than pleats, I gathered the top of the bodice.

I think they both look cute as can be in their tops!