Hi there readers! If you have been following my blog for awhile, you may remember when I
posted my plans to copy-cat this striped peplum top from
anthropologie - well it is finally complete! I really like my
first two peplum tops and they get a lot of wear, but I have to say this is by far my favorite one.
I changed the pattern for this top, as the McCall's pattern I used for the first two gave me a couple fit issues I wasn't sure how to fix. This is the Simplicity 2209 dress pattern that I shortened to a top. I didn't change anything about the size/fit because this ponte knit fabric is quite stable. I knew this pattern fit me well from
these two makes, and I really liked the idea of the stripes with the V pattern darts in the front (something the anthro top did
not have ;) I have to admit, I completely forgot that the original top had vertical stripes on the peplum part of the top until I started to write this post! Oh well, too late to change that now! Besides, I think that may have been a bit much with the directional changes happening in the bodice as well.
Here are the details:
Pattern: Simplicity 2209 Lisette Passport Dress (as top)
Size: 12 (34" Bust) graded out at waist
My Shape: Tall (6'0), pear shape, narrow shoulders, long torso
Fabric: Ivory/Black Vari-Striped Ponte Knit - 1 yard
Size Alterations: None
Design Changes: - Shortened dress length skirt to top length peplum - Raised the neckline and widened shoulder straps a bit
Construction Notes: - I used the same method to finish the neckline and armholes as it calls for in the pattern - front and back facings with bias tape around the armholes. This is actually the same way the Anthro top was finished (I researched ;) and I figured if it worked for them, it would work for me! - I made my own bias tape (WHAT??? First time people!) which was ridiculously HARD because this fabric does NOT press - it was quite the power struggle between me, the fabric, and Dolores (Dolly for short - that's my iron ;) - On the original top there are actual openings in the straps that the buttons hold closed. However, after making a muslin, I realized the opening was right where my bra straps were! Not ideal, especially for wearing to school, so I decided to forgo the opening and just sew the buttons right on. (Let's be honest, I was also too chicken to cut into my beautifully finished straps and try to press and hand sew those openings with buttons and button loops after all the grief I had with the bias tape)
Overall, this turned out really well! Especially as I had never tried making a woven pattern with a knit fabric OR shortening a dress pattern into a peplum top. There are some other great recommendations on using dress patterns as peplum tops in
this post by Suzannah over at Adventures in Dressmaking - check it out! :)