Just Make It July – Butterick 5357 – Another Quick Finish!

Hi Everyone!

I finished another quickie top today that I had started this past week, my summer tops are certainly increasing!  It is Butterick 5357 and I made View C. I read over some of the reviews on Patternreview.com and the one thing that struck me about this top that I didn’t like was the edge of the neckline that the instructions tell you to just fold over to make a casing for the elastic.  While that is an acceptable method I wanted to make a more frilly edge to the neckline that would match the sleeves.

So instead of just a fold-over encasement I sewed in bias tape 1 inch from the edge and ran a narrow hem across the top edge.I didn’t have enough bias tape on hand to do this so I made a run over to JoAnn’s and wouldn’t you know it they had bias tape in turquoise?  Not exactly the same color as my fabric but pretty close!

The fabric I’m using is a 100% cotton batiste with a decorative inlaid diamond stitch which makes it look almost like a dotted swiss.

Below is a photo of the armhole.  The pattern instructions start out having you sew French seams for the sides and the sleeves but when it comes to the arm hole they have you sew two lines of stitching and then trim.  I ran an overcast stitch along the edges just to keep the fraying.  I wonder why they did not have us do a French seam on the underarm?  Or a lapped seam, or something else to encapsulate the raw seam edges?  Strange.  Oh well, it works.

I guess if I sew this again I will need to add length all around the neckline edge.  I do not like how my bra straps have to be pushed over to my shoulders or else they show.  Anyways…here’s some modeling shots…

Front…

Back… 

Side View… You can see how billowy the blouse flows in the wind!

Now all I need to do is post up a review over at patternreview.com (now that I’m a featured member and all!).

Talk soon!

Happy sewing…

~Cathy