springing forward - sort of

my project for the weekend was a little something for myself. yay!

i'd bookmarked this tutorial for a spring ruffle top a few weeks ago. i read it through several times, not believing that a top that cute was possible without a pattern and could be completed with such simple steps. i even had all the materials i needed already - a cute little olive green & pink print that was one of my first fabric purchases. i actually have quite a nice little stash built up, and it's fun going through patterns and envisioning what i can create with it all.

this top was the perfect project for a rainy saturday. while the hub was off bonding with his buddies for the afternoon, the bean and i hung out at home quite happily. she played and watched some fun videos while i cut out the pieces and attempted to get as much done as i could. it's never a quick process for me to sew anything, because i'm stopping every five minutes or so to get her a snack, start up a new video, give her hugs. it's okay, though - obviously, i don't mind. especially the hugging part.

because of the continuous stop-start-stop, i didn't bother with a step-by-step pictorial of the process. besides, i don't think you want one - it'd be kind of boring, and if you really want to see how to make your own ruffle top, well, go to the source!

i did, however, snap this photo of one of the sleeve ruffles. instead of doing the two rows of stitching and then gathering it by hand, i followed a neat little shortcut i read on one of my favorite sewing blogs (it's the 3rd step in this tutorial for an adorable skirt that i plan to make for the bean soon).

i got through the majority of the sewing by dinnertime, with only the pockets and hemming to complete. because of that, i was able to live up to my vow to do something crafty every day in march - i finished it up last night, with the rest of the house fast asleep. i ironed all of the wrinkles out, snipped off all of the stray threads, and snuck into the bathroom to try it on and take a picture.

like most of my projects, it's not 100% perfect. although i'd tried on the chest band i'd cut out and started sewing (only to find out that it was a smidge too small and ended up having to remeasure and recut), it instead ended up a little too loose. gah! i'd even done the optional arm divots, and the inside of the top was perfect, with smooth seams and errrythang. i ended up biting the bullet and taking it in a little to make it fit better, and i'm sure i'll be glad i did.

as i examined my handwork in the mirror, i did a quick inventory of my wardrobe in my head, trying to think of what i could wear this top with. i have a pair of white shorts that would work pretty well, since the chest band and straps are solid white. and then i remembered something: my friend amber's fantastic denim straight skirt. it would look fantastic with this top, i think, and so i'm going to have to scoop up that pattern the next time i make a joann's run (along with a length of stretchy denim).

hmmm. i wonder what i'll tackle tomorrow. will finishing up the bean's felt food lunch count? maybe i'll add a little more to it, too. i picked up some embroidery needles and colorful thread, and i think i want to make her some doughnuts from this tutorial.

i'm thinking yes.