Black & White Peplum Top - Version 2.0! ~ Diane's Vintage Zest!

Black & White Peplum Top - Version 2.0!

Like yesterday's post, this is another project that I squirreled away for a while now.  I actually completed it right after the peplum skirt, partially because I felt like I needed to get the first challenge in order and partially because the first version was taunting me!

Here's my second crack at the black & white challenge!  While I don't love love it, I think it would be a perfectly cute top under a cropped cardigan during the fall months.




If you want to read about the pattern and fabric, here is the full post on the original.  Last time, I just snapped a low quality picture on my phone of the first top just before my flight to Europe.  This time, I included a close-up of the fabric below!

By the way, I bought for (you guessed it) less than $1 per yard.  The invisible zipper was probably around 20 cents, so this top is less than $2 thanks to my swap meet skills.  :)

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See, it's just a little bit of a fuzzy knit, so not the best choice for summer.  Fall's just around the corner though!

As you may remember, these were the problems that I encountered with the first, which are all fixed!

  1. Strange sleeve length.
  2. Weird collar, which resembled a bow tie (in a bad way).
  3. Too high peplum.


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Cute side view, but I definitely should have ironed it a little before the photos.  I forgot yet again!

The fixes that I employed were the following:

  1. Cut down the sleeves to make a traditional tank length.  This was a little awkward because it was designed as almost a raglan sleeve, but I did my best and it looks okay!
  2. Convert the high neck and collar into a more flattering scoopneck, which involved cutting the whole thing off.  Somewhere in my scrap stash, there is a floppy collar...
  3. I didn't have to do a thing!  Once I removed the restrictive neck, the fabric seemed to settle to a more flattering length.  Either that or somehow I got shorter?


Here's a back view, which looks horrendous on Lily but better on me.  I didn't pull the top down evenly, leading to a weird humped left shoulder.  Oops!

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Overall, definitely a big improvement because the other version just made me feel like a stuffed sausage.  It may come out of the closet sometime, but it hasn't yet due to the warm weather.

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I do love the silhouette and I like the paneling concept even if it is a bit strange due to my pattern alterations.  It's almost a like I had a warm up for the refashioning challenge!

On a side note, the neckline was a big problem for me because I tried to use a French curve without any sort of direction.  I asked Cheryl at Sew Can Do today and she gave me a few sources that I'm going to read through pretty soon.

Any hints for a French curve beginner out there?




15 comments:

  1. That looks great! I wish I could sew something besides a straight line. I rock at curtains though. :)

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  2. Thanks! It's not impossible to dive into garments once you know how to thread a machine and sew a straight line. I haven't attempted curtains yet, so you're definitely more experienced than me!

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  3. I love your contrasting side panels! I'm not a huge fan of high waistlines either- but this ones cute.
    I'm behind on my blog reading, but I popped in from Diana Rambles to see:) good visiting ya!

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  4. Thanks! It was definitely an attempt to refashion a sewing fail, and I'm glad that it worked. :)

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  5. I have never been a huge fan of houndstooth but this is cute. I like the side panels in black contrast.

    Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
    Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. :)

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    Raising-Reagan.com

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  6. You're amazing at this sewing lark! I wish I had more time to devote to getting to know my sewing machine.

    Thanks for linking up!

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

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  7. This top is eye-catching. I love the details.


    Visiting from Raising Imperfection and following via Bloglovin'


    Barbara @ www.allmylivesnow.com

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  8. Lovely top Diane! I haven't tried French curves myself so can't help you there - good luck!

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!

    Hope you have a fabulous week!

    Jill @ Creating my way
    to Success

    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  9. This top turned out beautifully! Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday on Organized 31.

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  10. Thanks so much for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday, I featured this on my blog tonight! Come stop by and grab a featured button: http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/08/your-whims-wednesday-126-and-features.html

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  11. It was definitely overwhelming in my first design, but this is much better!

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  12. Thank you so much! Get to know her, she won't bite, as long as you keep your fingers at a safe distance! :)

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  13. Thank you! I actually saw someone with a somewhat similar top, but I naturally thought that mine was cuter. :)

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  14. Thanks so much! Hopefully, I'll get the French curve practice that I so desperately need!

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  15. Thanks so much! I'll definitely stop by. :)

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I love to hear your comments! And putting in your two cents is always free. :)

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