FINISHED! A sequinsy sewing dare (except for the official wear)

By now, you know the story...back in August I decided to take on a sewing dare from Gillian "To draft a pattern using a new to me fabric and then find an occasion to wear it ".

I finished the skirt and a version of the top last month, but I wasn't at all happy with the top. Thankfully when I got that jersey from Tessuti, I also received some additional jersey in a slightly darker grey to play around with.  This darker jersey goes better with the finished skirt. Originally I had planned for the skirt to be lighter, which was why my disaster top was in the marle, but I had a cutting mishap so I ended up using the darker sequins.. so it was meant to be.

After my less than successful top, I went back to the drawing board and started trying on every top I owned with the skirt to see what would work.  My favourite turned out to be a Nani Iro pattern of which I've made many, many versions, my favourite of course being the one using Liberty Ornithology.  It is a loosely fitted top that tapers ever so slightly in.  It always looks big, but for some reason I love this top on.

For a while I debated whether or not to just wear the skirt with Ornithology and of course, I may well just do that in future, but that wasn't the dare and the failure of the previous top sort of egged me on.
Tuesday afternoon after school pick up I usually have about an hour to mess around and sew, so I did. I quickly cut this out and overlocked it together. It's only two pieces with kimono sleeves so it wasn't hard.  I tried it on and loved it.  But how was I to hem it and finish the sleeves and neck?  I kind of liked it without a finish with just the raw edges, but thought I'd better finish it.

I simply turned all the edges and sewed them with a twin needle.  This turned out to be super easy as I first stay stitched in from the raw edge  and then turned it over so that the line of stitching was just under the fold.  Soooo much easier than trying to wrangle the seam. The hem could maybe have used a bit of intefacing but with a good press it's fine.

Anyway, I like it. It doesn't look much (at all!) in the photos but it is exactly the slouchy kind of top I was looking for to pair with the skirt.  It falls any which way and It feels great to wear and the whole outifit feels very me.  I'm going to wear this outfit for birthday drinks at the end of the month.

Onto other sewing now... I'm sure you've all seen the new patterns from Papercut Patterns and in particular the very cool rendition of the  bomber jacket by Sophie at cirque du bebe.  Well I think I have a plan for those big dots I won from Gabrielle!  Can't wait for that pattern to arrive.. but for now I'm projectless.

Oh and don't forget the patterns giveaway!! Just leave a comment on this post - winner announced Friday and I'll post anywhere.