10th Anniversary Weekend Part 1- Simplicity 2580 Top

 (Colorful water fountain at Jacksonville Landing) 

We just made it back from a weekend in Jacksonville, FL celebrating our 10th Wedding Anniversary which was on Friday, August 24th. Wow, in this day and age 10 years definitely feels like a milestone. I'm very blessed to have married my best friend. We've been together for 15 years and Lord knows I wouldn't have all the fun I have without him!!!! He brings out the best in me.  Here's a little Wedding flashback photo.....

 We were planning to celebrate by jet-setting to somewhere exotic or flying out west but had to put those plans on hold. Instead at the last minute we decided to take a trip to Jacksonville. Well a week before our trip I decided to change up my sewing plans. Originally I'd planned to use this lovely floral fabric...................but after thinking long and hard about it I knew we were more than likely to go out for a night on the town then go to a fancy restaurant---not really our thing. So I thought I'd sew up something fun and sexy instead. Lord I went through all my patterns----TWICE! I was determined to find something that would embody the fun I knew we were going to have. So I ran across Simplicity 2580 and decided to convert it into a top. I knew it would fit the bill perfectly and my Hubby's positive reaction (his face lit up)  confirmed that completely!!! I finished this top in enough time and was also able to make McCall's 6241 too (I'll review it in the next post).

Simplicity 2580

(After a late night an elevator photo was as good as it was gonna get! LOL. BTW, I was wearing khaki capris and flip flops.)

Time to Sew:
This one would have been an easy 2 hours to sew up if I hadn't had to go back and take it apart for some alterations. Now you see why I usually like to make a muslin. Picking small zigzag stitches is no fun. So it took me about 3 1/2 or so.

Sewing Ease (scale 1 easy to 10 difficult):
It's about a 4

Pattern Description:
It's a knit halter dress that I converted to a top.

 (back view)

Pattern Sizing:
I cut the 10 for the bodice, increasing to size 12 at the waist and grading to a size 16 at the hem to add flair to the bottom of the top.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
YESSSSS!

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I loved the key hole design and the fact it was a halter top.

Fabric Used:
I used a thin knit with a red, white and light blue paisley design. I've had this fabric in my stash FOREVER---back when I learned to sew in 2004. I was glad to find the right pattern for it!

(up close view)

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
1. I reduced the skirt length to convert the dress to a top.
2.  I reduced sides of front bodice piece by 1 1/2"
3.  Did shortwaist alteration---Took out 1" out of center back skirt and tapered to nothing at side seams to reduce length.
4. Created an elastic casing instead of pattern directions. I attached bodice back and front pieces as instructed. I then sewed through both back pieces (lining and fabric) 1" from top back edge--from side seam to side seam. A casing was created. I then too 3/4" elastic and ran it through the casing and adjusting fit. Once good fit was achieved I sewed elastic by tacking the elastic on each side seam.

What would you do differently next time?:
-If I use another thin knit I would interface all of the pattern pieces initially. I did this to the back piece, but had to add the interfacing to the front bodice after it was already sewn up and I realized the stretch was too much. The addition of a knit fusible interfacing really controlled the stretch.
-I'd also lengthen the bodice about an inch or so.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I'd love to sew it as a dress. That was my original intention before I'd seen this top.

Wardrobe Versatility:
-with white slacks and a white blazer
-with white jeans
-with red or light blue capris or pants
-shorts in khaki, white & light blue.

Conclusion:
Super cute top!!!!

NEXT: 10th Wedding Anniversary Part II: Review of McCall's 6241.....