Pink bicycles- The Novo top by Popolok design

About a month ago I said to myself "NO MORE kids clothes for a while- I want to make something for meeeee!". I decided having outfitted my offspring in several handmade items each in the last 6 months it was time to do some "selfish sewing" (who came up with that phrase?) and that I would NOT be tempted by any more new patterns that came my way made for anyone under 4 ft.
This was it - finally I might have something NEW and possibly semi-fashionable in my wardrobe!

Then on my Facebook feed Alviana's (of Popolok Design) peek of her latest pattern requiring tester's came up...

I resisted for about 5 seconds before frantically asking to please pleeeease be put on the list to test it. I mean really sweetheart illusion yoke, cap sleeve option and peplum? Too cute!
 
So here's the end result, made with TWO fabrics from my stash (yippee!):

 As I got really sick part way through making this I kept the options simple as possible- no sleeves (would love to give them a try next time) or skirt option.

Fabrics used: a musk pink damask style synthetic (blend?) and a light pink craft cotton with retro bicycle print. In hindsight the pink damasky synthetic was a big mistake- it's a pain to iron, became quite fuzzy during construction and crinkled terribly after washing. Unfortunately I cut another yoke out of the same fabric and have already partially made up another top - not sure whether to bin it or not:( 
The craft cotton is lovely and well behaved in comparison.
Instead of using bias binding as a facing for the peplum edge I used some (stashed!) cream geometric lace.

 Little Miss was quite taken with this top and happily ran around the backyard without attempting to take it off (in my books that's a WIN for toddler clothing!). 
Plus it's pink, which at the moment is her favourite colour.

You can read my review of this pattern here on sewing.patternreview.com

*Disclosure*  I received a free copy of this pattern for testing purposes but all opinions expressed here are my own. Writing a post about this pattern or reviewing it on sewing.patternreview.com was not a condition of testing.

Happy sewing!

Kate :)

A cute lil' peplum - the Cece top by Popolok Design

Alviana of Popolok Design has created another sweet confection for little girls and I was lucky enough to be in on the pattern testing :)

  

The Cece dress and top features a fitted bodice and peplum, with optional "peter pan" collar, cap sleeves and gathered skirt (if you are making the dress).

I opted to make the Cece top with sleeves and collar. Little Miss has heaps of sleeveless tops (no good for daycare's sun protection policy) and I love the retro cuteness a peter pan collar can give, so this pattern was already a winner in my mind! 

 I used a scant fat quarter (approx) of a pink/red strawberry cotton print for the body and some deep pink broadcloth for the collar.

 As DD is very petite (premmie smaller twin- otherwise very healthy!) for her age I cut a size 1 in width and added about an inch to the torso length. The finished garment fit perfectly :)

The bodice called for lining and as I am trying to "stash bust" I decided to reuse some fabric from an old sheet that I had put aside for sewing. 

The pattern says to hand stitch the bottom edge of the lining to the waist seam but being the impatient sewer that I am (not to mention awful hand stitcher) I just turned it up, pinned, then "stitched in the ditch" from the right side all around the waist seam.

This method worked but as you can see did not give as even a finish on the inside that hand stitching would (note lining mismatched at bottom of zip). Little Miss however I am sure wont mind ;)

Another fluff I made was to mix up the front and back pieces- cutting the front in two by accident. Luckily I had just enough fabric left to squeeze out another bodice front, albeit in the wrong direction. Luckily with the print it is not overly noticeable, unless you are looking out for it (or a keen sewer).

 

 Also my invisible zip insertion was a bit rusty so there are two wonky bits, one at the collar back top...

...and a section at the centre back waistline where I didn't manage to get close enough to the zipper coil.

 

Despite this Little Miss was very proud of her new strawberry top made by mummy and I got several compliments on it at her daycare- yay!! 

I can see DD wearing many versions of this top and dress in the years to come (well as long as she will let me sew for her!), I'm hoping to make the dress version up as soon as my current pattern-testing commitments are finished.

Sewing with Alviana's "Popolok Design" patterns have so far been a very pleasant experience. Each one I have tried has been well drafted and all the assembly steps were explained clearly with lots of photos. Makes it kind of hard to go back to the "big 4" tissue paper print patterns...

Popolok Design will be releasing a new skirt/top pattern soon - the "Nova". I've thrown my hat in the ring to be a pattern tester again so stayed tuned !