In June I fell in love with the Carey Top & Dress pattern. But I'm 62 and I felt like maybe the time for a cropped, sleeveless top had passed me by. I had the toile cut out for over a month and I hemmed and hawed about it on one (or 2) of Haleigh's live sewcials.
You lovely, lovely, ladies encouraged me to go for it. To at least make the toile and see how it goes. It still took an extra 2-3 weeks to get my nerve up to make it. I just didn't want to be disappointed, again. The construction and the number of pieces make this a fairly hefty sew. I wanted a wearable toile so completed each step of the process. The instructions are amazing and the end result is so very professional.
The pattern calls for a more structured fabric like a heavy weight denim, canvas or structured cottons. Well, it's summer, and I didn't want anything so heavy and thick. I decided to make it in a viscose instead! I wanted the skirt to be flowy and breezy.
I went by the Finished Garment measurements as they represent the kind of fit I wanted. I'm 5"2', so I did end up having to make some drastic length adjustments in the bodice, both in the length and the straps. Overall I think I took out close to 6 inches in the bodice. I'm not sure for what height the pattern is drafted. I also took out 4 inches from the skirt length - but only because I wanted it shorter and not the midi-length it calls for.
Thank you to everyone who encouraged me! I took the outfit with me to Germany and wore it on a fabulous day out with my sister and her family, along one of the many beautiful lakes in the area. The pictures were taken in the restaurant where we ate. This is a beautiful pattern and for the next one I will use a better fabric to highlight all of the gorgeous style lines and details a bit better. xo
