Have you seen this beautiful new collection from Daiwabo of Japan? Notus features sweet sparrows and sprouting flowers in an array of soft, modern color combinations, printed on a supple cotton canvas. The fabric is so gorgeous in fact that I found myself finally ready tackle a top for my daughter Annie. She also has some killer shoes that would really pop with the Cranberry colorway, so I really had no choice but to give it a whirl. (Don't we all plan our outfits around our shoes?) I paired it with some of this Arianna collection.
Per my usual technique, I found a top that I really loved and simply traced around it generously, allowing for seam allowances and the fact that she wore it at age two and she's now approaching four. Now, I usually only find the time to sew either when Charlie takes the kids out for an afternoon or when they are sleeping. It presents a bit of a Catch-22 situation since I lose my model for fitting in both cases.
Despite that challenge, I managed to get the armholes just right, but the opening for her head was quite snug. Since I didn't think Annie would appreciate my nearly flattening her nose to get it on and off, I resigned myself to the fact that it wasn't going to fit. Rather than throwing in the towel and starting over (or let's face it, not at all...) I thought I'd try cutting out an opening. A juice cup did the trick.
For a little detail, and modesty, I decided to use a little of the border print to peek out of the top. To finish the rounded neckline, I just turned the front and the lining in on each other and sewed a decorative stitch along the border.
I love it even more than the original! (As I had a few emails asking how I finished the cut- out, I've added in this last photo to the post.)
Annie loves her new top as well and has already asked for another. It looks like I better get cracking on her back to school wardrobe! I'm thinking Meadowsweet and Wild Thyme.
As it happens, in Greek Mythology Notus is the God of the south wind, thought to have ushered in the storms of late summer and autumn. How fitting that I finished the top on a rainy day in August where, for Annie, the world is perfectly puddled. (and yes, those are in fact Puddle Jumpers, another fun coincidence!)
Hooray! Pre-school here we come...
