Project by Kim Hind
With summer holidays just around the corner and the weather finally warming up, it’s the perfect time to work on a few new pieces for the wardrobe, and this fabric definitely gets me in the mood for ice cream and sandy toes!
The brand new Simplicity Vintage fabric range called ‘At the Beach’ is a 5 piece organic cotton collection featuring the classic Simplicity ladies in summery, retro outfits. The fabric I chose for this top in particular is called ‘costal stripes.’ The cotton is soft, high quality and the fact that it is organic and better for the environment is a huge bonus!
The Bubble Frock Pattern –
With 2 metres of fabric, I had plenty to make the cami version of the ‘Bubble Frock’ from Lydia Naomi. This PDF sewing pattern is a cute, curved empire waistline dress/top that is great for daytime or eveningwear depending on the fabric you choose. It’s a pattern for advanced beginners and up and comes with full instructions as well as a YouTube step by step tutorial. I followed the YouTube video throughout making the garment as I find it much easier to see the steps rather than reading them!
The back of the blouse fastens with an invisible zip and has a scalloped trim around the top which is such a unique feature that I haven’t seen on any pattern before. The skirt is gathered to create a full, babydoll look and the garment is also lined.
The construction –
Making a toile of the bodice before cutting into your pretty fabric is important, especially if you are unsure about sizing. I made the bodice in a calico fabric first because sewing pattern sizes are always odd for me! But this time, I didn’t need my make many adjustments to the size I chose, only taking the sides in slightly for a snug fit.
Sewing up the blouse was straight forward and as said previously, the YouTube video really helped with the construction. I usually stay clear of patterns with zips because it always seems like a daunting task, but watching the invisible zip going in and following along made that process a breeze! I tried the top on many times whilst making it to make sure it was fitting correctly, and I’m so pleased with the result. I love using a rolled hem foot when I’m sewing with cotton for a tiny hem along the bottom that finishes it off nicely.
The scalloped hem is created using a template that comes with the pattern. The shape is drawn onto the lining fabric and that line is where you sew right sides together to the outer piece. The seam allowance is trimmed back, and the scallop shape can be turned right side out. This is a handy technique to learn and can be applied to other sewing projects such as cushions and bags!
Overall, this cami was a really fun make and luckily, I have plenty of fabric left to sew up a matching tote bag (maybe with a scalloped hem too!)
Thank you for reading and see you on the next blog, happy sewing!
To see more from Kim, follow her on Instagram @whatkimberleymakes, Facebook @whatkimberleymakes and don't forget to visit her website whatkimberelymakes.com.
Made by Kim Hind for The Craft Cotton Co 2022.