selfish sewing week: the bess top

today's selfish sewing week featured stitcher is Jennet of Feathered Nest Studio!



I want to start by thanking the amazing Rachael and Jill for creating Selfish Sewing Week! I totally do not normally sew for myself. I have lots of pretty fabric but I always think I should save it for something "important." Rachael and Jill get a big thanks for giving me the chance to use some of that fabric for myself... AND I even went out and bought fabric for a specific project for ME! Wild, right? 

The selfish sewing project I am sharing with you today is truly an all-about me project I have been wanting to do for a long time. I've made some basic shorts and pants for my little guy, but never set aside the time to tackle a clothing item for myself. Then Rachael designed the Bess top (that pleating on the shoulders? I was in love!), and I knew if I ever had time, I needed one for myself. Enter Selfish Sewing Week...


I am very new to the whole making clothing thing, so I was worried I wouldn't be able to make this top, but the pattern Rachael designed is very beginner friendly. I read everything through a few times, checked out the pictures for each step, then got busy. I picked my fabrics (a dark chocolate brown jersey knit and a purchased-just-for-this-top Juliana Horner fabric).


I've never used so many pins. Looks a bit like some horror show torture instrument, but it is only momentary, trust me. I sewed everything together, which I broke up over a couple nights because of my schedule, but it is truly a top you can have done in a day. The top actually came together amazingly well. I picked the tunic length with the lower neckline, not because I like showing off a lot of skin but because I was insanely worried that I would make this top and then not be able to get it over my head. It's not that I have some insanely large noggin or anything, I am just a crazy worrier. You will see in my "done" pictures that it fit over my head just fine-- so fine, in fact, that next time I will try the higher neckline.


When I wore this top, I received lots of compliments. In fact, two people liked it so much, they suggested I make each one their own as a "gift" some time. Yeah, maybe after Selfish Sewing Week is done! ;)


I loved it paired with this belt I had.


I think Selfish Sewing went to my head; I can't even stand up straight in that picture. I hope you experienced that giddy high of making something for yourself this week, too! Stop by my blog, Feathered Nest Studio, to see what else I'm making for Selfish Sewing Week.

thanks so much, Jennet, for stitching up such a lovely version of the bess top! i already have a dozen in my closet, and now i need more!! also, those pins are cracking me up :)

i hope you're taking lots of pictures of what you make this week! share them in the selfish sewing week flickr group, use the hashtag #selfishsewing on instagram and twitter, and follow along to see what everyone else is stitching.

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thank you to these amazing designers for donating pattern prizes and being a part of selfish sewing week:


now, go check out what's happening at Made with Moxie today!