This month’s challenge over at The Monthly Stitch (just about sneaked it in) is ‘sew hot right now’. Yikes, a scary challenge indeed! But actually if I can sew jumpsuits (see here, eek) then I should be able to tackle this head-on. I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of shoulders in fashion magazines of late. Now this is something even those slightly (ahem…) older can manage. But lovely though those Bardot-style off-the-shoulder tops look, they’d be totally unpractical for the North West climate of late. My husband actually got snowed on on his way to work (Bolton way) yesterday!
But idly flicking through my sewing patterns the other day I came upon this Simple Sew pattern (free some time back with Love Sewing magazine). I’d already attempted the Cross-Over Back Blouse, see here, but the Jersey Top I’d previously looked straight past. Blouson-style anything is generally a pretty unflattering look for me, but maybe it could work for active wear? Mmm… Worth a shot!
This was a doddle to make up and took practically no time at all. I chose to omit the neck band as I wanted to retain the off-the-shoulder look. I’m so pleasantly surprised with this and it’s almost perfect for wearing to yoga. The banded waist is perfect for doing inverted positions and preventing any unwanted tummy-show! 😉 I say ‘almost’ perfect though because I’m not fully confident of braving my bum in Lycra (though some leggings are more corset-like than others), so ideally this would need to be adjusted to make the length a good four or five inches longer. I’ve also used some fabric I had in (a beautifully, soft jersey I bought on our Yorkshire Spolette trip to FabWorks) which would be great for a slower-paced yoga class, but I think I’d need a more sweat-wicking, technical fabric for a more demanding clas. But I’m being pretty picky here I know, it’s a great, first attempt at activewear to tick of my to-sew list this year 🙂
And for your Thursday night entertainment here’s a shot of a Northener sighting a rare bit of Manchester sunshine…
So shocking it bought out the vampire in me!
Pattern: Simple Sew Jersey Top
Size: UK 10
Adjustments: omission of neck-band to retain off-the-shoulder look
So
navybluethreads 
I love it!!! It looks super comfy and it’s very in 😀
Thanks Abigail 🙂 At my age I’m very careful of trends but I do like to look ‘modern’, so I’m glad you like this. Hopefully just ‘trendy’ enough!
I made this a while back but in a heavier weight jersey so it looks quite different to yours. I think perhaps I prefer yours! I like how you’ve omitted the neck band too…though even with it, it falls off my shoulder.
That’s interesting to hear. I was worried with the band it would be much more restrictive. I almost went without the arm bands too, but good if you haven’t had time to shave 😉
I really like this! Don’t know a thing about trends, but you carry this off very well.
Thanks Chris. I’m counting it as a tentative, first step in activewear too. Love a double, box-ticker, think it comes from being a teacher 😉
This is looking great and I’m sure will make an excellent yoga top! I’ve made this top and wear it often. I kept the neck band and it still falls off one shoulder though. I really like the slouchy styling.
Thanks Corrine. I’m glad I tried this, I think I actually already have a lot of patterns that I could adapt for activewear. But def. need some more technical fabric, or some sort of bamboo…
Vamp away ~ that top is perfect!
🙂 Thanks Del.
Looks lovely and full marks for getting your shoulders out in this weather – even if the sun was out.
Back to the ice-cold wind and rain today! Can’t keep up. At least we can never moan that we get bored of British weather… 🙂
Looks fantastic and super comfortable! Love it
Thank you. A satisfyingly quick make too 🙂
I’ll have to check it out
Very cute, and what a great idea for yoga wear – the guaranteed tummy cover-up. It looks so comfy, and you look so very happy in the sunshine!
Always good to use up a pattern you already own too. I’ve been reconsidering a fair few patterns for activewear that I’d originally dismissed. Funny how they require a very different design to normal, everyday wear 🙂
I love slouchy tops – I have made a few hemlock tees with loose neck lines like this! I might have to pull this pattern out and reconsider it (though I often say that and never get to the end of my queue of things to make…!)
Louise
Sewing queues are endless aren’t they? Good to have plenty of inspiration though 🙂
I love this on you! I too have noticed the exposed one shoulder that is around at the moment. I too think it perfect for active wear but would fear a little ‘mutton dressed up as lamb’, personally for myself.
Know exactly what you mean on this. I want to look modern (avoiding looking too ‘mum-sy’) but not too trendy: a difficult balance to strike the older you get. I think I could wear a version of this (in a slinkier fabric) in the evenings, but I go out so rarely these days, so sportswear seemed a lot more do-able 🙂
Looks like the perfect top for yoga, although it would make a fabulous Summer cover up to throw on over a swimsuit, especially if it was a bit longer. We can get away with baring more in the warmer weather, can’t we?
Thank you! And yes about the warmer weather, especially when on holiday 🙂
Looks fab, loving the off the shoulder number. I’ve something similar and wear a racer back vest top underneath in a contrasting colour. 😃
Thanks Ali, I can certainly see a few more of these being made up 🙂