I was very excited to see princess seams on the latest pattern from 5 out of 4.  Lucy can be a top, tank, tee or dress.  It is the beginning of summer here and tanks and shorts are my absolute go to from March through October.  Perfect for spending time in the garden or behind the sewing machine.  Even without this strange trip of 2020, that is where I would be.  Maybe behind a machine in class, but that is a story for another day, whilst in a boat on a river, or something.

I really love the look of a color blocked princess seamed anything, those vertical lines are a body’s good friend.  Searched my stash for two compatible knits that were color coordinated and similar weight.  Thank you C19 for sparing me the urge to run to the fabric shop.  I kept searching.  My first go was a snugger knit than the pattern calls for.  A wicking knit that is monarch purple on one side, with a diagonal black (think twill) on the other side.  I serged the seams with black thread, then top stitched.  Bound the arms and neckline, instead of bands, and just serged the hem.  Voila!  One reversible top.  Which do you prefer?

Due to my fabric choice, which was fun to make, but a little more snug around my torso than preferred, I continued to consider my stash. In the meantime, I was able to sneak   in a Lucy for my mini mini me out of the slivers of scraps.  For tips on tiny armbands, check out this post.  When she gets a little bigger and can request a “princess” dress, I will make one that has the lace up back option it is really cute.  When my daughter was small, I would purchase a half yard extra for my project, and make something for her from the same fabric.  She loved matching me and I told her that wearing it was like wearing a hug from me all. day. long.  Hugs….

Next up, more polyester, which I normally shun, but this was in my stash and has holes in it, so breathable, right?  I made a little change or two as follows.  On the side pieces only, I swung the hem out from just above the waistline.  Then, I curved it upwards.  It was very early or very late depending on perspective, so I used a handy thing.  A #10 envelope.  A bit more than 4 inches.  I curved the hem up on the side (on front and back side pieces only) by this much and out about half the width of the envelope (2ish inches).  And went for it.  I banded the neckline and bound the arm openings, narrow roll hemmed and happy to wear it in the garden on Mother’s Day.  For polyester, it was perfectly comfortable.  Planning to plant some flowers that grow so incredibly high, you know, the variety that tower over your head. First year planting Dahlias and some Mexican Torch Sunflowers are on the agenda this year.

Lucy plays exceptionally well with Lola Shorts.  Stella Shorts were in the running for this #MMMay2020outfit as well.  A Rita Skirt would dress it up nicely.  So many choices!

Next up, a dress with a ruffle hem, or maybe sleeves.  And more from the scraps for my mini mini, who noticed we had on the same fabric for our super quick photo shoot, and now says “grandma” via Face Time.  Check out the Lucy Bundle.

I really love a good basic pattern that can be spun off different directions.  The pattern includes instructions on how to move the bust curve to fit your shape.  I got to move mine down commensurate with 6 decades of gravity/multiple years breastfeeding, or a couple inches.  It looks great on everybody!

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