Getting the Ball Rolling
So, I’d been seeing this ‘ashlyn top’ popping up here and there, and I thought, “Hey, I could probably make that.” Famous last words, right? But anyway, I decided to give it a shot. First up was finding a pattern. Scrolled through a bunch online and finally picked one that didn’t look too complicated. Looked simple enough on the screen, at least.
Then came the fabric hunt. You know how it is, you go in for one thing, and suddenly three hours have passed. I eventually settled on this really nice, soft cotton. The pattern on it was subtle, which I liked. Grabbed some matching thread, and I was good to go. Or so I hoped.
Chop Chop Time
Alright, back home, spread out the pattern pieces. Printing and taping those PDF patterns is always a bit of a chore, isn’t it? Felt like I was doing origami for a bit. Then, laying out the fabric. This is the part where you really have to concentrate. One wrong snip with the scissors, and well, you’re starting over or getting creative with patches. I took my sweet time, double-checked everything, and finally started cutting. My shoulders were aching by the time I had all the pieces cut out, but hey, progress!
Let the Sewing Begin!
Fired up my trusty sewing machine. It’s an old beast, but it gets the job done, most of the time. Started with the shoulder seams – joined the front and back pieces. That went smoothly enough. Then, the side seams. It was actually starting to look like, you know, a top! Had a little fight with the bobbin thread at one point; it decided to get all tangled up. Classic. Wasted a good ten minutes sorting that mess out, muttering to myself the whole time.
The Fiddly Bits
Next up was the neckline. The pattern I chose had a simple facing for it. Facings can be a bit finicky, trying to get them to lie flat and look neat. Lots of pinning, and I mean lots. Stitched it slowly. Then there were the armholes. I decided to go for a neat, turned-under hem for those. Same for the bottom hem of the top – just a simple double fold. Ironing as I went, of course. That’s the secret weapon, that iron. Makes everything look a bit more professional, even if your stitching isn’t perfectly straight.
The Grand Finale (Sort Of)
After what felt like ages, but was probably just a few hours, it was done. I gave the whole thing one final press with the iron. Stepped back to admire my handiwork. Was it perfect? Nah, definitely not. If you look close, you’ll see a wobble here and there. But from a normal distance? Looked pretty decent, if I do say so myself.
I tried it on. It fit! That’s always a relief. And the cotton was as comfy as I’d hoped. So, the ‘ashlyn top’ mission was a success, more or less. It’s wearable, it’s mine, and I didn’t totally mess it up. I guess that’s a win. I might even make another one… once I’ve forgotten the minor frustrations of this one!
