Spring Top Sewalong

Flowery button-down by Nicole

Despite how much I wanted to, I was too busy being pregnant and teaching a night class to participate in last year's Spring Top Sewalong.  This year, both boys go down for the night around 8 and if there isn't good TV on (so sad Top Chef is over!), I can sew for a few hours.  I don't often make clothing for myself, but the Sewalong spurred me on, so I purchased some nice, lightweight voile and decided on a pattern from a book I bought a few years back, which I purchased solely for the shirt design (Downtown DIY Sewing, by Alice Chadwick).  It has an interesting yoke construction, princess seams in the back and a mandarin collar, but once sewn in, the sleeve was super floofy, so I ripped it out and reduced the fluff a bit a lot.  I took in the waist to make it more fitted and added a self-belt.  Even though the fabric completely reminds me of my great-aunt's cobbler aprons (Mom, can you back me up on this!?), and I came *this close* to throwing in the towel when I saw those poofy sleeves, I am very pleased with the result.