Remix the Stitch — A Cropped Ballard Top

I am so happy to be taking part in the celebration of Straight Stitch Designs 1 year anniversary! I have “internet known” Kimberly for about the last year. We both sew samples for Indiesew and I love following along with her adventures over on Instagram. To celebrate the first year of her pattern business Kimberly put together an awesome blog tour with the theme Remix the Stitch. She provided each of us a pattern from her shop and then let us have fun putting our own spin on the pattern.

As part of the celebration, Kimberly is having a giant sale in her pattern shop. Her patterns are 50% off and stitch kits are 40% off. She is also hosting a great giveaway with lots of fabulous prizes. You can enter that giveaway here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I have a made few of Kimberly’s patterns. (Does anyone remember this maternity hack of the Ballard top?) One that I had not sewn yet was the Greenwood tank. I was excited to give this basic tank a try to use as a layering piece this fall. I didn’t do much remixing here– I just raised the front neckline an inch (which turned out to not really be necessary.) I shortened the top a few inches, too. On my next one I will probably give myself a little more room through the hips, but otherwise I really love this tank! I used this green Laguna jersey and I love the color!

I decided I wanted to sew another Ballard top to layer over this tank. I love the open back detail on the Ballard and thought the green tank peeking out the back would be so fun. I also kind of loved the idea of having the tank peek out of the bottom so I decided to make a cropped Ballard.

I shortened the top by 7″ and graded out a little bit at the side seams so I would get a swingy silhouette. I wasn’t sure whether I was going to add the hem band but in the end I decided to leave it off. I overlapped the bottoms of two back pieces by two inches as the pattern instructs, basted them together, and did a half inch turned up hem on the bottom.

My only regret with how this turned out is that the back opening sort of got lost in the cropped version. I think I should have redrawn the curves on the back pieces to be a little bit more dramatic. Otherwise, I think this is such a great lightweight layering piece for the cooler weather that is on the horizon. My fabric is a rayon/spandex jersey that I got at Joann Fabrics. I wasn’t totally sold on the print after I finished making the shirt, but once I had my whole outfit put together I feel better about it. I would love to find a black and white Aztec type of print to try this again with a more obvious back opening.

Please be sure to check out all of the other stops on this blog tour. There have been some really lovely versions of Straight Stitch Designs patterns and I am honored to have been a part of this! Congratulations on your first year, Kimberly! I can’t wait to see what your second year brings!

Tuesday, September 8th: Meg Cookin’ and Craftin’ | Jennifer Ginger Peach Studio
Wednesday, September 9th: Ajaire Call Ajaire | Heidi Handmade Frenzy | Stacey Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts
Thursday, September 10th: Melissa Rebel & Malice | Annika Näh-Connection | Abby Sew Much Ado
Friday, September 11th: Katie It’s Hard to Hear Up Here | Jane Buzzmills | Lisa Mabey She Made It
Saturday, September 12th: Elena Randomly Happy | Allie Indiesew | Jess If Only They Would Nap
Monday, September 14th: Jaime Made By Jaime | Lauren BASTE + GATHER | Sara Made by Sara
Tuesday, September 15th: Audrey Skirt Fixation | Teri Fa Sew La | Hayley Welcome to the Mouse House
Wednesday, September 16th: Emi Just Add Fabric | Rachael Imagine Gnats | Teresa Dandelion Drift
Thursday, September 17th: Kaysie | KZJO’STUDIO Rita Conversas de Hermanas | Stephanie Swoodson Says
Friday, September 18th: Andreia In a Manner of Sewing | Nienke Pienkel | Abbey Sew Charleston

~Teri