Spring Top Week Finalist!!!

Oh my goodness! I just found out that the blouse I entered into Spring Top Week over at Made by Rae was selected by the judges to be a finalist... out of 368 submissions! I submitted my top with only a few hours to spare and zero expectations. But yep, my simple little top is right up there with the blouses made by some very talented seamstresses. I am completely flattered.

You can vote for my top here! Go on, vote vote vote! Tell your friends and family! Post it on your blog! Rally the troops! Voting ends early Saturday morning.

So let's talk about the top.

I knew I wanted to enter a top in the contest, but to be honest, my garment sewing skills are quite limited. Having only ever made two shirts before, I went back to the tutorial that started it all published by the lovely Rae herself.

As I have mentioned, fabric selection is pretty limited here (although I did find a Liberty retailer and just about forgot to breathe as a I browsed the rolls and rolls). I knew I wanted to use stripes and I was pretty intrigued with a combination of gray and red. In the basement of Cairo (fabric shop), while chatting with the attendant about life in Abu Dhabi and India, I selected this gray and white striped print. I didn't realize until I brought it out into daylight that it's not cotton. I was distracted... ok?

It's a bit silly that although my top is called Spring Ruffle Top... it doesn't actually have any ruffles! I decided to leave them off and keep the lines simple.

Then I needed to add a bit of red so I whipped up the broach with wool felt. (More on that later!)

I ended up with a top that I love. It's quite thrilling to know that a few people out there love it too! Don't forget to vote (for me...hehe)!

Thanks to Molly and Frances, my photographers!