Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Patchwork Yoga Top

I had scraps from my sewing projects and I just did not want to throw them out. As all crafters and sewers know, hoarding can be hazardous to mental health.
I should know better than to keep pieces of fabric, but ya just never know!
Before you know it, you've got bags of fabric scraps and you are begging freecyclers to take them off your hands. Oh, that's just me? Er, forget I said anything.
:)

Meanwhile, I had thrown out a lot of my old exercise yoga top. Did you know that your exercise clothing has a lifespan? Especially if they have elastic in them? After a while, these items of clothing should be retired and not refashioned. Trust me on this one.

I decided that a yoga enthusiast like me can use some more yoga tops.
No pattern was used. I pieced fabric scraps together, and laid an existing yoga top on the pieced fabric, to trace out the shape of the top.
(Does this make sense? Anyone wants more details on how I made this? I'm about to make another top, so I can take more construction pictures as I go along.)

Here's my scrappy patchwork top,
And as my friend Tara likes to say, me being "Bendy"
I did not finish the neckline or the arm holes, because it was so much more comfortable that way.
Next time, I will also make most of the seams on the outside.

14 comments:

Melissa said...

This looks great. Do you have a trick for sewing with stretch fabrics?

Care said...

It's gorgeous!! LOVE the placement of each scrap!

Laura Gerencser said...

Looks great!

Myrnie said...

It turned out cute :)

Angela Pea said...

Oh Wow! That turned out fabulously! What an excellent use of fabric pieces!

Aunt LoLo said...

The back looks great!!

Su said...

Why, yes, Melissa!
Just off the top of my head:

1. Use a proper needle (ballpoint needle) and zigzag stitch on your regular sewing machine.
Use a serger for seams, if at all possible. It find it works even better than a zigzag stitch.
2. Try your best not to stretch the fabric as you sew.
3. Always have the stretchiest part of the fabric stretch across the body. (Don't have it stretch vertically, otherwise you won't be able to put on your garment)
4. Skirts from knit fabric is a gamble - sew at your own risk.
5. Don't be afraid to experiment. Knit fabric is very forgiving
6. If you are worried about wasting money on new fabric, pick up some stretchy t-shirts on sale at a thrift store and play.

Experiment and have fun!

Clong said...

Love!

kate said...

So Love it! It doesn't look like a top made from scraps, it looks like it was meant to be that way....and makes me want to take up yoga so i would have a reason to make a cute scrappy yoga top!

Carolyn said...

Hi! Your yoga top is gorgeous and unique. And I really love your brown dress in the earlier post! It's so beautiful, and I hope you get a lot of wear out of it. Definitely not a mumsy outfit at all, but very chic!

casserole said...

Awesome top! The patchwork looks really cool.

I blogged your project on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/lookie-what-she-made-yoga-top-from-scraps/2010/01/22/

--Anne

kate said...

Oh! I forgot to mention (although you probably already know) when you are laundring your workout wear (or anything with stretch in it, for that matter) you can dramatically extend the life of your garment by handwashing (or on gentle cycle) in COLD water and then HANG TO DRY(or flat, but NO dryer). Heat kills stretchy stuff faster.

Su said...

Thanks, ladies.
Good point, kate. Sometimes, I suspect high-end workout wear like lululemon lasts so long because people pay so much money for them that they follow the washing instructions - similar to what you mentioned!

Jeannine said...

Cute top and as far as the bendyness is concerned, well now I know how you keep that good looking shape. LOL.