Hello! Ingrid (Sewingridd) here to share another Blank Slate Patterns make with you.
This month’s theme is “what’s on top.” For me that’s an easy to answer question because I mainly wear jeans combined with a nice top and cardigan or jacket. So lately I’ve made a lot of T-shirts and blouses for myself because I can easily combine them with what’s already in my closet and wear them on a daily basis. So if you’d ask me what’s on top? It’s the Valetta Top of course! (aff link)
Secretly, ever since the release of the Valetta Top, I had my eyes on making it. So with spring right around the corner I thought this blog post would be the ultimate occasion! I picked my most precious fabric and started right away. I think this bright, birdy, ochre fabric was made for the Valetta. And I think no fabric before has ever been in my stash for such a short time, haha. I just had to use it immediately!
The making of Valetta was a breeze. The only thing I struggled with was finishing the arm hole. I was not sure if the V-shaped seam of the band belonged at the top or at the bottom of the arm hole. So now one seam is placed on top and the other is at the bottom (sssht, I did not want to unpick a serger seam). But hey, nobody will notice anything when I walk by shining in this top! So except for that tiny little detail, it all came together very easily and I almost could wear this garment inside out if I had to.
But today is not about the inside of this top but all about the outside: what’s on top. The Valetta features an outstanding detail that might look negligible, but is not at all. Yes, I am talking about the tassels on the neckline! The pattern prescribed using cord to make it, but I figured I could use little strips of fabric instead and so I did. To me that makes the tassels blend in a little more without deleting the detail.
All in all, the Valetta is breezy and playful but still very stylish. On top of that this blouse is also really comfortable and figure flattering and there’s never harm in that! The pattern provided a sleeved and a sleeveless option. Because I had only one meter of this fabric I chose to make the version without sleeves. The advantage is that it is wearable all year around. In summer you just wear it as it is and in the colder seasons it can be combined with a jacket or cardigan. Some day in the future I might make the sleeved version too though, because one can never have too many comfortable stylish tops!
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