Skip to main content

Fun in the Sunrise Panel Top

I finished my Sunrise Panel top! Yay!


Here is something to learn from this top: Always add an extra 10 inches (I swear to God) to your sewing pattern! Why? Because then you'll end up with a too-short top like me. I suppose my real fault is not making a muslin before going into fashion fabric, but I'm lazy and impatient when it comes to things I'm making for just me.


Although really? I guess it's not that bad. I won't be going out alone looking like this, that's fer damn sure! I get hit on far too much over here and that's not being conceited. Men are pigs around my neighborhood, really.

I mostly plan on wearing it like this with my beloved orange Brooklyn Industries skirt from about 3 years ago.


And here is the back, if you're curious.


Things I learned while making this top: 
  • Like I said, over-add inches to your bodice block after tracing. You'll thank me.
  • I'm now better with zippers, but still not perfect. This top has a side zip versus center back. Initially, I was planning on making it a center back zip until I realized I couldn't wriggle myself into it. Lesson learned. 
  • Now I know exactly how to do a full lining in a top/dress. I did it once before with my Cloud Dress but now I'm more likely to remember. Max was actually the one who was like, "I think you need to open this seam too before turning it." Totally right. 3D modeler also equals spatial knowledge with fashion design, apparently.
  • I did utilize my knowledge of hand-basting a zipper in from the Cloud Dress as well, but I could have sewn a little further away from the zipper than I actually did. 
  • Make this in a knit fabric. Yet again, I am too lazy to head out to the fabric store to buy EXACTLY what I should use for a specific garment. I made this with a bunch of leftover material from so many things. Oddly, it ended up being pretty much the color scheme of my wallet! I guess I know what I like, huh?
Either way, none of these things are really THAT big of a deal and the top works, looks awesome. Yet again, something I'm in love with the seaming of. I haven't seen anything like this out there currently yet it's exactly what I wanted.

 

Until next time, kids! 

Sunrise Panel Top - designed/sewed by me aka Manic Pop. 
Red jeans - Serena Mavi denim via Brooklyn Industries
Orange Skirt - Brooklyn Industries
Glasses - Urban Eyecare, Wicker Park
 

Labels:

Comments

  1. KessemMarch 20, 2013 at 5:31 AM

    I already wrote on your burdastyle post but I had to write here as well! Such a great top! How difficult were the curves?? Would you be incredibly angry if I copy you??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Manic PopMarch 20, 2013 at 2:28 PM

      Ah! That's a nice compliment. "Copying" is the sincerest form of flattery if you ask me.

      No, the curves weren't difficult at all for me since I sew quite a bit. I think this would look fantastic in black and white. Just make sure you clip your curves after sewing! You should be fine. Mine has a full lining on the inside to cover up the fact that I had sooo many exposed seams on the inside.

      PS: Post a photo/link to my post when you finish yours!

      Delete
  2. Megan RMarch 20, 2013 at 7:54 PM

    This is so cute! I really love all the colours! I'd love to try to make something similar one of these days, but maybe in a variety of shades of one colour. I think that would also be cool.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Manic PopMarch 20, 2013 at 8:04 PM

      Thanks, Megan!

      Yeah, it was pretty easy. Go for it! Post a photo of yours too when you finish one of your own! :)

      Delete
  3. UnknownMarch 21, 2013 at 2:48 AM

    so awesome! its good that you learnt heaps but also came out of it with a sweet wearable top! been plenty of times where i have made a lot of judgement errors and ended up with some more fabric scraps...!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MegMarch 21, 2013 at 4:12 PM

    you are so adorable! i'm glad i found your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Helen Crafty StallMarch 23, 2013 at 2:18 AM

    Your top has stolen my heart! I love the way you mixed the color panels. Is it possible to make a kid-version of the top? I would like to make one for a little pop-lady, if you don't mind? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Manic PopMarch 23, 2013 at 9:06 AM

      I don't see why not! I'm not familiar with kids clothes at all, but you might have to shape seams differently for a little girl due to lack of bust?

      I'm so flattered that this top has gotten so much love! It was a super quick sketch just hanging around.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Latch Hook Rug Update

A little under a month ago I received all of my supplies to take on one of the biggest long-term projects I have ever taken on - a self-designed latch hook rug. I don't know why, but I am clearly nuts. So beginning today I am posting photos each month, (preferably on the 1st of each month) progress of this gigantic shag rug. See how I started it here (scroll down past posting of my $10 dress).  This is a photo of it today:  Yes, I used the candelabra for scale. Haha.   This rug is really soft and is fun to run your fingers through.  It doesn't look like much was accomplished, but though the number of packages we have gone through of pre-cut latch hook rug yarn already I have calculated that  we've used over 2500 strands for this ie.) 8 packages. I also just ordered 10 more packages of lime green since that's what I ran out of first and 6 more packages of straw yellow. There is still quite a bit to go, but you see the blue row square...
18 comments
Read more

DIY Trapeze Dress

I'm a pretty big fan of tent dresses (or trapeze dresses - call it what you want). They're simple, easy-to-make and you can have many variations of them. These are a fun style to wear for spring and summer!  See this DIY from a Good Housekeeping Crafts book from 1971 - photos at the end of my own trapeze top from a while ago! (Bear with me on the photos here - this book is quite cumbersome and hard to scan.)  Applique patterns, in case you wanted the dress to look EXACTLY like the photo. (But why?)  How to cut the fabric efficiently. (This is actually pretty important cost-wise for you - especially with something this big.)  Using pattern instructions from my patternmaking book from college, I created this swingy trapeze top a bit ago. I used sweater fabric from a thrift store find for the collar of this top.   I also opened up the back on the pattern to have a diamond shape.   It c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shingo Sato and the Art of Transformational Reconstruction

So I got really excited on my break at work today when I got an email from Burda about a webinar they're doing on a pattern technique called "Transformational Reconstruction" developed by Japanese designer Shingo Sato. I hadn't even heard of Shingo Sato until today let alone his design technique but oddly, it's sort of the path I'm going down with my designs anyway as seen with the Sunrise Panel dress as well as the Petra Dress and the pattern making involved in those designs. What I did there is perhaps a "light" version of Sato's where the darts and shaping are hidden in the seam lines. If you've been reading this blog long enough, you know that my design aesthetic focuses largely on color blocking, unusual seam lines, and a love of anything psychedelic. Note: All photos stolen from the internet. Sorry! I'm super-excited. Let me know if it's yours and I'll take it down.  Shingo Sato teaching.  More designs using...
3 comments
Read more