Tie Me Down

Happy 2010! Everyone is making their new year's resolutions and I'm no different. My resolution for last year was to get fit and lose weight. Well, that almost didn't happen. The last two months I quickly lost 20 pounds after gain 10 during the first 10 months of 2009. My plan is to continue my losing streak and become a lighter, fitter version of myself. I also plan to spend lots of time doing what I love to do, teach sewing. Good thing too because 2010 might not be such a good year for my family if DH loses his job. His company is being bought out and who knows what that means to the old employees. Keep us in your thoughts please.

Sorry for the goofy face, but DH always cracks me up when he is taking my picture. This is the Hotpatterns Metropolitan Tie Me Down Top. It was quite a fiddly top to make and I took forever on it. Since this was just the muslin, I didn't make the long sleeves. I folded up the sleeve length and gave the hem the same treatment as the long sleeves would have gotten. I cut it out in a size 18 with size 20 at the sides and pinned it together. It came out huge. So before I sewed it together, I had to re-cut it to a size 16 with size 18 at the sides. I added 1/2 inch to the center front as other plus size reviewers mentioned. You can see that I should probably remove the addition from the center front. This top has plenty of room in the bust. In fact, I doubt anyone would really need a FBA with this pattern. The shirring above the bust seems more than adequate for me. I added 2" to the length and haven't hemmed it yet. I think if I make it again in a smaller size, I won't add for the length. I also did a sloping shoulder adjustment.


You might not be able to tell from this pic but the back is a bit too wide for me. I didn't have to do any adjustments to the back and I usually have to do a rounded back and a sway back tuck. I skipped the shirring that's supposed to go at the waist on the back. I'm not sure I like this fabric but my friend Stephanie says that it looks very retro and she really likes it. I'm also not crazy about the gathers in the sleeve cap. Maybe that's because my fabric is limp and drapey. I have another fabric already picked out and will try to get it sewn tomorrow.