After the madness of making a mini wardrobe in 2 weeks, it's been a bit quiet on the sewing front and to ease myself back into it I made a simple knit top - McCalls 6078.
I made View A with the cap sleeve, but much as I love the look of the crossover back, I changed it to a plain back as the chances of it falling off are extremely high! I think it would be OK with some strap retainers sewn in? This pattern sews up large, I made a small, ha ha. Otherwise it's an easy top to make, more details in my pattern review.
The fabric feels lovely, but was one of those "oh that's pretty, I'll have it" purchases without really thinking it through and I can't help feeling that the print is a little "old". But that could be paranoia on my part due to my bad news....
Bad News
I'll just spill it - I'm going to be 40 in June - argh, how did that happen, why do I not feel grown up yet? I don't know if anyone in the US pays any attention to this (lucky you!), but my birthday coincides with the start of the football world cup in South Africa and for some reason there are various countdown markers here in HK telling me in flashing neon exactly how many days I have to go. How thoughtful, thanks!
Good News
The good news is that my birthday also coincides with the hubby's business trip. I am going to join him in New York for a weekend and then we'll head off to Bermuda. Woo hoo! I have planned my flight so I have a completely free day on my own in New York on Friday 4th June so if anyone is free to meet for a coffee, lunch, shopping, whatever, I would love to meet up. I plan on packing an empty bag and hitting the fashion district, anything after that is just a bonus birthday as far as I'm concerned.
LOL, turning 40 in good news! First of all you are 12 years younger than me and every birthday is good news - you are still here and sewing! Wow, another trip. I am so jealous. As for the top - it is cute, but with such a low back it is asking for trouble. The print doesn't look dated to me :)
ReplyDeleteI am 47 and I'm still waiting to feel like a grown up.
ReplyDeleteI keep waiting for the wisdom that's supposed to come with age but so far only the age has shown up on my doorstep LOL.
What a fabulous birthday you will have though - fabric shopping in NY - that's definitely worth turning 40 for in my book - enjoy! (and take lots of pictures)
Phew! After all the cancer and other bad things in the sewing community lately, I had a sweat and a "no no, not another one"-thought before reading what the bad news was. Phew! :-)
ReplyDeleteWell Happy 20th Birthday, twice over. :) Think of it this way, at least you aren't 50. ;) That's how I view it now.
ReplyDeleteOh to be 40 again! Remember, it's just a number. You'll keep getting better and better...
ReplyDeleteHave fun in NYC.
Very pretty top to start and Happy Birthday. Sounds like 40 is great, trip to NYC and Bermuda. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry--40 isn't too bad! Enjoy your trip to NY. Wish I could meet you. If you are ever in Chicago, let me know! Oh, very cute top!
ReplyDelete*jumping up and down* Me, me...I meet you in NYC on the 4th! I can meet you at Metro Textiles during lunchtime! *still jumping up and down*
ReplyDeleteAnd 40 really isn't that bad!
How wonderful to be celebrating your birthday in Bermuda!
ReplyDeleteWell, at 45 I still feel young. It's not so bad.
Turning forty is FABULOUS. Life just keeps getting better and better. I'm 48 this year and so far, the forties have been the best and I hear the 50's are amazing.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy - Myrna
Age is just a number! You will be a marvelous 40 year old...Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous top! I feel you on the "40" - mine's in September. Don't tell!
ReplyDeleteI love the cut of that top. And 40?? I was told 30 is the new 20, so i guess that makes 40 the new 30? Regardless you will be a fabulous, foxy, and fearless forty!
ReplyDeleteI can meet you on June 4th too. Email me as the date gets closer and we'll figure out where and when. You, me and Carolyn over lunch or shopping = fun! Though you are just a baby at age 40.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, 40 was not so bad (as it turned out). I'd already done most of the freaking out between about 3 months before my 39th and my actual 40th. Remember how when you were a kid being a "whole year older" seemed like such a big deal? But then, you (disappointingly) never felt all that different when you woke up the morning of your birthday? There's less and less disappointment over that with every passing year :) Also, every year you mark the passing of a smaller percentage of your lifetime. This year, it'll be a mere 2.5% for you. By the time you hit 50, your additional years only count for 2%. Any year (or decade, for that matter) that starts with an empty suitcase in a textile shopping mecca looks like a good one to me!
ReplyDeletech
Didn't anyone tell you that 40 is the new 30?! :) Have so much fun in NY. If you were coming to LA, I'd be all over it. Unfortunately, NY is a wee bit of a commute for me. Heh.
ReplyDeleteCute top! I don't think the print is old at all. It looks great, and happy birthday! You look super young... age is just a number it's really how you feel inside. :)
ReplyDeleteForty and FABULOUS, I say! Forty is like thirty - only with better resources, be they money, time management skills, the ability to say "No" to overextending ourselves, etc... We truly do get better with age. I am 44. Each year is better than the last.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a nice way to start your forties - hopefully with lots of divine new fabric and trims! Take lots of pictures. I cannot wait to hear all about it.
Hapy 19h anniversary of turing 21 - you never feel older, just sometimes you get a fright when you look in the mirror and it doesn't match what age you feel!
ReplyDeleteI had a bit of a hard time in Dec. when I turned 30, so I can relate to what you are going through. I would have felt even worse about it if there were flashing lights counting it down everywhere I looked!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a great vacay planned to celebrate it. Have fun and enjoy the Garment District!
I got to say that turning 40 was a difficult birthday for me. It came with a realisation that I could no longer rely on my looks and that I needed to become much more confident. Now I'm 51, I definitely ok about again.
ReplyDeleteRight on, Vicki, every birthday is good news :) Funny to have a countdown marker everywhere you go. Def treat yourself in NYC!
ReplyDeleteOK, the countdown thing is funny (because it's not happening to me). What a fabulous trip you will have! Wish I could pop up to NYC for the day and hang out, but I will be in Dallas that weekend.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's got to be the worst. I'll be 40 next year, and I certainly wouldn't want reminders every where I look! Cute top, BTW, but I'd be leary of the shoulders, too.
ReplyDeleteWell, you're not alone --- my 40th is in September! The countdown is kind of a drag, but at least you'll be in NY soon after. It will be a great trip!
ReplyDeleteI have been ogling cowl-neck tops this spring, too. You are making me want to make one even more!
ReplyDeleteWell, I was excited about my 40th birthday and had my own countdown!! I started sending emails to my family and friends 11 months before my birthday to remind them it was coming!
ReplyDeleteYour top is cute!
That's going to be a great birthday vacation! If I lived closer to NYC I'd totally meet up with you.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm just a year behind, lol! I turned 39 last week!
ReplyDeleteLovely top, btw!
Can I crash the Metro Textile party? I'll take a longish lunch. Would love to meet you and see Lindsay T and Carolyn.
ReplyDeleteHey, I've got a year on you. Forty is no big deal. Just relax and enjoy every day.
ReplyDeleteI somehow suspect we'll never really grow up in our own mind :-)
ReplyDeleteThat trip sounds like so much fun. I would love to take a trip to New York sometime! I hope you have tons of fun.
And that top? It looks gorgeous. I love the drape, it looks so soft and luxurious.