Monday, October 14, 2013

McCall 3662: The 'Sew Bossy Top'


This top is also called "Summer, Please Come Back"!  This is my first creation as part of The Sew Bossy Initiative:

It was dreamed up by Heather from Closet Case Files and the lovely Oonaballoona.  The key concept is that you partner up with another sewist and send them sewing goodies YOU want to see them sew (hence the bossy bit...).  I knew instantly that I wanted to partner up with the one and only Cassie Stephens, art teacher and sewist extraordinaire! If you haven't check out her blog, you MUST. She inspires me, keeps me laughing and makes me want to change careers all at once!

Cassie sent me an entire care package complete with adorable letters from her art students about Scotland!  Included in the package was some amazing feedsack fabric that I knew instantly had to be made into McCall 3662.

Oh, I forgot to mention that both Cassie and I were about as unbossy as you could get with each other. We preferred to use the Sew Bossy Initiative to send international care packages...but of course, there is still some fabric left and I expect to get a bossy email about how to use it. lol...


McCall 3662 is one of the coolest patterns in the 1940 McCall catalogue.  I bought it from Cynical Girl on Etsy.  Mary's shop is one of my absolute favourites on Etsy--a treasure trove of vintage patterns. Plus, Mary has been amazing in helping to organise the vintage pattern sellers on Etsy and runs the Vintage Pattern Marketplace! Yay for independent patterns sellers!

I ended up having enough fabric to make view 1 which ties at the back and also has a bodice neck tie.  Both views 1 and 3 hit about mid-waist in length, which is actually perfect with high-waisted trousers (such as those in Simplicity 3688):

I am modeling this top in Bangkok!  How fun is that?  I went there for a very short trip for work. Before you get too excited, I didn't actually get to do any sightseeing because my trip was too short and was fully packed but I can't wait to go back for a proper holiday at some point!  These pictures were all taken by a lovely hotel employee in the courtyard of the hotel.  I just loved the palm trees and greenery and thought it would make the perfect backdrop.  The nice thing was that it was very warm in Bangkok--perfect for McCall 3662.  Plus, I could pair it up with a cardigan for the colder air-conditioned indoors (and for my real life in Scotland..hahaha)

Here's a close-up of the amazing feedsack fabric design:


I graded this pattern up six inches and I actually think I made it a little bit too big as it gapes slightly at the bottom front.  I will fix this on other versions as I definitely want to make all of them!


Hopefully, there will be some warm weather destinations in 2014 so that I can make views 1 and 3.

Have you heard of The Sew Bossy Initiative? Are you participating?
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24 comments

  1. I've always wanted to do the Sew Bossy Initiative, but I don't know anyone well enough in the UK to do it with. The top looks lovely, definitely something to pull out next summer.

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  2. Cool concept! Top and location are gorgeous - win win! I quite like dipping my toe into new places with a work visit and then going back for a holiday. Fingers crossed you get to soon :-)

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  3. oh, i love your new top! you must make them all, they are sooo freaking pretty! i may try to recreate something similar next summer.. yeeey for sew bossy, it was one of my favorite sewing projects this year

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  4. Gah! Just lost my comment. Anyways - stunning top! A great use for leftover bits of fabric - and so many possible variations!
    Id love to do more pattern tracing and swapping if you have your eye on any of my patterns :-)

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  5. y'alls unbossiness is just perfect. of course you won't boss anyone around, beautiful lady!! love your top. it's so playful & fun!

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  6. what a wonderful blouse. I love the look of vintage patterns, and your blouse is one of the reasons why. So well made and the fit is perfect! Bring on summer ( it is only 7 months away)

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  7. Oh muh gersh, I LOVE IT!! You look amazing, Bangkok is beautiful (if only for a short visit) and the top is TERRIFIC! So glad there was the right amount for this top, lovely lovely work, you! Yay!!

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  8. Super cute, Debi! I do hope you get to wear it out again in the sun soonish.


    Dibs and the Machine and I traded Sew Bossy packages. Hoping to get cracking on it soon.

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  9. Love it! (Also love how mellow your bossiness was... Sew Bossy is surprusingly flexible!) That fabric is adorable, and how ironic is it that your 40's pattern is so insnanely "on trend" right now? CROP TOPS FOREVER!

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  10. LOVE this top! The bow detail is so cute. And what an incredible backdrop! xx

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  11. Beautiful top, very South Pacific - didn't think that was Edinburgh!!

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  12. This looks so cute. What a great pattern, can't wait to see your other versions. Love the exotic backdrop.

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  13. lovely pattern, it suits you so well - you look gorgeous

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  14. Thank you! I was super excited to take some photos in a warm location with palm trees!!! :-)

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  15. hahahaha...the only place in Edinburgh that might even come close is the glass house at the botanic garden :-)

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  16. Thanks Tilly! I knew you would love the bow detail!!

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  17. Isn't Cynical Girl fabulous? And I know what you mean about pulling out sweaters...I actually had to get my thermals out the other day!

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  18. hahhaha! Yes--we are unbossingly bossy :-)

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  19. OH! I can't wait to see what you and dibs get up to!!! We must catch up soon as well...how is everything stateside?

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  20. YAY! Thank you SO MUCH for the lovely fabric and I was dancing a happy dance when I figured out it was enough to make this top!!! yipppeeeee....I think we might have to make this an annual random gift exchange :-)

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  21. I love that!!! Summer is only 7 months away...much nicer way to see it :-)

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  22. Thanks Ms. Oona....and thanks to you and Heather Lou for thinking up this fun challenge!!! xoxoox

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  23. What a great idea to pair up with someone. Sometimes we all need a "bossy" partner to help us with a little push or new inspiration. That fabric is a fantastic choice for your top. Also, thanks for mentioning the Vintage Pattern Marketplace. It is a wonderful group of pattern sellers & I feel lucky to be part of them.

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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