wiksten tova tops

After successfully tackling the Star Wars costumes I decided it was finally time for me to man up and make a blouse for myself.  I’m confident with skirts, but shirts have scared me.  If a skirt is a little too small, you just pull it a little higher on your waist.  If a shirt is a little too small, you have to stop eating cookies.  This is a terrifying prospect.

The first top I made with this pattern I went with the small, made no adjustments, and used a voile.  I was on the fence between the small or medium, and opted for the small since with its boxy style I was worried too big would be an unflattering disaster.  It works, but I should have gone with the medium.  You can see that it tugs where my arm is extended, and it’s a bit tight across the back.

For the second top I went with the medium, and I added about an inch at each shoulder since my shoulders are on the broad side.  Next time I’ll cut it back to 1/2 inch.  The sleeves just look a little too poofy with the shoulder extending all the way across my frame.  I used a flannel that I got on sale for a whopping total of $6.20.  I had 1.5 yards of the 60″ wide fabric and I came incredibly close to having enough to have it be long sleeves.  If it had been non-directional I think I could have pulled it off.  It’s super comfy and I love it, even though halfway through I had one of those “oh no.  this is either really cute or it looks like an old man’s nightshirt.  one of the two.” moments.

I have a few more of these planned, and might even get brave and make it as a dress, although I doubt I have the right boots (or weather) to pull it off!