Monday, September 24, 2012

Put a Bow on It!

Mr. Cation and I just recently started watching Portlandia, and we've been giggling madly at how spot-on it is when it comes to mocking trends. Their "We Can Pickle That!" and "Put a Bird on It!" sketches had us in stitches, especially since we just went to a cool new sandwich place that had pickled eggs and cauliflower, and I don't need to tell you how many items on Etsy have birds or feathers on them. Anyway, I noticed while browsing ModCloth for sewing inspiration that bows are the next big thing. Or maybe they're already over and I don't know it. At any rate, I wanted to try making a top with an ostentatiously large bow, kind of like this top or this top. Also huge right now (or recently, at least) is pink with black accents. Well, I had this salmon-colored knit fabric from my third sewing project ever that needed to be salvaged, as well as some leftover black knit after my Ariadne tunic. Perfect!


So, in possibly the second trendiest sewing project I've ever done (here's the first), I present my Put a Bow on It! Librarian Top -- because for some reason, it seemed vaguely like something a librarian would wear? Don't ask how that made sense in my head.

I had to use Machine of Death as my book to offset the sweetness of the top.
Excellent book, by the way, and available as a free download to boot!
My friend Emily got me this sticker, which is pretty much perfect.
My best angry librarian face. DON'T DOG-EAR THE PAGES OR BREAK THE SPINE OF ANY OF MY BOOKS,
OR ELSE I'LL DOG YOUR EAR AND BREAK YOUR SPINE.
Grabbing a book minifig from the top shelf. And yes, if you've been wondering about that Lego set on top of the bookcase, that is in fact the completed Helm's Deep!


I was so glad to be able to use up this fabric. I had just enough leftover to cut the body of the top, and the sleeves were cut from the original, failed top. I also barely managed to squeeze all the binding out of the remains of the black knit, so that's some ultra stash-busting right there. The pattern is my not-a-Renfrew, and the bow is just a rectangle that's been gathered in the middle by a tube of fabric. I tacked it down at the corners and center, and thankfully the pink is stable enough and the black is light enough that it doesn't get weighed down at the neckline.

Ahh, doesn't that look so much better than my previous attempt?

This very feminine top goes nicely with all the black and dark gray RTW skirts in my closet, although I like it best with this one because of the equally girly lace at the hem!

Better yet, that lace is detachable! I suppose I could sew up a skirt that utilizes it, but I really don't need any more black skirts. Unless it's a circle skirt, but then the lace wouldn't fit that hem anyway.

It's still a little warm to wear sleeves and a non-breathing skirt right now, though, so I'll be saving this outfit for Real Autumn, which, knowing California, probably won't be until November!

Apparently, autumn is approaching from the direction of the kitchen.

Have you succumbed and put birds on things yet? Would you wear such an ostentatiously large bow?

42 comments:

  1. That is so darn cute! Good save!

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  2. Oooh, what a sweet top. It looks great on you and a great save to boot. I must confess bows are not my thing, on the other hand I'm totaly down with the birds trend.

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    1. I didn't think I would be into the bows thing, either, but before I added the bow I felt like the top just needed an extra something. And I, too, am totally down with the birds trend too!

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  3. I think this is super cute and don't read as "trendy" at all. Just a sweet t-shirt!

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    1. Thanks! I do hope to be able to wear it even when people have moved on to putting say, horses on things. Oh wait, that's already happened :\

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  4. Totally channeling Emma from Glee with that top! [I approve :P]

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    1. Oh, there you go. I was trying for Emma without knowing it!

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  5. Freakin brilliant! And omg helm's deep Legos, how fun!

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    1. If you're at all into Legos, I think you would really enjoy the LOTR sets, Debi!

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  6. Like the top, love the oversized bow, yummy colour combo. However, all of these things are irrelevant because of your ill-judged and lazy stereotyping of information professionals! Tsk.
    Love, the Pickledweasel (a librarian who is hoping to have her zebra print dolman tee finished soon so I can show what real librarians wear) x

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    1. Haha oops! I didn't mean to offend the librarians out there! I am totally on board with librarians wearing whatever they want, but this does seem to read (pun intended) as stereotypically librarian, even if it's a lazy one :)

      Can't wait to see your zebra print top!

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  7. Cute! I also love that skirt, but I'm guessing you didn't make it? If you did though, I would be thrilled to know the pattern number, because it's an adorable skirt!

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    1. I did not make the skirt, but it's fairly simple to make, actually. It's a normal eight gore skirt, but just prettied up with some lace at the bottom. You can check out this tutorial if you want to give it a try! http://rhondabuss.blogspot.com/2011/09/fabulous-free-pattern-fridaysthe-eight.html

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  8. I agree with skyle - it's totally Emma from Glee! I absolutely love that character's retro style. (I would love to get a chance to work on that show, but since I live too many states away, it will probably never happen.) It's a really cute top and I like it with your skirt!

    Ah, yes, the elusive fall weather - Texas keeps teasing me with it but then it gets hot again. (One year, I had a garden full of annual flowers that continued blooming until the second week of December when we had a freeze!)

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    1. Oh, I am totally in love with Emma's wardrobe too! And gosh, that would be so exciting if you were to work on it!

      I think earlier this year in January I was wearing my strappy maxi dresses because it was so warm here!

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  9. This is eerie: I spotted a woman on rue Mont Royal this weekend with a beautiful black silk charmeuse tank, and it had a draped bow in the front in ivory charmeuse. I had to contain myself from jumping in front of her and taking a photo. Instead, I drew a very bad sketch on a piece of scrap paper and vowed to try to make a copy. And here you've made a very similar version! Drat you to heck (s'cuse my language)

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    1. Oh, but I think your silk charmeuse version would be absolutely stunning! Please do make it, because the lady you describe sounds so elegant.

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  10. Pink and black is one of my favorite color combos. Love the oversized bow look on you.

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    1. Thank you! I never thought I would like pink so much, but it's okay when tempered with black :)

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  11. As a one time law librarian I approve of your epic blouse. This would totes look the part between the stacks :) nicely done with the bow and use of pink and black!

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    1. Oh, to have actual stacks to walk between! I'll have to content myself with the one bookcase. Thanks for the librarian vote of approval!

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  12. I loooooove this! It's so very sweet (and knit, to boot, so comfy)! Great job, girl!

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  13. I love the pink and black combo. Go bows!

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    1. Yay! Go bows indeed! And birds and pickles, to boot.

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  14. Great combo of pink and black, the bow is adorable! Love Portlandia, it is just to funny!

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    1. Thank you! Portlandia is just so spot on in all its mockery, isn't it?

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  15. Hahaha this had me in stitches ans I have in fact put birds on a dress. I covered some pocket detail and a neckline with bird print bias tape. lol
    I have also put a bow out of beads on a top and made a bow belt! lol!
    Loved your angry face and caption! amazing! And I am glad you could save that fabric and make an amazing top out of it! The bow is gorgeous!

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    1. I had to laugh, too, when they started talking about putting birds on things, because I've totally made bird earrings and feather print garments. I'll have to go back and find pictures of your bird and bow things!

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  16. Loved the top, but gotta say thanks for the book review, never heard of it before so I followed your link and already done with it and rereading it, lol, its an awesome premise.

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    1. Isn't that book just great? I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  17. Cute!! This kind of effect, gives contrast and personality. And yes, reading is so sexy, I´m going to the library right now...ha, ha, ha!

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  18. Wow I love this, it looks absolutely gorgeous! The colour scheme is great too, such a great mend! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk

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  19. Oh gracious! I just love this bow top on you, especially paired with that equally fabulous skirt! The pink and black work so well together, and I love the shape of the bow. I'm so glad you were able to re-use the pink knit! It's definitely perfectly used here :)

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  20. You don't want to display too much or wear anything too tight in the library, there'll be comments! PS I'm a librarian! Love the top, but methinks it would be filthy in two minutes where I work! :-)

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  21. This is adorable, and amazing, how did I miss this? Oh, yes, my life is insane. NEVERTHELESS, this is amazing. I adore it. PUT A BOW ON EVERYTHING.

    strugglesewsastraightseam.wordpress.com

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  22. Love it, one of the best outfits ever.

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