Hi friends

Happy New year!!! I hope 2021 is going to be great for all of us! I am definitely hopeful and excited to see everything that this year has in store for us. One of my first makes this year, is this lovely pattern that I tested for Olga from Coffee and thread patterns.

The Celia top pattern is a semi-fitted woven top featuring statement puff sleeves and a V-neck. It comes in two styles – a button up version with an oversized collar and a pull on style. It has options for both short and long sleeves. The puff sleeves are an interesting feature with gathered sleeve cap extensions that were both fun and easy to sew. The pattern comes in sizes 0 -22 with separate bodices for B/C cup and D cups.

The fabrics recommended for the Celia top are lightweight and midweight woven fabrics without drape. A fabric with too much drape would cause the puff sleeves to fall limply so linens, lawns and even quilting fabrics would make excellent choices. For my top, I used a cotton lawn that I got from India. It is a lightweight fabric with a little body but not too much drape so it works wonderfully for the sleeves.

If I wasn’t on a self-imposed fabric buying ban, I would have loved to make this pattern in a solid colored linen that could properly show off the collar and puff sleeve details. My woven fabric stash has steadily dwindled over the last couple years. Usually, my mom will find a way to replenish the stash by sending fabric through unsuspecting family members, which is usually my poor brother on his business trips. But current circumstances have made that impossible hence my limited choice of fabric. I am really excited about it though! I have never been too proud of a larger than manageable fabric stash to begin with. A shelf full of fabric sometimes feels overwhelming and burdensome or maybe its just me 🙂

Getting back to sewing, here’s a rundown of some fit adjustments I made that are specific to my body shape and measurements – Bust 32″, waist 27.5″, hips 36″ and height 5′:

• Blended sizes from size 2 at the bust to size 4 at the waist and hips
• Shortened the bodice and sleeves by 1″ each
• 3/4″ bicep adjustment for my arms
• moved the bust dart up by 1/2″ (this is common for me for almost all patterns)

While I don’t love making fit adjustments to a pattern, I’m always glad when I do because not only does it make a difference to how it looks but also how it feels to wear. A better fitted garment is always more comfortable so you end up reaching for it more often. I love everything about my new Celia top and can’t wait to pair it with some skirts this summer!

Here’s a couple more shots of the Celia top because I love it so!

Celia top pattern is currently on sale for 25% off with the code “newrelease” until next wednesday (January, 27 2021). If you have questions, please leave me a comment below 🙂

Thank you for reading and following along!

Happy Sewing!!!

-Indu