Esther’s Silk Cami Top

My excitement when I received this month’s viscose was next level! Look at all the gorgeous colours the fabric has.

Deciding what to make needed a bit of thinking because I am in love with the fabric and I needed a garment that I would wear over and over.

When I started thinking of what to make with this fabric, I decided the first place to get inspiration would be Hayley’s YouTube video on ‘Top 5 patterns for one metre of fabric’. I would usually default to making a top with one metre of fabric, maybe one off, I’d consider mixing fabrics to make a dress but Hayley’s video also got me thinking about making shorts. 

I started considering some of Hayley’s picks. I really liked the idea of the Pietra shorts by Closet Core Patterns. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to cut out the shorts out of one metre of fabric and I didn’t think I’d be able to get some plain fabric that would work so I decided to table the Pietra shorts idea for a different time. 

I decided to look into Chalk and Notch’s Victory pattern. This camisole looked like the perfect choice. I began to consider how nice the cami would be with the very warm Summer we are experiencing in the UK. The best thing about a cami in my opinion, is that it can go the distance. It can be worn on its own on a warm Summer day. It can be worn with a blazer both casually and formally. Camis also make excellent layering pieces. 

I very quickly convinced myself that a camisole was the way to go and it would go the distance in my wardrobe. I am one of those people that like to wear most of my clothes all year round so I try not to make or buy garments that can only be worn in one season. Anyway, I was committed to the cami. And the Victory pattern was looking like a winner, especially with different bust sizes. As someone who always needs a full bust adjustment, patterns with different bust sizes are usually a winner in my book. However, the more I studied the pattern, the more I realised that the cut of the armhole of the back bodice would mean my bra would be on show. I’m sure adjusting the pattern to fix that is a possibility but as I wasn’t sure how, I didn’t want to take the risk.

Since the idea of a cami was locked in my brain, I had to see it through. I went back to the drawing board, although I found different cami patterns, most of them had thin straps and my preference is thicker straps that give a bit of coverage. So I went to a default pattern, the Sew Over It Silk Cami. I picked a size 12, did a full bust adjustment. I also took a wedge out of the neckline to prevent gaping and raised the armholes. 

Cutting out the fabric was a dream, so was sewing it. This patterns comes with all in one facings that is probably a genius way to finish the neckline and armhole seams but I have had a hate hate relationship with facings from the early days of my sewing journey, so I finished the armholes and necklines with bias binding and as always, I was happy with this finish. It takes a little longer to sew but the wearability is priceless. 

It’s no secret that I love a good viscose fabric and this one was no exception. I have a trip planned to Bournemouth and I think this cami is going to be great on the beach.