Up-cycled Sorbetto Top

 Originally posted on the Sew Weekly for the Vacation/Summer Holiday Challenge.

Finally, my sewing machine and fabric are out of their boxes!  Here’s my super-satisfying-to-make Sorbetto top.

The Facts
⁃ Fabric: upcycled rayon skirt
⁃ Pattern: Sorbetto (free here!)
⁃ Year: 2006?
⁃ Notions: DIY bias tape made from swiss dot batiste scraps
⁃ Time to complete: 4 hours (the tape making took most of this time)
⁃ First worn: this week
⁃ Wear again? yes, with lots of care (see below)
⁃ Total price: 0!  freeee

This little Sorbetto top came to be after a friend of mine gave me a skirt she had tossed into the wash and came out like this:

Oops.
So, I knew this rayon fabric had an unraveling issue.  I dug into Claire Schaeffer’s book on fabric and learned that rayon does unravel easily. Check.  Rayon likes to be zig-zag or overlocked… this skirt was overlocked so I have my doubts, but I also learned that the stretchy needle I bought was going to be put to good use!

Because I had limited fabric, I removed the front pleat of the pattern.  Other from that, and using bias binding at the hem, I followed the pattern exactly.  I made a size 2 and there’s a lot of room.  The rayon has a bit of elasticity to it as well.  I just felt a bit of pressure when I was making it, that every puncture from the needle would start the unraveling.  So, I’ll wear/wash as gingerly as I can.  Also, swiss dot doesn't make very good bias-tape.  Every "dot" jigs the presser foot so if you do dare to use it as your bias-tape maybe a walking foot is in order to keep it from straying...
I wanted to interject here, that I’ve been away for a bit because I’ve moved countries!  I’m back in Germany after my short stint in the Netherlands.  Oh, Amsterdam, I will miss your fabric markets. :(
Sniffle sniffle.  Seriously, though, my seasonal allergies have really kicked into high-gear.

endless sniffling

All in all, easy peasy top.  And, I do recommend this as a summer project because it’s light, airy, and perfect for your next holiday or wherever you might be setting your next picnic!