I was ITCHING to make a new top for myself last week, because we had a full day of holiday celebrations and things…and I needed another excuse to make something to wear.  Uh, duh.

I had this urge to make another plaid top but I thought that I should mix it up a little bit…so I don’t have a closet full of full-blown buffalo plaid tops.  Not that it would be a bad thing.  But maybe people would start to wonder about me.  Or maybe they already do so it doesn’t matter.

My ultimate decision was to colorblock the front panel, with kind of a sweetheart style curve.  The results were full-blown love from me.  I think it’s given a playful take on a basic shirt, but it also has a mildly slimming element, because it draws attention to my curves.  Not that they need more attention, haha.

I used the women’s henley shirt from Patterns for Pirates.  I know, I know.  Again.  I’ve only used the same henley pattern again (without the henley placket, for shame!) about a million times now. I can’t help myself.  It’s my favorite fit so far.  So far…because I know there are some coming out soon that I will love just as much, I just can’t talk about them yet.

Here’s my mini-tutorial to achieve this look yourself.

First, get yourself the henley pattern if you don’t already own it.  This colorblock will work on any pattern out there, really.  But then henley shirt is crush worthy.  Trust me.

I stood in front of the mirror for a while, trying to figure out where I wanted the blocking to hit.  My ultimate decision was to block the top at 2″ under the neckline, and 5″ under the armpit.  I used a tracing paper and drew the line freehand.  The top green line in this image is where the curve will fall, but I made sure to add 1/2″ seam allowances to the top and bottom pieces.

This was a total free-hand.  So don’t judge my lines.  They’re a little squiggly.  But I did the same with the bottom block piece.  I traced the main line, and then added 1/2″ seam allowance the top of the piece.

Cut the pieces and then stitch them together on the curve, right sides together.  I pressed my seams up, because the fabric fell better that way.  But you can pick your poison with that.

Follow the rest of the pattern as it’s called for.  And wham, bam, you have a fun colorblocked top with a sweetheart-esque neckline!

You might want to head over to Patterns for PIrates’ blog today…as we put up a guest post for a colorblocking idea for the women’s raglan.  It’s A-FREAKING-DORABLE!