Don’t hate me for saying this, but I’ve been OVERRRRR summer for at least a month now.  It’s been hot.  We’ve had air conditioning issues throughout the hotter parts of summer in our car, home, and my office.  I’ve been sweaty and whiny for months now and I’m really craving cooler temperatures and my fall clothing.  I’m pretty sure that all of my favorite clothing pieces are fall and winter based.

But apparently I’m not all the way ready for summer to be over, because I just bought myself this candy striped “yummy” ribbed knit.  Like a week ago.  And realized that I had better get to sewing it before it feels like it’s out of season for me to wear it.  I mean, it’s practically screaming to become a summer top, isn’t it?  I guess I’ll hold onto the warmer months just a little longer if it means I get to make things like this Blythe top.

I “tested” the Made for Mermaids Blythe Babydoll top back when it was released.  I used “tested” as my phrasing because I made something, gave a small amount of feedback, and then didn’t take any finals.  This is what happens a lot when M4M has new patterns.  I WANT to participate, I WANT to sew and share — but sometimes I run out of time.  Luckily they’re never actually counting on me for testing, I’m just in there as an alternate, haha.

I actually made a Blythe for myself right before we went on a trip and I fell head over heels in love with it — so much so that I went ahead and just made a second one with all of the same options.  I mean.  HOW COULD I NOT?!  Look at all this cuteness!!

Options I sewed:

• Low Scoop Neckline
• Hip Length
• Tiered Skirt
• Flutter Sleeves

I forgot to make the proper adjustments in the side waist, so this should actually sit about an inch lower before the first skirt tier.  But with this style, I think you can’t really notice that I forgot to make the adjustment.

I had fun playing with the tiered layers and the fact that my fabric was striped.  Since this pattern doesn’t rely on any true knit fabric requirements once you’re past the bodice, I thought it’d be okay to flip the horizontal stripes and make them vertical for the first skirted tier.  Same fabric, but it switches the look up and adds a little playfulness, don’t you think?

In the sewing community, there is a lot of talk regarding being more thoughtful to disabled sewists and those that utilize adaptive sewing for their daily needs.  In this specific instance, a call was made to have more images of garments being worn, while in the seated position, so individuals that use a wheelchair are able to know what these would look like / how they’d fall while they’re wearing them.  It is going to take me a while to get used to taking seated photos (since I find them to be the least flattering images of myself), but I’m going to give it a good attempt to get at least one picture in for each outfit share.  So here’s my first go at #SewnShownSeated

Patterns: Blythe Babydoll Top + Dress by Made for Mermaids
Fabric: Candy Striped “Yummy Ribbed” Knit, from a wholesaler