Sew it Yourself EYMM Piko Top

I have a super easy Hack for you today.

The Piko Top from Everything Your Mama Made. It has several variations, but the one in the middle is an exact match to a very popular MLM clothing designer top.

Kymy Johnson is the designer and owner of Everything Your Mama Made. She's also a MLM fan and helped me with this blog. Thanks Kymy!

The sizing for the Piko Top mirrors the sizing of the MLM company dolman tunic pretty close. Kymy measured her XS dolman tunic and it's measurements were very close to the Piko. I tried an Erma on at a party and I was a small in the dolman tunic, I made the Small Piko Top and it was a perfect fit. I checked with a few friends and the medium was also the same. 

For this post, I even made my top with the MLM who shall not be named fabric. I got this one from a friend. You can find their fabric or similar fabric at a few places. I'll do a post in the future with those resources. You can find that post HERE.

To make your own Erma - print out the High-Lo version of the Piko Top and the 3/4 length sleeves.

The MLM dolman tunic is about 3 inches longer than the Piko Top. Cut the Piko Top top on the "length/shorten line" and add a piece of paper to add length. I added 4" to mine so I could do a 1" hem. If you do a 1/2" hem, lengthen by 3.5". 

 It will look like this-

 

Cut your pieces out and follow the pattern instructions. They are really easy.

Here is my finished top.

I also made my leggings. The Everything Your Mama Made Get Moving Leggings are perfect for making your own MLM inspired leggings. The pattern has an athletic cut with slim thighs (to give compression) and as a mid rise that fits great. The fabric for the leggings is from Fawnette Fabrics.

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George & Ginger Swagger Sweater

When I saw the new George & Ginger Swagger Sweater - I loved it, but didn't know if I could pull it off with my figure.

The pattern is only $5 - so I decided to give it a try especially since I bought it on sale on top of that. I also had about 8 yards of a gorgeous red french terry that I bought at Golden D'or for 99 cents a yard recently. The pattern takes about 3 yards - so I figured I wouldn't be out much money or expensive fabric if it didn't work out.

According to my measurements - I fell between a 10 bust and a 14 hips. So I went with a 12 for the bust since my french terry has stretch - but not a ton, and graded to a 14 at the hips.

My photos are not very great. My battery was low and when it's low my remote trigger won't work. So I had to use the timer - which doesn't always focus once I get in front of the camera.

But - I love it!

And I found several things I made recently that go with it. This pencil skirt. Pattern from Patterns for Pirates. Fabric is scuba from Zenith and Quasar.

Harvest Apple leggings. Fabric from Fawnette Fabrics and the pattern is also from Patterns for Pirates.

And These Blue Plaid leggings. Fabric is from Zenith and Quasar and the pattern is from Patterns for Pirates.

And I couldn't resist showing you my behind.

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Back to School Tour: Mom's Edition

I love patterns from Everything Your Mama Made and love every chance I get to do a blog tour with them.

Don't miss any of the posts on EYMM's Back to School Tour: Mom's Edition! (Note: the links below will not work until their scheduled day, but feel free to click through and check out the rest of their blogs anytime!)

September 7 Sewing by Ti and Sprouting JubeJube and Call Ajaire

September 8 Inspinration and Idlesunshine

September 9 Boutique Birdie and Needles to Say

September 10 Capture, Craft, and Cook and Kelly's Sewing Creations and Lulu & Celeste

September 11 Adventures with Bubba and Bug and Pretty & Precious and MeMade

September 12 Five Blessings and House of Estrela and Rebel & Malice

September 13 Recap at EYMM

The kids are back in school and parents and caregivers everywhere are excited to catch up after summer break! Use coupon code PARENTSROCK to save 50% off any adult-size patterns for men and women now through 11:59pm PST Tuesday 9/13/2016. This offer may NOT be combined with other offers including bundles.

For this blog tour, I decided to make a pattern that I have owned for awhile and had never gotten around to making - the Piko Top.

After I made one - I couldn't stop. I finally told myself that I had more than enough for this blog tour and that I needed to get to writing my blog. I made one of about each variation. There are 3 different hem lines, and 3 sleeve variations.

The Piko is a flowy, loose fitting top. I found that I liked it best when I sized down. Even though my measurements clearly put me in a medium/large, I felt like the small gave me the best fit visually. In the medium, I felt like I was drowning in fabric. I think that's due to my short height (5').

This is the "Regular" straight hem, long sleeve variation. This version is the widest and roomiest. I added a few inches to the length of this one since I wanted to wear it with leggings. I added roughly 4 inches.

This fabric is from Zenith and Quasar. My leggings are another EYMM pattern - the "Get Moving" Leggings. These have an athletic fit with a tighter thigh and higher rise.

I loved that the long sleeves could be made from a different print and not look odd.

I made two version of the "Side Tail" version. This was my husbands favorite. This one has a little more shape to it, but still a ton of ease in the fit. This shows the long sleeve variation.

Here I just threw it on with a pair of blue jeans and a big chunky necklace. I did make one screw up on this one - I accidentally cut the back piece the "wrong" way against the grain, and it's a 2-way stretch knit. Since it does have a ton of ease - I just sewed it up anyway. It's not noticeable when I wear it.

I then made the Patterns for Pirates - Pirate Pencil Skirt (the pattern is free with a code from the group's pinned post). I loved how this top went with the pencil skirt - the 2 are perfect together.

Then I made the 3/4 length sleeve version.

This fabric was some I picked up at Golden D'or during an inventory sale for 99 cents a yard. I was never quite sure what to make after I brought it home, but decided it was a good muslin for this pattern - and I ended up loving it!

The fabric is slightly sheer and I am wearing a white tank top under it.

I then made the "Hi-Low" version. I actually made 3 - but 2 are in my - need to hem pile. This one was my favorite. This is the "slimmest" version, but still has a great deal of ease. This is the short sleeve - sleeves length.

In these photos, I paired it with some jeans and a fun necklace. I love how the low back hides my behind. I made this one using a 31" remnant from Jo-Ann's. I was impressed, I could get it out of a short cut like that.

I then wore my top to work one day, and discovered I had the perfect air of olive colored slacks to wear with it.

I love all the tops I made and that I could make the short sleeve version of the "hi-low" hem in under 1 yard of fabric. This pattern is definitely going to get made very frequently from now on.

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Itch to Stitch Irena - Perfect for Fall

Kennis Wong of Itch to Stitch drafts some of my most favorite patterns. This one is the Irena and was the perfect choice to use as I get my wardrobe ready for fall.

The Irena is a cozy, casual top that can be made fitted in a jersey knit, or more relaxed with a sweater knit. The Irena is intended to be worn over another item of clothing, such as a cami, t-shirt, or even a fitted button up work great.

I tend to grade my Irena out to make it a little looser around my belly and just slightly loose at my hips.

The pattern may look intimidating, but Kennis's instructions and diagrams are wonderful and make this pattern go together perfectly. Plus this one doesn't require any hemming or top stitching - can't get easier than that!

Here are all my pieces. For this version, I made the body using a ponte de roma knit I purchased from Steve at Super Textiles in the Dallas Fabric District for about $3/yard. For the neck I used a strike-off from Star Dust and Moon Beam from their current preorder. The Preorder is open until September 15th.

First the front and back are sewn together at the shoulders. The seam is then pressed to the front.

These collar pieces are then reinforced in the corner.

Then you clip to the stitches, but not through.

Place the 2 pieces right sides together and sew them together. Then press the seam allowance to one side.

Now attach the back neck piece to the front neckbands. Press the seams to the back.

Now fold the neck band in half and press it.

Reinforce the corners on the top and clip to the stitches, but not through.

Line up the marks on the neck band with the body. Pin in place and stitch all the way around. Do this on a sewing machine. We can finished the edges with a serger later.

Now overlap the neck bands and line it up with the bottom piece and stitch across

Fold it right side out and press.

You can then go round the neck band with a serger to give it a clean and finished edge.

Now sew on the sleeves.

Then I got excited and forgot to photograph the rest. You sew the side seams and add the bands to the sleeve and bottom. That part goes very quick.

Here I am in my finished top.

I love the neckline. I'm wearing a black cami under the Irena.

I then made another with a strike-off from Made Whimsy. This adorable fall turkey and zig zag print will be available for preorder on September 6th. This is going to be the perfect top to wear this fall.

This one is made from cotton lycra jersey, and has french terry for the bands.

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