a Perfectly Pleasant Peasant Top

I have made a new Peasant Top.

This was part of my Make a Garment a Month plans for February.  I didn't make the pants I'd planned on, so am wearing this with my Simplicity 7131 pants I made in January.

Love the way it moves with me.

I'd made this shirt before in the sleeveless version so I knew the neckline was cut a little low, so I raised the neckline 1" and am sooooo glad I did as this fabric has a little 'stretch' and the neckline still turned out a little lower than I really wanted. 

I cut a size 10 and constructed with french seams with the exception of the sleeve inserts and sleeve bands.  Those were serged.  I added a little flare from the waist down too.  The neckline band was doubled in size - to help with the modesty factor and also because I decided I liked it that way.  No drawstring and no center 'opening', though I did include a center seam as per the pattern instructions.  Originally I didn't and cut the front on the fold, subtracting the seam allowance, but the shirt was just so big.  I was able to get the fit I wanted by manipulating the center seam after all.  There was a huge difference in the way this fabric sewed up into this shirt and the way my earlier cotton fabric one did.  I also modified the sleeves to have a simple band to finish them off.  Even though this fabric is not a knit, there is some stretch and give to it, and coupled with the grand neck opening it is quite easy to pull on and off.

Fabric came from Wal-Mart and total cost was $4.50.

My daughter tells me my cute top looks like a renaissance period shirt with its gathers at the shoulder seams and fullness at the wrists.  All I know is that it is comfortable and I like it!