Sssssssslithery Snake Print Top! Love at First Hiss

I've been sewing with a lot of colors and not-my-normal fabrics since about May - knits, linen, and wax cloth in bright colors and prints. It's left me feeling a bit out of my element lately. I'm a native NY-er of the Brooklynite variety; black is my normal.

So, once I finished my rather loud pencil skirt, I turned my thoughts back to (a) black, (b) silk and (c) animal prints. Yay for normal!

V1247 in Snake Print Silk

This snake print silk charmeuse has been in my stash for a while. I've pulled it out many times and mused about what to make with it, but never settled on anything. Then I saw Tia Dia's V1247. After that I had dinner with Puu, who has made it a few times. And then, while tidying the Craft Lounge, I was caught in a pattern avalanche and out came V1247. Clearly, the universe was pointing me in a direction.

Vogue 1247 Rachel Comey top

For tops, I normally sew a 10 with an FBA in Vogue patterns, but because this top is meant to be very loose fitting, I cut a straight 8 and it fit exactly as I would want. That said, even though it is loose, the interesting seaming, shoulder pleats and Hollywood dart (that's the one at bust level) give it shape. I approve.

Styled for work

Sewing this was not perfectly smooth sailing, but all the problems were my own fault, and not the pattern or instructions.

Silk charmeuse can be unforgiving, prone to fraying, slippery and easy to stretch on the bias. My first mistake was not immediately stay stitching the neckline. When I went to sew it, one side had stretched out a little. I don't think it is particularly noticeable, but it's a good reminder for the future.

Can you see that the right neckline is slightly longer than the left? I dunno.

Next, right sides facing is so ingrained that french seams (ie: wrong sides facing) - which are one of the best finishes for seams in ravel-prone fine fabrics - tend to hurt my brain.  And, since either side of this fabric could have been considered the right side, well, my seam ripper was the hero of this project.

Last, I tried to finish the sleeves and hem while severely jet lagged. It didn't go well for me. Both sleeve and hem are now 1/2 an inch shorter than drafted because I mangled them on the first go round. So, I waited a week, trimmed the damage away, recut the sleeve cuff/facings, resewed and re-hemmed.

I like the sleeves at this length, but definitely would like extra length in the top.

Here's the view from the back.

Overall, I really like the style and fit of this top. So, I wore it styled casually for my Oktoberfest themed birthday with my family on Saturday. And I have to tell you, I think this top will be (a) worn a lot, (b) worn casually instead of to work and (c) made many times more, although I think I'll add some length.

Oktoberfest: Check out my new beer stein courtesy of my Pop.
(Yes, that is a mini keg that was tapped for my bday)

What do you think?

More sewing, knitting and birthday baking to follow! I'm really liking all the projects that are in the works at the moment.