Clock without hands top, new pattern love

I rarely buy new patterns but feeling fed up with my sewing and wanting to use my stash of fabrics for garments that I will actually wear, led me to do a spot of online shopping and so I bought two new patterns last week. I think I will get my money's worth from these. They are both Lisette for Simplicity. You may know the work of the designer Liesel Gibson through her childrens' clothing sewing patterns, Oliver and S, or through her blog disdressed. I read somewhere that these patterns are not super fashionable but then, a lesson I have learnt partly from doing Me Made months is that I don't actually want to be super fashionable nor do I want to be making clothes designed for a twenty year old or clothes that are more suitable for my almost four year old daughter than for me. These clothes look as if they are wearable in my life. (I will let you know if they are as I progress) But I have to say making this top was a pleasure, simple and straightforward, it has made me happier about my sewing again. (My needle jammed three times while sewing this top despite me giving the machine a clean and changing needles. So I am now planning to take it back to the shop where I bought it next week.)

I tried out the top view C as I didn' t have enough stash fabric to make the longer version. I also have quite a few long tunic type tops now and a shorter one will be good for summer.

I used cotton fabric from my Devon stash. I didn't have enough fabric to make the sleeve cuffs but just gave them a tiny hem instead. The fabric does crease a bit but apart from that I am happy with it.

The fabric is cotton and has a pattern that looks like a handless clock on it. This pattern is easy to make up and has clear instructions and diagrams. I didn't rush it at all (honestly) but made it within 24 hours from cutting out to finishing off. I may have also found it straightforward because the top used similar methods to other patterns I have already sewn. It is also a quick top to make because it uses no buttonholes or zips. The neck facing is sewn in a "stitch in the ditch" so I have none of the problems I have had before with facings flapping around.

Back view - buttons came from my grey cardigan. I thought they looked frumpy on the cardigan but I like how they are with this fabric AND I like to re-use. I used ribbon to make the button loops instead of self fabric.

Okay, so I now have new pattern love for this pattern. I really liked wearing this top yesterday, and I want to make the other versions too now. The View B longer top and the View A dress have big pockets created from the centre front piece. Regular readers will know my love of pockets. If you are squingting at the pattern cover photo trying to see the pockets, I apologise, it is not clear to see them in the picture.

I would like to make the dress in a denim-ish blue as an everyday dress, maybe with some piping? However I don't have that in my stash, but I do have some liberty cotton in a reddish woven check. I am off to measure how much there is now.