Simplicity 8545 in Pink Lace

This little top started with the fabric; a pink corded lace with no stretch and a lovely scalloped border from Fabric Mart.  I knew I wanted to do a simple top with and wear a cami underneath for modesty.  Luckily, I already had Simplicity 8545 in the pattern stash.  The simple shell top was perfect for what I had in mind.  

This should have been a quick and easy sew, but the lace did complicate things.  I didn't have serger thread the right color and I didn't think it would give enough support to the seams.  Some places in the lace had so much netting that I didn't think French seams would do, either.    So I used an overlock stitch on my sewing machine set to a short length and wide width and stitched 1/4  inch from the regular running stitches and trimmed the excess.  This worked nicely and didn't create too much bulk.  

The neckline called for bias binding but I couldn't find anything that matched well enough.  So I made binding from the lace itself.  It came out rather neatly I think.  

Thanks to the border, at least the bottom and sleeves didn't need hems.  At least that part was easy!  

The center back seam forms a keyhole closure.  I used a bit of ribbon and found a pretty little button in the button collection.  I've enjoyed wearing this top but always wear my pink cami underneath.  Far from being an orphan, it goes with my navy slacks, khaki slacks, dark wash jeans and denim skirt.  I have a gray skirt with pleats for a dressier occasion and black wide leg dress pants, as well.  

Hope you're having a great sewing day.