The OWL-ter Limits

I purchased this pattern last month during a Simplicity sale at JoAnn's.  The ruffled front was endearing!  It is rare to come across appealing styles for the " 'tween " aged girls.  This is a Little Lisette Sew Your Style pattern for girls' blouses and skirts.   I sewed the view A top in a "10" out of the 7-8-10-12-14 for my 8 y.o. daughter.

Update: Heather liked her first version of the Lisette top  (with "owls" print) very much that she "requested" me to make a second version in a Liberty of London Tana cotton lawn fabric. The only modification I made from the original top was to shorten the sleeves approximately 2".

Original post:

Hooooo-La-La!   Owls can be cute.

Keeping it Owl-in-the-Family

A Pair of "Tap Zoo" Owls

FOWL-lowing a trend, for Heather's top, I used an owl-printed 21-wale corduroy fabric from fabric.com

Directions
They are logical, clear, and nicely written, suitable for beginning sewists. The diagrams were sufficiently detailed to rely upon with minimal reading of the instructions.

If you are interested in knowing more about Lisette patterns such as for instance fit comparisons with other Simplicity patterns:
http://www.sewlisette.com/blog/2011/02/how-lisette-sewing-patterns-are-developed 



Favorite Features
* The three little tiers (upper, middle, lower) of ruffles at the center front of the top.
* Simple to make

* Sleeve options: flared or elasticized sleeves at the hems.
* Very age-appropriate
* Notches and other markings aligned nicely (i.e. attaching the bias neck binding to the neckline)
* "Lisette" tips  or clarification of a technique strategically placed after certain steps that could be helpful to beginning sewists (i.e. staystitching, gathering stitches, finishing a raw edge)

Other
*The flared sleeves came out inconveniently long (up to the knuckles). When I was about to shorten them, my daughter changed her mind, and is satisfied the way they are.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
* Attached bias neck band from the inside, turning outwards and topstitching to the neckline. Because I self-faced all the strips to be used ruffles, I encoutered slightly extra "bulk" when finishing the front neckline where the upper ruffle was.

*To avoid narrowly hemming the edges of each ruffle, I cut a pair of strips for each level of ruffles (upper, middle, lower), so that one acts as a self-facing of each pair. I sewed each pair of strips right sides together, leaving an opening at the top edge. Then I turned each pair of strips inside out, lowered the machine tension, sewed the long and loose stitches along the top edge's seam allowance, pulled the ends to "gather", and adjusted accordingly while sewing each ruffle along the corresponding stitch markings to the center front of the blouse. 
* "Finish seams" are mentioned throughout the directions. I used topstitched seams for the sides and the center back. From the inside, I pressed each seam allowance to one side and sewed 1/8" from each raw edge of the seam.

* Closure at the center back: Instead of a "thread loop", I cut a 2" piece of 1/4" width elastic, folded it in half, stitched the ends together to form a "loop", inserting it to the left end of the bias "encased"
neckline, and securing it with a few double stitches that also enclose the end of the neckline. 

*I used a button featuring a Beatrix Potter cat.

Recommendations
I plan to use this pattern again not only for the top but also for a new skirt for Heather. Also the top could be made without the ruffled front.  This pattern also seems like a "user-friendly" pattern suitable for beginning sewists introducing them to seemingly more advanced techniques (i.e. bias finish neckline, ruffles) in a non-intimidating manner.

I hope that Lisette produces more patterns for girls in the more 'tween age. It would be nice to have patterns for children in the elementary to middle school age bracket that are fun to wear for school and elsewhere and yet still be age appropriate.