Summer Sewing Inspiration

Wendy Smock Hack by Maven Patterns

Maven’s newsletter popped into my inbox yesterday and made me smile that Sharon from Maven is busy making a holiday wardrobe a few days before she heads of to Japan. She asks if we are all the same, making ahead of a tight deadline? Of course we are! I think I am the only person in the UK who is glad it is still jumper weather in May. When that suns starts to shine I am lacking in summer clothes. I love to make my own clothes so I don’t want to buy ready made but I’m also lacking in time at the moment and sewing requires time.

I’ve recently downloaded the Stash Hub app to help me plan my makes so when I do get time I know what my wardrobe requires. Plus I can set some deadlines, which is just what I need! This weekend looks like another bank holiday wash out so I shall be getting my sewing machine out and making this gorgeous Wendy hack. I love the adaptation Sharon has created from her popular smock top. With a shorter length it is easy to wear over a pair of shorts or jeans. I shall also be making a pair of shorts from my favourite Maven pattern, the Simone set.

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Wendy smock pattern hack instructions

Make the following modifications from Sharon (as stated on her newsletter);   This pattern has got a lot of ease so I tend to size down to a small (from a medium). Made her shorter with a finished back length of 60cm. (For reference I’m allegedly 5′ 2″).  I just chop off from the bottom of the pattern but remember to allow for hem and neckline allowances in your calculation. Left the elastic out of the sleeve hem and finished with a 5cm deep hem. Repeated the 5cm deep hem detail on the actual body hem. Neckline. This is the biggest ‘hack’ – I couldn’t be bothered/didn’t have enough fabric anyway for the neck binding so I just overlocked, turned over 1.5cm and stitched a channel and then threaded 6mm wide elastic through to gather up the neckline.  ALLOWANCE DETAILS – I allowed 1.5cm allowance for the elastic neck / 6cm for the hem; 5cm stitched with 1cm turned in for a clean finish / neatened all the seam allowances together and pressed towards the sleeve or the back body. I used 1.5m but it was narrow fabric, probably only about 110cm wide. I’d suggest laying your pattern pieces out in a mock lay and measure to see how much fabric you need once you’ve decided on your length.

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Vintage fabric suggestions

This style is perfect to keep you cool during the summer. Sharon made several tops from a cool cotton check, a printed silk and a cotton poplin. I’ve pulled together an edit of soft floaty fabrics that suit this drapey style smock.

15% off fabric when bought with the Wendy smock sewing pattern. Use code Celeste on checkout.

Discount valid until 31 May 2023. Discount only valid on fabrics, not patterns, kits or haberdashery. Free postage on orders over £25 still applies. Not valid with any other discount code. Fabric and pattern to be purchased at the same time. Discount is valid on all fabrics when you buy any pattern from Olive Road London, not just Wendy smock pattern.

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The skill level of this top is an advanced beginner. Maven instructions are really well set out but if you need extra help, there are lots of tutorials on Maven’s blog.