Summer top and a weekend in the Cinque Terre

Last weekend we rode down to the Cinque Terre on Filippo’s motorbike. To have a comfortable journey we chose to bring the bare minimum with us only (we had a backpack and a small top case for both of us for 4 days). So I brought only few tops and trousers with me, that I could have worn both during the day and the evening/night, including this summer top I sewed the afternoon before we left…a very fast and easy sewing project!

The fabric is a beautiful and very light printed viscose I bought at Tessuti Lagosta in Milan. It was a small remnant (about 70 cm) that I only paid about 5 euro for.

The pattern I used is the Burda Style Vintage Top n. 6968, that I had already made two years ago. I had to alter it because of a big mistake: I didn’t remember that seam allowances are not included in this pattern and I realised this thing after having already cut the fabric. To not throw all away, I sewed the front and the back together with French seams (luckily it isn’t too tight a top) and I put it on my dress form to find a solution for the neckline/upper part, because I couldn’t sew it as it was (the fit was awful, above all on the armhole that was too tight). The best solution I came up with has been to lower the neckline by some centimetres and sew a bias binding instead of the band/collar with the bow. I cut the bias binding in the same fabric of the top.
I have to say that this mistake led to a better result. The top is a lot more comfortable without the collar/bow and right for a trip on a motorbike. The back is not perfect having lowered all (included the waistline), but the little fold on the waist is not so evident given that the top is made out of a printed fabric and not in a solid colour.

I like this top a lot and I think it’s perfect to be worn also for city life!
In the previous pictures I was in Vernazza, here I was in Porto Venere in the evening.

Here I was in Monterosso al Mare instead and I was wearing the top with shorts.

Our holiday was amazing! Riding a motorbike is a great way to visit The Cinque Terre, above all in this period of the year and with this hot weather. We were based at a nice room rental in La Spezia in a perfect location for us, close to the center of the city but in the hills, in a nice and quiet area. We visited four of The Cinque Terre towns, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza e Monterosso. We went to Porto Venere and San Terenzo (Lerici) too.

Riomaggiore

Manarola

Vernazza

Monterosso

Porto Venere – our table’s view at Ristorante Le Bocche

Filippo and his Red 🙂