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Made by a Fabricista: Summer Sunburst Tova

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Hello!  I'm glad to be back on the Fabric Mart blog and joining the other Fabricistas with a new summer project for May. Well, I may have been one of the few people on the sewing planet that hadn't made Wiksten's Tova Tunic, but folks things have finally changed. I'm bringing summer in with a sunny sunburst Tova.


There are plenty of reviews of the Tova tunic out there so there's no need for me to review it here. But I will say although the blouse has simple lines and lends itself to all types of fabrics and embellishments, I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner. It's a seasonless pattern and would be a great project for an intermediate sewer.


Some time ago I pinned a Steven Alan shirt onto my I Wanna Make This Pinterest board because I loved the fabric. Eureka! I found it! Fabric Mart's abstract bursts 100% lightweight handkerchief linen in white, blue and pale coral is just that fabric! This linen is lighter than any other I've ever worked with but still is crisp like other linens. I machine washed and dried it before I cut it out and it came out lovely.


The colors are beautiful in this fabric and I decided to highlight the coral on the bib of the tunic using embroidery thread and my sewing machine. Reverse bobbin work is popular among art quilters but I don't often see it anywhere else. Quilters take decorative threads that don't fit through sewing machine needles and wind them on the bobbin instead.  When you sew from the wrong side, the decorative thread from the bobbin shows through on the right side.


For the reverse bobbin work, I used DMC embroidery floss and wound it by hand on a bobbin and loaded it into my machine without changing any settings. Don't be afraid...just do it...it'll be okay.



Working from the back of the blouse, I stitched along the seam line of the bib of the tunic so the bobbin thread would show on the front.  It's as easy as that.


It's subtle but isn't it pretty?  I also added some to the band of the sleeve.  Once you get going it's hard to stop. And yes, reverse bobbin work washes well.



I ended up shortening the blouse 4" (I found it longer than the drawing suggests) but otherwise made no other changes. I will probably make it again this fall in a cozy flannel. Wouldn't it be great? But right now I'll enjoy my new sunny blouse.


  Have you made a Tova?


Happy almost summer everyone!
Diane - Gatorbunnysews

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 20, 2015 at 12:07 PM

    Great Idea about the embroidery thread . I have to try it. Your blouse is very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ann BrodskyMay 20, 2015 at 8:45 PM

    Beautiful top! I've never tried the technique with the embroidery thread- thank you for explaining how to do it. And it's good to know that it washes well too.:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diane at BlueDotPatternsMay 28, 2015 at 1:30 PM

      It's a great way to use up all of that left over embroidery floss you have around. And, I love the new maxi dress you made.

      Delete
  3. RainpatterMay 20, 2015 at 11:44 PM

    I love that embroidery thread idea. And that pattern is awesome. But since I do a FBA on everything (D cup), I wonder how you would do a FBA on something with an inset bib like that...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diane at BlueDotPatternsMay 28, 2015 at 1:32 PM

      I think you could do a modified FBA by adding a dart on the side and increasing the gathers at the bottom of the bib. Let me know how it goes.

      Delete
  4. Sue ParrottMay 21, 2015 at 8:39 AM

    I LOVE this and I am probably the last person on earth that hasn't made the Tova. Now, I must! I love your embellishment with the bobbin work. I must try it! Happy sewing!
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diane at BlueDotPatternsMay 28, 2015 at 1:32 PM

      So that means I was the second to the last to make the Tova. You're up next!

      Delete
  5. ginnyMay 21, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    Same as Sue here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diane at BlueDotPatternsMay 28, 2015 at 1:33 PM

      Okay, so maybe I was third to the last to make the Tova.... You and Sue are up next.

      Delete
  6. ColleenMay 27, 2015 at 3:03 PM

    I have made the Tova a few times but wear only one version of it -- from Irish linen I also bought on Fabric Mart a few years ago. What KILLS me now is seeing this fabric knowing it was on deep deep discount the other day and I want to go buy it today! Oh well.......Your top is just beautiful!!!! Also: great idea for a Pinterest board.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diane at BlueDotPatternsMay 28, 2015 at 1:35 PM

      That Pinterest board has helped me numerous times when I have a creative block. It also helps me when I'm inspired to reduce my stash!

      Delete
  7. AnneMay 29, 2015 at 4:42 AM

    No, I haven't made a Tova - so you're still further back in the queue! Lovely cheerful fabric; your too looks great. I'm interested in your reverse bobbin work - do you need to make changes to the bobbin tension or thread it differently? And how many strands of the embroidery thread do you use? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  8. baju batikJuly 29, 2015 at 5:18 AM

    Very nice information
    I like this article so much
    I will bookmark it and visit again soon.

    ReplyDelete

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