Watch This Lace - Sonja's smashing Sorbetto

Apologies for the later than usual Watch This Lace post today, but I'm hoping you'll agree that it is well worth the wait! All the way from The Big Apple, I have the cute-as-a-button Sonja from Ginger Makes! This lady is cool in every way - she does location work for TV and film, she has two adorable Pugs, she's part of the Mood Sewing Network and I think she looks uncannily like the beautiful Lizzie Brochere from The Hour and American Horror Story! Oh, and did I mention she has an incredible sense of sewing style?

First of all, I want to say thank you to Marie for including me in this fun project and for sharing this beautiful lace! I'm so thrilled to be a participant!

Man Friend: "You've got to get the gator head into your photos!"


This is actually my first time sewing with lace! Can you believe it? I love delicate, feminine lace, but I'm such a tomboy that I never really feel like I'm pulling it off. So I was excited by this challenge, and of course I couldn't turn down the chance to get my grubby little paws on some vintage lace! My first thought was to pair it with black to toughen it up a little, but that looked a little too "French maid", ya know? Then I spied this creamy dotted Swiss, a cotton from Mood that I've been hoarding for over a year - a perfect match! I love the way that the different textures play together.


I used the Colette Sorbetto Top pattern as a basis for this shirt and drafted a front and back yoke. I eliminated the darts and instead gathered the bodice front into the yoke to give it a nice, swingy shape (I didn't add extra volume to the bodice back to avoid looking like I'm wearing a maternity top). The dotted Swiss is quite sheer, so I left the yoke unlined but lined the front and back below it. I used French seams throughout, so it's very cleanly-finished. I hand-stitched the lace just above the yoke seams, and to the back side of the hem so it's peeking out from under the top. I actually really enjoyed taking my time and carefully stitching the lace to the garment - it was oddly therapeutic!

What's the Photoshop command to remove clutter from your home?


It was so difficult to decide on a style and a pattern! I really wanted to do right by this heirloom lace, but I didn't want to make something too "special occasion" that would languish unworn in my closet. So I'm really happy with the way this turned out - it's a simple, wearable top, but it's still special (and oh-so-pretty!).


Thank you again, Marie, for letting me play and for sharing your exquisite lace with me! I can't wait to see what the next WTL-ers make!

I definitely don't want to play Crocodile Dentist any time soon.


Gosh, I love this Sonja - the yoke, gathered front and lace make this such a unique take on the Sorbetto! It looks smart, yet casual and so wearable. I'm over the moon that you're happy with your first ever lace-sewing experience!

Next week, we're off to Australia for our penultimate WTL fix from the gorgeous Reana Louise...I can't believe we're almost at the end of this fun journey!

37 comments:

  1. That's such a wonderful idea for a top with lace. I'll keep that in mind for my next summer top.

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  2. I think this is my favourite make using the lace so far! Will be sad when watch this lace finishes next week!

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  3. What a gorgeous top - the sorbetto pattern is so versatile. Might have to give a yoke version a go myself!

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  4. This is definitely my favourite so far too, it's so pretty! And I can't believe it's all based on the sorbetto, I love the way the yoke gives it a completely different look and feel. I will have to try it myself once I figure out how to do yokes! Thanks Sonja x

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  5. this is such a fun take on the sorbetto!

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  6. Marie this series is so great! And what a brilliant take on the Sorbetto! I never got the darts fitted right on that but I might just steal the yoke idea and give it another try...

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    1. Thank you Jo, so glad you're enjoying it!

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  7. Thanks for having me, Marie! I had so much fun and I will really treasure this special garment! Can't wait to see the last two makes!

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  8. Ps happy 30th birthday Marie! Hope you had the wickedest weekend ever! x

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  9. This is soooo pretty! Looks like the kind of thing I would end up wearing everyday- comfy and pretty! LOVE it! xx

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  10. So cute! this totally makes me want to use lace & revisit the sorbetto pattern. :)

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  11. Oooh, that's so pretty! Perfect on its own or for layering!

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  12. such a great reinterpretation! loved this series! sad its ending but got so much out of it! thanks!

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  13. I love her take on the lace.. So far my favourite sorbeto

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  14. Super super cute! I love the yoked Sorbetto- such a fab idea, Sonja!

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  15. This is lovely, and what a get take on the Sorbetto pattern.

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  16. So very cute! Love it
    Happy Birthday Marie!! :)
    x

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  17. Loving everything about it!!

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  18. What a cute way to use lace. I think it's perfect for Sonia's style: delicate but not too frou frou! The sorbetto vaiation is lovely too.

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  19. I like it! In my normal life, I'm not much of a lace person either, so that's a really nice way to incorporate it. Also, I love your goofy gator pics. And if you ever figure out that clutter-banishing Photoshop command, let us know!

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    1. Will do! If only there was one... sigh...

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  20. I wanted to let you know that you won my sew grateful week giveaway! Please email me with your mailing address and the patterns you want (if they have changed since your comment) and I will get those posted out to you right away. Congratulations!

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    1. I am so sorry for the screw up. If you did want any of the patterns let me know, but I can understand a stash growing (which is why I am parting with the patterns)

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    2. No problem at all! I was feeling super happy to be winning giveaways I hadn't even entered ;o)

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  21. Beautiful Sorbetto, Sonja!! And I'm just loving the "Watch this Lace" makes that are popping up all over my blog reader! Thanks for thinking of such a fun project, Marie!

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    1. Thanks Sallie, so glad you're liking the series!

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  22. Sonja, this is the coolest Sorbetto ever!!!

    Happy birthday, beautiful Marie! xo

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  23. Sonja did a great job, so adorable!!

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  24. Cute as ever! Love it. I need to get me some lace!

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  25. Thats a super cute outfit, top goes lovely with your jeans!

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