Copycat - Tilly's Summery Mathilde

Ever make something you know for a fact won't suit you, just because you really want it to? Sounds warped, but it's exactly what happened to me when I saw Tilly's Summery Mathidle. Perfect for this glorious weather we're having, I thought, even though I knew full well how disastrous the combination of gathers and a large bust would be.

As predicted, the gathers rather obviously part my boobs (just like the red sea) and make them look super saggy...a look every girl surely strives for!?!


I can hide a toddler under there. Hell, I could even smuggle a fully grown human if I wanted to!


However, just because it doesn't suit me doesn't mean I don't love this Mathidle variation. If you have a smaller bust you should totally try it out - after all, look how adorable Tilly is sporting hers! And it has some really cute details that you'd be a fool to pass by: floaty sleeves, back buttons and gentle gathers (that I sadly can't recommend for large busts)!




You can see my full 'review' of the Mathilde pattern and its construction from when I tested it back in January. For this version I just followed Tilly's tutorial for short sleeves and replaced the fiddly tucks with easy peasy gathers. In a desperate attempt to make it suit me better I even shaped the side seams to eliminate some of the pattern's boxiness. I simply measured the distance from my lower armhole (the base of my armpit basically) to my waist and marked it on my front and back pattern pieces, approximately 1 inch in from the edge. I then sketched out my desired, hourglass silhouette, which you can see drawn onto the pattern piece below in red.


You can see how this has subtly changed the shape of the blouse, making it look slightly more figure-hugging.



Staying true to my inner copycat I even donned sunglasses for my 'shoot' and used a floral Liberty lawn - sorry Tilly, but they do say imitation is the greatest form of flattery! The Liberty lawn cost just £8 a metre from a stall at the Birmingham Rag Market. Although this is cheap for Liberty, it was the most expensive thing I bought during our meet-up last month, so I could only face getting the 1 metre. But, I still managed to squeeze this blouse out of it by disobeying the grainline instructions. I wouldn't recommend living on the edge like this regularly, but throwing caution to the wind honestly doesn't make a difference when using this kind of fabric to make this kind of pattern...if you know what I mean!


If nothing else, I enjoyed making this super quick Mathilde and I now have a very pretty and a very comfortable top to lounge around the house in during this warm weather. Which is pretty apt really, considering I was recently bemoaning my lack of nice 'home clothes' when Karen brought up the subject last week.




Are you a lady who can carry this kind of top off in public? If so, I hate you are you tempted by this Mathilde variation?

Also fellow Britain residents...are you too pinching yourselves daily over this amazing weather? I can't believe we're actually getting a summer! And, no, I'm not exaggerating foreign readers...this is a novelty for us!

29 comments:

  1. It's lovely! But as a similarly large busted lady, I share your pain :-) I wonder if it would work better with the gathers concentrated more in the centre? Sounds counterintuitive, but I had a top like that I wore until it died, it was so flattering - I guess maybe because it lets the sides stay fitted?? you get the softness without the draping over the fullest parts.

    Anyway, this is a lovely blouse, and a fabulously luxurious item to lounge around in at home!

    Also - I totally believe you re the weather. I'm in Belgium and we're the same :-) Enjoy it while it lasts!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is funny. Just this morning I was drooling over Tilly's top and trying to decide if I should make it even though I knew it would look terrible on me. I'm quite curvy. Your top is soooo cute!

    ReplyDelete
  3. can you wear a light tank top or camisole underneath it so the gathers don't fall down in the center? and add a cute little belt for some waist definition? Or tucked into a skirt? hope you can save it so that you'll actually wear it! i love the fabric and the buttons in the back are so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aw Marie, it's lovely! You could try wearing a vest underneath to prevent the... erm... dip at centre front (I know, I know, maybe when the weather has cooled down a little) xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow I'm really class I saw this as I was considering the gathered one. Think my bust is far to big for it. Think I might do the flat fronted GBSB version...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think you could totally carry this off in public, Marie! But it would be also cute -- and cool -- for lounging wear around the house, for sure. Enjoy the nice weather!

    ReplyDelete
  7. It’s so pretty!
    I wonder if teeny waist darts at the front would keep it loose but give you that bit more shaping between bust and waist? And have you thought about wearing a push-up bra under it? I find if you make the girls meet in the middle, gathers have nowhere to disappear into... ;)
    But so perfect for summer. SUMMER!! Woohoo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thinking of a different bra too, to get away from the "dip", but I was thinking of a sports bra, which flattens and pushes together.

      The blouse is seriously cute though and can totally be worn in public!

      Delete
  8. How would it look belted? Such pretty fabric, would be great if you could wear it outdoors.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sews things that they kinda know they shouldn't (although somehow I'm still surprised when it's done and, as I predicted, I don't actually like it.) I'm still laughing at the last blouse I made and working up enough guts to take photos of it so the internet can laugh at it too. Trust me, it's waaaay worse on me than this blouse is on you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I wonder if you could wear a camisole or slip under it to stop the 'boob-parting'? I did something similar with the bust gathers on the reproduction Vogue 8728 and it worked well. I'm not sure I could pull the top off either but I'd probably tuck it into a high waist skirt if I did make it.

    You've done a great job and I love the fabric :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yeah, I'm loving it too! The fabric is dreamy and truly your colours, and I love the gathers. Looks wonderful with shorts too. I hope you do get more from it than just lounging x

    ReplyDelete
  12. It is so pretty! I would wear it for sure! Although seems even too hot this weather - oh my God it is so hot! I even have tanned legs which never ever happens! And you tell me I could maybe discard the grain line one day, that makes my day (and opens up new possibilities)!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I ADORE your blouse, it's so well done, the fabric's perfect, sigh I wish I had one! And I'm not sure how looking like you have huge boobs and crazy curves could not be a good look but whatever...^^

    ReplyDelete
  14. I really like it, Marie. You could totally wear this out and about. However, I have hesitated over the gathered version for the exact reasons of boobage. (That's a technical term.) The fabric is so pretty. Good call on the waist shaping.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You could always change the gathered front pannel to it's original pleated version.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I really love this! I hope you find a way to make it work as it is way too nice to just wear around the house. Maybe try the vest top idea, or a cropped vest top style sports bra thingy? The colours are really you as well.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think this looks super cute on you! You should totally wear it out in public! Maybe try a top underneath so it won't part??? I totally didn't even notice that until you pointed it out.

    ReplyDelete
  18. It's darling. Totally nodding my head along with you and Seamstress Erin--I often thumb my nose at considerations of what works well for me, with just the results I would have predicted.

    But sometimes a busty girl just needs to embrace her inner bohemian and wear a blousy top or dress. It's not the end of the world, especially when you look as cute as this!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Aww, you made me giggle! This is exactly the reason why I've steered clear of this blouse pattern, in all it's pretty-ness. I love the liberty and the buttons down the back... and your shorts! I hope you're enjoying summer :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Loving this weather, I finally have a chance to wear all my oft-neglected summer clothes! Had a similar thought to Jo H re: the location of the gathers. My Tova top has some gathering in the centre of the bust rather than over the boobs themselves, which reduces the issue I think. Very pretty version though, and looks cool and floaty for the sun!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Well I think it looks great on you! It's the summer! You are allowed to look free and easy! If it bothers you, have you tried a different bra underneath? Something with less "divide and separate"?

    ReplyDelete
  22. I think it is very pretty, and you look so gorgeous in these photos! I have a similar issue with both my versions of the Colette Chantilly dress - a beautiful and very flattering dress, and I love them, but putting them on is a bit like HELLO BEWBS, and that's not always the look you want to be going for! Still - I think this would look really good and more demure (ahem) tucked into a skirt or maybe high-waisted jeans :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh Marie! I think you look fantastic!! Although you did have me chuckling about the saggy boob bit (ohhh the saggy boob look... I know thee so well...)! But really, I think this top is more than a house top! You look very bohemian chic in it!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I think it looks really cute on you. I would not have noticed anything untoward in the boob department if you had not pointed it out. Just a really cute top that looks great on you. As the previous comment said very boho chic

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh I totally hear you! It's like when your clothes shopping and you like things you know won't suit but you still take them into the dressing room to try on. I do it al the time then end up cursing myself for not being a stick thin super model who can wear loose a line dresses. Oh well, such is life!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Big improvement with the side seams. It now looks adorable on you. I have a bigger bust too and always
    Have to adjust fit. The pattern as is reminds me of one of the Japanese patterns, very boxy.I adore that fabric!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I keep meaning to come back & post a comment here & I've finally got round to it. I bought some of this fabric too and haven't used mine yet. I was skeptical about it being Liberty at the time but still loved it. A few months ago I saw it in John Lewis! I can't remember how much it was but definitely more than £8/meter, and 100% cotton. It may not be quite Liberty but JL will do fine by me :)

    ReplyDelete