I sewed this beautiful Orchid Top back in October of 2020 with this IndieSew fabric that I’d held onto for quite some time since they had closed! I thought it was a perfect autumn fabric, and couldn’t wait to make something for the season out of it. By the time I got photos taken and edited, it was well into winter and I had other projects to post… And now it is October 2021! So I am excited to finally get around to posting this. Whoops!
I also noticed that the Orchid Pattern is the featured pattern of the month over at Chalk & Notch patterns, currently discounted so that we can all sew up an Orchid Dress for the holiday season! I love this pattern, but if a dress is not what you have in mind, this modified top version would also be great for any holiday events you might be planning.
I’ve posted information about hacking the Orchid pattern into a top before, with my original black cotton voile version, which you can find here! For this top, I followed the same process, but left a little more length, cutting at the “lengthen / shorten” line and truing up from there. This made it a good bit longer than my original version of this hack, leaving me with more of a hip length top, bordering on tunic.
The Orchid Dress (and this top hack!) is a pretty versatile pattern depending on the fabric you choose! The black voile I’ve used for a top hack in the past can be worn to the office but also feels perfectly casual with a pair of jeans or shorts. In this fabric, though, the top feels dressy and elevated. This one felt very “October” to me last year, but I am also thinking it would be a lovely option for Thanksgiving dinner celebrations!
It is still holding steady in the 90s here in Texas this week, so it is still much too warm for this top just yet! I did try it on the other day, though, with some wishful thinking about cooler autumn weather, and I felt like the top was great for what I am going to need this season. My body is still going through all kinds of fun postpartum changes, and I feel like my shape is a little bit different everyday! The elasticated waist of this top emphasizes the waist that is slowly returning, and the longer length of the skirt / peplum / lower portion of the top covers my recovering belly. Most importantly, the wrap top provides nursing access pretty easily which means it is actually a viable option in my wardrobe right now!
If you haven’t checked out the pattern yet, I’d absolutely recommend giving it a shot. It is a great pattern, with a lovely shape and well written instructions. One of my favorite parts of this pattern is the construction of the drawstring for the waistband – it sounds like a minor detail, but it makes a big difference and I want to use it for other patterns, as well!
Top: handmade by me
Fabric: IndieSew – Amber Floral Crepe Rayon
Pattern: Chalk & Notch – Orchid Midi Dress (Hacked)
Key Ingredients:
Brother XR9500PRW Sewing Machine
Brother 1034D Overlocker
Dahle 36×48 Self-healing Cutting Mat
Prym Sewing Machine Needles
Gutermann Sew All Polyester Sewing Thread
Thanks for reading my thoughts on this pattern! The fabric, notions, and pattern used for this post were all purchased by me. All words and opinions expressed throughout this post are my own, as always. Links provided throughout this post may be affiliate links – if you choose to purchase any products through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. This simply helps me justify the costs of my sewing habit and the time it takes to share it with you!! Happy Sewing!
- XX Elizabeth
