Since I’ve been listening to the Love to Sew Podcast, I have heard the reference to tried and true patterns often. The Ogden Cami comes up over and over and OVER again! I’ve wanted to make it but wasn’t sure about my ability to sew darts, and the drape of this type of garment. I’ve never sewed a dart before!! Also I wear a D-cup and I was nervous that the flowy nature of the shirt would turn into a tent, or otherwise be unflattering.
Well I was one of the lucky testers of her extended size range from 14-30, with a fabulous bust dart and widened straps! So I gave it ago and I’m so happy that I did!
I made a toile out of a IKEA duvet I got a long time ago. I make almost everything in this fabric first. I like playing around with the stripe orientation, but it also gives me a great idea of the fit, not to mention that a duvet cut apart is a HUGE AMOUNT of fabric. You can see here the cotton is very stiff, with little drape which helps with fitting.
Another upside to doing a toile with 100% cotton is it’s easy to sew with! Giving you a chance to practice all the techniques (like darts!) on an easy to work with fabric.
So in early June I set out a rayon from cloud9 fabrics that I thought would make a fabulous ‘real’ version of this pattern! I got this a while ago from Pink Castle Fabrics, but a quick google shows there is still some of this rayon available around the internet.
However, June was overwhelming for many reasons. I was learning a lot about myself, how to be an active anti-racist and how to deal with the feelings of grief and shame. If you are into enneagram, I am an enneagram 2 “The Helper.” I did a lot of soul searching on how to help and do the good I could do and I’m continuing to do that work .
On the other hand, my day job got a little complicated, I began covering a full-time position due to medical leave. So I was doing two jobs. It was hard and it zapped a lot of my energy and desire to do anything aside from relax after work.
Anyways, my coworker is back and I feel a tremendous amount of relief and energy! So I knocked out my real version of this cami this weekend! You can see a few videos of it on my TikTok. (@_tina1802)
I made it in just over an hour!
I love how it turned out!
The gentle V in the front and back is very flattering. I love the modern shapes and colors of this fabric and can see it being worn all year long with different accessories!
I love a good hat as you can see here.
I made a straight size 16 in this top with no modifications! It fit really well! And hey, I did pretty good on the dart I think.
The doggos approved of the new top too! If you have dogs you know they always try to be the star of ANY photo!
Check out the True Bias Ogden cami, there is a reason it is a crowd favorite!!
-Tina
It’s beautiful!!!!! You are so talented my friend!!! 🤗❤️
Aw thank you!!! Miss you!
looks great! I have learned the hard way to make a muslin…OR just go for it but that hasn’t turned out too well….haha…..the only thing I would suggest is to use polyester thread….on clothes…..on a blouse it probably doesn’t matter but on other things the stitches will pop!
Anne you are right! I do use the polyester expecially for knits! I learned that…the hard way whoops!!!