Denim Peplum (McCalls 2592)

I am excited to share these photos of my new backyard (and new denim peplum top) with you!  Our yard may not be large, but it more than makes up for that with beauty.  Given that we moved from a very tiny one-bedroom apartment in the Bay Area with no yard or even a balcony to grow plants on or be outside in, our new townhouse in Utah (with a backyard! with a creek with ducks in it! and a beautiful birch tree! and with a little front patio I can grow plants in next Spring!) is a vast improvement in Mr Rat's and my life for which we are very grateful.

It isn't too cold yet to put away my autumn clothes for winter wool, for which I am also grateful, since it meant I could get some photos of my new denim peplum top sewn from late 1960s/early 1970s-era McCalls 2592.  I've been excited about this pattern since I spotted it on sale on the Mom's Patterns website and ordered it in the mail.  It reminds me of some of the more elegant bohemian looks of that era, and also has a prairie/Victorian influence, which I like.

McCalls 2592 sewed up well.  I didn't have to make any adjustments and the fit is overall pretty good.  My fabric, a mystery piece of denim I bought at the thrift store, didn't behave as well as the pattern---it had a tendency to stretch out on the curves, so next time I am working with light/medium weight denim I will remember to stay stitch every curve, rather than just the recommended ones.  I finished the seams with a faux flat-fell finish, and used some scraps of bias tape to finish the armholes and to act as both a finish and a stay for the waist.  The buttons probably look familiar to you if you've been reading this blog long: they are the same black thrifted buttons from my large jar of them that I've used on many projects in the past.  I made the buttonholes by hand, and top-stitched and edge-stitched the seams with black thread, since it gave a slight contrast to the navy blue of the denim.

I'm wearing my new denim peplum top with my often-worn and much loved brown broadcloth skirt (originally reviewed here) and a thrifted vintage gold leaf brooch.  Since the autumn here is much cooler than in California, I was wearing a black long sleeved t-shirt under my denim top, and tights, socks, and a petticoat under my skirt for warmth.

I'm pleased with how my first attempt at this pattern turned out.  I'm sure I will make other versions, and wear them with pleasure.