The Casual Lady

I don't suppose anyone could have missed the Casual Lady Tops and Dresses popping up all over the blogosphere?  Andrea from The Train To Crazy / Go To Patterns just released this fantastic knit pattern and everyone is collectively excited and sewing like mad.  And the best bit is that the proceeds from this pattern raise awareness of global sex trafficking victims:

This pattern was designed especially to raise funds and awareness for global sex trafficking victims. Proceeds from this pattern will fund a Sewing Collective in India for single mothers escaping the sex trade industry as well as a safe house for children in Cambodia at risk of being trafficked. We hope you enjoy and share so we are able to fully fund our projects. We are hoping to raise $15000.

A great pattern and a social conscience? Where do I sign up.  I originally tested this pattern for Andrea while I was in the States.  Without a fabric shop closer than a 90 minute drive away, my dad and I set off to Walmart in search of clothes large enough to salvage for fabric.  Cue a multitude of side-eyes as we wandered around comparing the relative fabric yields of XXXXL men's shirts with XXXL ladies' nightgowns.  Unsurprisingly, the shirt we chose was so far off grain that my testing feedback was little more than 'Nice instructions'.  I'm sure Andrea will be using me as a tester again soon.  And now I'm home again with a room full of knits and an internet full of other peoples' awesome, the pressure was on...  Could I be as casual as these Casual Ladies?!  And I thought: I could be twice as casual.

 Disclaimer: Not pregnant / just blowing a gale.

Because the Walmart-muslin was so disastrous, I wanted to use ye olde stash fabrics to confirm that the alterations I'd made to the pattern* worked.  I didn't have enough of either of these retro-style flower prints (circa Ebay-2007!) to make a single top, but I could use one for the front and one for the back...

And then I thought I might as well use the front pattern for both so it could be worn either way! Nobody Everybody is always telling me what a lovely upper back I have so the scoop in the back is no big deal. And then you just need to...

And you have the perfect tank to wear in your garden when it's two degress above the point at which water freezes. 

Or to wear when you're casually wistful about blogger problems.  Seriously, guys, where do the hands go?  Mine are derping every which way.  After you answer that, go buy the pattern!

*I franken-patterned several different sizes to accommodate my unusual torso, using the upper bust length of the XS for my freakishly short upper chest, the width of the L under the armpits for my large bust (cheater knit FBA), the waist width of the M and the hip width of the S. I could probably shave some of the width off at waist and hips for a closer fit if I wanted to.  I also shortened it to the overall length of the XS as my torso is very short but I'll make it a bit longer next time.