My new favourite colour

I’ve got a new colour love in my life - neon coral!

It all started with a pair of the new Orla Kiely, Clarks shoes. And now I've even got nail polish and everything!!

Sometimes it only takes one thing to get you all inspired on a sewing spree and the same day that I bought them I made a new top to match.

It’s the Simple Sleevless Top from my book, Learn to Sew with Lauren, and it’s so quick and easy to make.

I wanted to use this amazing new Rayon fabric that’s just arrived in the shop. It’s the Tulip Poppy design by Joel Dewberry. And….it has mustard in it too! Yay! Perfect combo for me!

For those new to rayon fabric, it’s made from cellulose fibre, which mostly comes from wood pulp. It goes through a chemical process to then get spun into fibre that can be woven into fabric. So it is a woven fabric – it doesn’t stretch – but it is very lightweight and has an awesome drape.

It’s really soft and easy to wash; I just popped mine in with my normal 40-degree load.

With a high boat neckline, low enough to show off your collarbones, and a semi fitted bodice, it’s a fab practical wardrobe basic that shows off great fabric really well.

The fabric is a bit slippery to work with and I wanted to centre the flower on my centre front and back so I pressed the fold line in and pinned the fabric before pinning the pattern on to cut out.

If you want to do the same just remember to position the pattern a few cm up from the bit of the pattern you want to show. This allows for your seam allowance when the binding goes on.

It’s the first time I’ve made this particular top with a really lightweight fabric like this but I love how it works, it just seems to hang really nicely.

It’s the first of a new wave of tops for warmer weather. I’m planning lots of cool hacks and alternations to this classic pattern over the summer so I’ll be sure to share and show you how with lots of tutorials. I’m thinking pin tucks, yokes and cap sleeves! (don’t worry - not all at once!)

Is anyone elses sewing table looking a bit more bright and summery these days?