A coupla' Almas

What is the collective noun for more than one Alma?  It sounds a bit like llama, in which case it would be a herd of Almas but that doesn't sound quite right. Maybe because birds were involved in one of these makes it should be a flock of Almas?  Or a brace?  Maybe a selvage of Almas would be more appropriate?....   

Alma Version1: This pose looks like I could be in a police line up but  at least the Alma looks passable.

Alma version2: I'm really not good at this posing thing.

Anyhoo, here are the two Almas that I have made so far.  I say this because I think there will be more in the future. Such a great, versatile pattern that will work in lots of different fabrics.

Before you start thinking that I am some sort of uber-sewist who has churned these out as well as all the other projects that I have on the go, I should stress that I actually made these quite a while ago but due to my blogging hiatus, never got round to showing them here.

The black and white polka dot one was started during the November social sewing day.  The fabric is some mystery op-shop stuff that I picked up a while ago which is actually really nice and drapey.  I had planned to add sleeves. I even got so far as putting one on, but when I showed MMSTL he made a funny face which confirmed my suspicions that the cap sleeve made me look like an American football player. So, off it came and the armhole was finished with the bias tape instead.  As it turns out, sleeveless was probably the best option for the hot summer we've been having.  The facings gave me a bit of trouble and still don't like to say flat ( I can see you peeking out there, damn you facing)  despite understitching so I will probably need to go back and top stitch them down.  I didn't bother with the zip because I can get this over my head with a bit of shimmying as it's not super-fitted.

Version 2 was made from some poly crepe that I got from Spotlight for $5 a metre.  I don't usually buy new fabric but hello - kingfishers? How could I not?  This is exactly the same version except that the fabric was not nearly as nice to work with  and everything ended up a bit wavy.  I did however remember to topstitch the collar so the facings are better behaved.  Again, no zip.  Convinced that I could get the sleeves to work, I added one and then took it off again.  I guess I just can't carry off  those little sleeves that look so nice on other versions I've seen.

I love these tops and have already worn them a fair bit. I'm planning to make a version with sleeves at some point, although not the cap sleeves.  I might just shorten the longer sleeves. I think I might also go a bit more fitted and add the zip.  

Pattern: Alma blouse by Sewaholic
Fabrics: Poly crepe and mystery viscose?
Details/alterations: cut a size 6, taking in the side seams about 1cm under the arms to just above the bust dart, omitted the zip, made it sleeveless by using self bias/bias tape to finish the armholes.
Cost:  Bird version 1.5m of fabric = $7.50 plus half cost pattern ($9) = $16.50.  Polka dot version, 1.5m of fabric= $3  plus pattern = $12.   Hooray! two new tops for under $30, including the pattern.