Sewing for Italy & Greece- Purple Ruffle Top & Peacock Top and Skirt

This summer, we had the opportunity to go on a wonderful 17-day trip through Italy and Greece. I hope to post more about the trip after I have time to go through all of the pictures. But before we left, I furiously sewed some clothes to bring along. I want to share these three creations with you!

(At the Duomo in Florence, Italy)

  
Purple Ruffle Top- I made this knit top loosely from McCall's 5853. I altered the pattern by only making 3 ruffles that go half-way down the front. Also, I used this tutorial to bind the neck and armholes. Although the dark purple made the ruffles hard to photograph, I really like how this top turned out. It's just as comfy as your favorite stretchy tank top, but the ruffles elevate it to the next level.

(At the Colosseum in Rome, Italy)

Next up:

Peacock Top and Skirt- I also made this knit set. The top is from BurdaStyle 5/2011 Sleeveless Jersey Top. I really love the graphic peacock print on this fabric. And I was very pleased with how easily the top pattern came together. When I completed the top, I liked it so much that I whipped up a simple, slim skirt to match (no pattern used). I really like how I can wear each piece separately, or together as a dress.

(Outside Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy)

While I really love the look of this fabric, it turned out to act weird. The shirt seemed to GROW with each wearing! By the end of the trip, my friend had to safety-pin the straps up so it wouldn't fall off! Any suggestions on how to fix this?

(Sketching the Colloseum in Rome) 

This was such a fun trip, and I felt so proud to be wearing my handmade clothing around the world!