That’s all there is; there isn’t anymore.

Madeline top

Madeline top

Madeline top

Madeline top

Madeline top

Did anyone else read the Madeline books growing up? I used to love the idea of going to a boarding school and wearing a cute little uniform with a cute little yellow hat and having sleepovers every night with all my friends. (Clearly I had a very clear and not at all superficial concept of what boarding school was like.) In fact, thinking back now, I think reading Madeline may have paved the way for my obsession with A Little Princess.

I saw this top on Modcloth and immediately knew that 1) I had to make it, and 2) I would feel like Madeline every time I wore it.

My first idea was to use the Laurel top pattern with a thicker knit and to add a zipper on the back. That was a terrible idea. Like, awful.

I ended up using a regular knit fabric and just tracing one of my t-shirts that fits well and that worked out much better. The collar was drafted based on Gertie’s tutorial, and I just made a tiny little bow using this tutorial.

I don’t think I’ve shared this skirt yet! I made it the same way as this skirt, which I have completely forgotten to post a tutorial for. Whoops.

Anyway, the moral of the story is that I’m pretty sure this top includes every single garment detail I’m in love with: navy, mustard, a bow, and a huge contrasting Peter Pan collar.

16 thoughts on “That’s all there is; there isn’t anymore.”

  1. I love this outfit! Right now my niece is obsessed with Madeline so I’ve been reading all of the books to her when she visits. Her favourite part is when it goes “To the tigers at the zoo, Madeline just says Poo Poo!” haha. I agree, I loved those books growing up and this outfit definitely has a Madeline vibe to it!

    1. That is so cute!! I can’t wait to have tiny humans to share my favorite childhood books with 🙂

  2. I loved Madeline so much! And, as far as I’m concerned, A Little Princess is the greatest book ever written. Whenever I’m feeling down, I whip out a copy, give it a read, and feel better. I also have the habit of checking for copies of it whenever I’m in a used bookstore. The illustrations are different in different editions, and I just love the thought of someone else loving the book for so many years.

    In other news, your top is awesome, and you would fit in perfectly with the 12 little girls in two straight lines. Especially if this was Madeline: the college years. You may also need a matching hat and fabulous blue cape, though. Winter is coming 🙂

    1. What a cool idea!! I have one semi-battered copy of the book with the inscription: “To my very best friend Ping on her 9th birthday” written by my best friend in elementary school so I’m kind of partial to that copy but I would love to see how other illustrators saw Sara and Ermengarde and Miss Minchin!

      Ooh I definitely need a yellow hat! I might have bought a cute capelet pattern recently that would totally fit this look too! :]

      (And props for sticking a reference to another one of my favorite books in there too 😀 )

  3. As soon as I saw your skirt I thought ‘school uniform’. I have always loved the look of a school uniform, but of course I didn’t have to wear them growing up. Your outfit is adorable. If I was young I would wear it! Love the checked pattern fabric for the skirt and who doesn’t love a peter pan collar! Love it!

    1. I never wore one either! My sister went through all of middle school in a uniform that sort of resembled a sailor outfit (complete with a little tie) and now hates them with the fire of seven suns. I still think they’re super cute!

  4. I love your outfit! I never read Madeline, but there was an other series that I really loved, and it reminds me so much of it and of the fun I had while reading those books 🙂 but seriously, I totally want to make a similar outfit for myself now, haha.

  5. AHHHHHHHHHH I love this!!! It’s ridiculously cute! I was obsessed with Madeline. 🙂 “In an old house in Paris/that was covered with vines/lived twelve little girls/in two straight lines”. SO GOOD.

  6. Lovely top, especially the mustard bow. i would never have thought that mustard would go so well with navy, but having seen this now I really like the colour combination. I read the Madeline books to my daughter and till today(she’s already 20) we sometimes go “in an old house in paris …”

  7. Oh, I love this! How adorable. I do like that skirt very much, as well. I may need to copy it. I like how the pleats are on the sides, not the front.
    I never read Madeline–I’m not sure why not. I remember Little Golden books and I remember Nancy Drew–nothing in between. Although, I do have vague memories of a Madeline story with a ballet recital where Madeline tried to wear pointe shoes like a real ballerina but then she couldn’t dance. It’s possible that I’m making that up. . .

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