As much as I like to make garments that I know will get lots of use and wear and fulfill a gap in my wardrobe, sometimes you just gotta switch it up and make something completely ridiculous just for the fun of it.
Which is where this particular make comes into play today.
A couple months ago, Seamstress Erin hollered at me and a mess of other ladies and asked if we’d be interested in participating in a group project that involved a very unlikely fabric source. See, this particular fabric actually came straight off the set of Rambo III. You can read the whole saga here, but basically, what we have here is a piece of famous fabric.
While I am trying to really limit the group projects I sign up for (my time management is so seriously out of whack right now, y’all have no idea), how could I say no to that?? Never mind that I’ve never actually seen Rambo III (or I, or II, for that matter) – never mind that when I tried to read the movie plot, the overuse of the word “explosion” about made my eyes roll back in my head (also, I still have no idea what that movie is about) – never mind that I actually don’t like action movies one bit… we are talking about a piece of fabric that Sylvester Stallone might have potentially touched, holy shit. You bet your ASS I signed up for that shit!
And this is what ended up in my mailbox a few days later. It’s not really the most amazing piece of fabric – and, to be fair, Erin fully disclosed in her initial email that it was a strange scarf size, had a weird bit of stretch to it, and also was a little stained – so it’s not like I was going to make some heirloom-quality piece out of it. For a project like this, naw, I decided to make something SLUTTY!
I like to think I did ol’ Rambo proud with this… what do you think?
Ok, in all seriousness, I’m really sorry that y’all have to keep looking at my freakin stomach. I swear I don’t normally traipse around the city dressed like this, but something about this project just screamed boobie top. While I did initally plan on wearing this with something high-waisted, when I tried it on with my jorts, it just looked way white trash in the best way, and I decided it was meant to be.
Oh, and also, I figured y’all might want to know that I got my Jorts situation under control. No, I did not make these. I bought them from Goodwill and cut the legs off.
Yep.
This little bralette top is made using Simplicity 1426, which is a vintage reissue. I was initially drawn to the cover art – the model on the front is freaking gorgeous – and figured it would be a good pattern for making comfy loungewear bralettes. You know, just stuff to hang around the house in when I don’t feel like rocking something with underwire (and, despite what these photos would tell you, I’ll probably wear them underneath a shirt, ha). Thanks to Rambo, I had the perfect opportunity to test out the pattern in a wearable muslin.
Using the finished measurements to determine my size, I cut the size 6. It fits pretty nicely straight out of the package, although I did have to pull in the back slightly tighter so it would fit my ribcage (again, I’m about 28″ at the ribcage, so most stuff tends to be too big right there!). The instructions were easy to follow, although I never did see how to finish the end of the back band? I just serged the raw edges and folded them down. Nothing fancy here! I did change up the back closure – the pattern calls for buttons, and while I reeeeally wanted to do pearl snaps (because, god, that would be amazing), my fabric was just too thick to even try to hammer those suckers in. I instead opted for flat hooks and eyes – the kind you put on a waistband.
The cups do have a tendency to gape open if you don’t pull the neck straps tight enough (and once you do that, you run the risk of giving yourself a headache!). One thing I would do differently is ease the edge of the cups with a piece of twill tape, similar to how I constructed the bodice of my Flora dress. This would help the cups hug the contours of my body and thus lay more flat along the edge. Something to keep in mind if you plan on making this!
Overall, though, it’s a pretty cute top. Personally, I’m just tickled that I was able to take a rather classy looking pattern and turn it into something that looks this trashy. I am awesome.
The top is lined (I used self-lining in this case) and the edges are bound (again, I used self-fabric), which makes for a very clean inside. I found the binding was super easy to apply in this case, due to the slight stretch of the fabric.
Obviously, this wouldn’t be a true Rambo tribute without the addition of some sort of weapon. I don’t personally own any weapons (can you believe that? Not even a giant stick that I can use to ward off intruders… seriously, Lauren), but I did find this pocket knife on Landon’s dresser. Shhh, don’t tell him!
THAT’S MORE LIKE IT!
Check out The Rambo Project to see what happened to the rest of the turbans! Big thank you to Erin, for letting me participate in the ridiculousness that is The Rambo Project!
LLADYBIRD 
I love the weapon pics! So awesome and kind of adorable. And I had seen this pattern before, and wrote it down somewhere, but then I couldn’t find my notes so I wasn’t able to pick it up. But, now you’ve saved the day and I can make sure to buy it this time. So, thank you!
Woohooo! Glad I could help 🙂
Amazing! I think it’s time for Rambo V.
You made me laugh! Thank you! 😀
AWESOME!!! I love this project! It is such an insane premise for a group sewing challenge! And love what you came up with!! Such a little white trash hottie 🙂 Actually I think this top is totally cute and ‘on trend’ with the crop top fever that’s gripping the season. It could totally be dressed up with some high waisted skirts. But, really, in my opinion, summer is the season to be kinda trashy. You go, Lauren!
Summer is TOTALLY the season to be a little trashy! When else can you get away with wearing as little as possible out in public? (ok, maybe I don’t personally do that these days – but I applaud those who do haha)
Finally! A slutty Rambo outfit I can get behind! I’ve been waiting so long.
PRAISE THE LORD!
I love the idea of taking these costumes from a movie dripping in testosterone (I bet those are the fabric stains) and feminizing them. And you should caption those last shots of you and your camera timer with a Ramboism: “I’ll give you a wound you won’t believe.”
I can’t even pick a favorite part of this comment. I just love everything about it.
That looks awesome! I have the same issue with garments and my ribcage!! Buying bras is THE WORSE!!!!
Ugh, isn’t it?? Only one store in a 50 mile radius of my city sells my size (and I don’t think Nashville is a small city by any means!). Everyone tells me to buy online, but man, I like being able to try the stuff on before I throw down cash! Blech!
That GIF. Yes. I never thought the day would come with Michael J + Rambo + Headscarf boobie top, but I am really glad it did.
It is the trifecta of perfection, in my opinion.
SUPER cute! 🙂 I’ve made 3 of these bra tops knowing full well I’ll never wear them outside. But they are SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are SUPER cute! I want to try the rest of the versions, too!
“White trash in the best way” is the best outfit descriptor I have ever experienced on a sewing blog. You are awesome. 😀
That said, this is CUTE. I totally must have missed this last time I surfed the pattern books, but now I kind of want to get a copy to wear with high-waisted skirts in the summer. Vintage reissue patterns ftw!
Ha, I aim to please! 🙂
Yay for vintage reissues!I agree, I think this would be super cute with something high-waisted 😀
This is awesome! I have no other words….
HAHA! You really are awesome. And so is this top.
Yeoh. There isn’t one of us that doesn’t want to be someplace else (like behind a sewing machine). But this is what we do, who we are. Live for nothing, or die for something. Your call.
Oh, and great top!
AWESOME. I’ve never seen a Rambo film either, but something tells me you’ve done him proud.
It’s so awesome. Rambo would be all over it.
Amazing! You look like a action movie heroine for sure, besides I think Rambo was a little white trash anyway.
You officially belong in a Lana del Rey music video now.
Greatest compliment ever!
I am waiting for someone Rambo-connected to find these posts…
I WISH! That would be beyond amazing hahahaha
I haven’t seen any of the Rambo movies either, but I also wouldn’t have been able to say no! I like what you did, it looks very summery.
you so crazy. crazy like a slutty fox.
😉
Rockabilly style cool !!!
🙂
Rambo and slutty are two words that just go together…lol. Seriously cool top, and do try to find the time to see at least the first Rambo film.
THIS RULES!!! I must have one.
Oh and can you remove my phone number and email addy from the previous comment? Sorry, it’s obvious that I don’t know how this works.
Fixed it! pssss miss you dude ❤
You are hilarious! I love everything about this.
This is all just so much awesome from never having seen Rambo to the MJ clip. The top is also awesome! You did Rambo proud.
You are indeed awesome and never fail in making my day that bit brighter! Those poses cracked me up!
SHE’S GOT A KNIFE!!!!!
This whole project completely cracks me out but your entry makes me laugh so hard! You are a total Rambette!!!!! I think it’s cute and slutty, but much more on the cute side! Seriously, every time I look at an entry I get really happy…..
it crack me UP not OUT. maybe it cracks me up and out.
I love the blue of the fabric….and you are the prettiest sluttiest Rambo I’ve ever seen. I think that’s a compliment….it was meant to be a compliment…..no, please don’t come at me with that knife……eeeek!
That last pic is everything LOL
This is fantastic! I love that the cut-offs are more Rambo-esque than the top. This also makes me wish for summer to come back again!