Sometimes it is only takes a small change to render something eminently more wearable. This turtle-neck top became a boat-neck with a simple chop and sew, making for a more relaxed and comfortable look.

This is the last day of posting from KL, which has provided some great inspiration, multi-cultural colour and food for thought regarding dress customs and choices. Known as the fourth-best shopping in the world after New York, Tokyo and London, I’ve resisted the many temptations and purchased only a couple of pieces of batik (oh and the silk treats from Gulati’s Silk House).

I brought this Sew 181 top with me, planning to chop off the neck because it was tight and uncomfortable. And that’s what I did, using sharp scissors and beginning with a nick in one side, I then trimmed it into the shape I wanted which was slightly higher at the back than the front. I then zigzagged the raw edge on my travel sewing machine using white cotton. It crinkled up prettily, and worked well with a white linen frilled skirt I made years ago. The leftover neck fabric can be folded into a headband by overlapping edges on the inside – no stitching required, unless you particularly wanted to. I wore it with a drape of muslin about 1.5m long as a scarf.