Pattern Magic 2: Wearing a Square

One lot of facings flicked over shoulder

Facings hanging free

This is no doubt the easiest "pattern" in Pattern Magic 2...  there's barely any sewing to it, and not even that much measurement required.  

I made a little paper model first, like the one shown in the book, to understand how the top was to be cut from fabric and which areas needed proper measurements.  This is pre-gussets of course:

The author seems to have made all her creations from woven fabrics (linen?), but on the Wearing a Square pages she comments "It would be interesting to make up this simple garment in a stretch fabric."  Yes!  Finally time for my blue Marc Jacobs double-layer knit to have its moment in the sun! 

Mulling over my paper model and my too-large piece of fabric, I decided to modify the square by using a ridiculously large facing for the front opening - so making more a rectangle than a square. This is very easy to reduce later on though.  I also made rather long narrow sleeves, which get baggy half way down due to the large gussets.

Flat-pack top - the folded fabric down the middle is my extra-wide facing

I didn't finish the edges or sew on any closures because I kind of like unfinished knit edges but also I haven't decided what I want of this. Depending on the final width of the finished facing, this top could have a small cowl, a hood or a scarf (might take a few cuts). The look of the top changes depending how much of the facing is gathered up on the shoulders, which also depends on how much width of facing you have - but whatever extra width you have can obviously be sewn down in permanent ruching if you wish.

Facing folded in half to make a deep hood/scarf

Back view with most of the fabric gathered on shoulders

Side view showing deep gussets, narrow sleeves

Folded over facing and the long narrow sleeves

Adding other geometric shapes to the square or making the fabric folds less symmetric are some of the other possibilities that I'm thinking about...



PS I've come to this Pattern Magic fascination rather late really - if you're interested in seeing more creations from Pattern Magic 2, head over to this Flickr group.