Splat! Top

I am running so behind with posts. This one was going to start with 'Yesterday...', then 'A week ago...' but it's longer than that now! Hopeless ;)

So. A month or more ago after the pants fitting class at Tessuti Fabrics I picked up a lovely fabric that I remembered seeing on Rachel's blog late last year - just a small remnant, but it looked like enough for a top.

I'd been hankering after a big boxy top (preferably in scuba fabric - wouldn't that be cool! Erika B has just made an awesome neoprene dress...), and I thought if I made this top a size too big with a thick fabric it might approximate the look I was after :). [Can a lightweight ponte ever approximate neoprene? Hmm? No? Oh....]

The pattern is this one, V8916, a Vogue wardrobe pattern (top, skirt, jacket and dress). The pattern shows a top made from lace, and lace and eyelet are the recommended fabrics, but the tech drawing showed potential as a basic boxy tee, and it didn't look to need much fabric.

I normally cut a size 12 in the bust in Vogue patterns, a size 10 in the shoulders and a size 14 in the waist, but to get the oversized shape I was after I cut this top out in a straight size 14.  

Back view - nothing much to say:

The house elves seem to have taken the pattern, along with half of the wearable school socks, but I remember this as being a ridiculously easy sew. As it's a stretch fabric I haven't used a centre back seam; the top doesn't need a zip or button closure. I didn't finish my seams (wait - am I allowed to admit that? is it contentious?) but I never finish t-shirt seams, and as none of my t-shirts have fraying seams I don't think I'll be starting any time soon. The neckline is just the fabric folded over and stitched down with a twin needle, as are the sleeve hem and hem, and as usual I've stabilised the shoulder seams with clear elastic held taught but not stretched. And I tried something new - something Megan at the pants fitting class recommended - instead of stay stitching I used tearaway stabiliser to keep the neckline from stretching out - it worked, but I'll need to experiment with a few more projects before I decide whether I prefer it.

The top passes the jump test - some riding up, but absolutely no constriction - and jumping always gets a smile, so I guess that's a PASS:

Here's the pattern envelope picture in case you're interested to see what a delicate beauty the top is supposed to look like. The model obviously needs to try some jumping:

I will TRY to be back soon with more backlog projects. Actually I've got even more than before because my mum's handed over two of her own sewing projects for me to keep - two very, very different tops from the same pattern!


Keep jumping


- Gabrielle xxx