Tuesday, August 26, 2008

BWOF 8/08 #109 Top

First Things First: The top is not that orange! It's just one of those colors that doesn't photograph; I've tried flash, daylight, everything, and it looks fluorescent. I promise it isn't. Okay, on to the review.

Pattern Description: This top simply can't be topped! It just clings to your body as it's made up in fine knit, the plain raglan cut allowing the unusual print to tell the story.

Pattern Sizing: BWOF 34-42. I made a 38.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Pretty much, yes. I'd started out making #108, with the mock turtleneck, but when I decided not to use a zipper I changed to pattern #109 and just banded the neckline.

Were the instructions easy to follow? They were pretty clear for BWOF, but then again this is a pretty straightforward top. Like Dawn, I had trouble understanding what they were talking about with the armhole bands, so I omitted them entirely and turned the fabric under and stitched it. Unless you stare at my underarms, it's not obvious.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked the raglan sleeves, and I wanted a turtleneck for my Mini-Wardrobe to set off the collar of the jacket I made. I intended to make it in a gold sweater knit. Does this look anything like a gold sweater-knit turtleneck? Well, no, but I still really like it, and unless I change my mind, it'll be the last piece of my wardrobe anyway.

Fabric Used: Since my Fabric.com sweater knit turned out more tan than gold, I picked up this vibrant rust poly knit at my local store. The closest I can come to describing the hand is to show my age and say it feels like qiana. Remember qiana?

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I omitted the zipper right off, as soon as I realized I could get my head through the neck opening. I didn't want to put a zipper in a sweater knit, and I didn't relish the idea in this drapy poly either. Losing the zipper meant losing the mock turtleneck, so instead I just made a band collar and topstitched it down. I lengthened the top by about 1" because a lot of BWOF's tops just don't work for me lengthwise. I could have left this alone, but the length is okay - the fabric is thin enough that I can tuck it in if I want to.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I'll definitely sew this again, and maybe next time I'll use a fabric sturdy enough to support a zipper so I can make the collar I'd intended. I really like the two-piece raglan sleeve, though I may play with it and turn it into a real sleeve instead of having the armhole open at the bottom. But that's still a recommendation, it's just a pattern to be played with depending on the user.

Conclusion: A cute top with relatively unmystifying instructions, and I think this one has potential to be turned into other interesting tops.

3 comments:

-E said...

what a great top! I love the ooba-boobala angle in the first pic :)

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

It is a very pretty top!

Tany said...

You did a fabulous job; I'm planning to make this one too and I think it's a great base pattern for some creative effects like adding a different type of sleeves or playing with knit lace fabric!