My latest sewing project is this cute top from Simplicity 2603. The pattern envelope hardly even shows this top, but it is a hidden gem!
For fabric, I used an ITY jersey knit that I purchased a couple of months ago from Fabric.com. This was my first time using ITY and I like it a lot; it looks silky but not polyester-y, giving it a bit of a dressier look than other knits.
As far as alterations, I did full-bust and full-back alterations. Doing this rather than going up a size gives me a really nice fit in the neck and shoulders. To do the alterations, I simply placed the front and back pattern pieces a little bit away from the fold to add width. These simple alterations work with this pattern because of the neck band and the gathers at the neckline. For the front, I simply added the extra width to the gathering. In the back, I eased the extra into the neckband.
Placing the Back Piece Away From the Fold to Add Width
I should probably have done a sway back adjustment, but I didn’t. My prior attempts at doing so have not been entirely satisfactory and I didn’t feel like trying it with this project.
Notice the pooling in the small of my back?
This top looks great with black pants. In the summer I will wear it alone, but for cooler weather it works nicely with a black cardigan.
With the Cardigan
BTW, I wish that background were my home, but alas, it is the view from our lodging in the Napa Valley weekend before last.
My full Pattern Review can be found here.
From Scratch 