Pattern Description: Women's knit top with diagonally spliced and overlayed panels on front and back.
Pattern Sizing:1-4 and 5W-8W (all sizes included, along with separate fronts for B,C and D cups.) I am 5'4" tall, measure 35" at the bust and 28" at the waist, and made a size 3 with the C-Cup front pieces. Fits perfect.........granted this is a knit with negative ease, but I think the sizing works great. I made a size 2 last time in a Silhouette knit top, it was a bit too tight in the arms, so cut a size 3 this time.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!
Were the instructions easy to follow? Very easy to follow as long as you mark all the notches and pieces correctly - you end up with 8 overlay pieces between the front and back, important to keep them correctly marked so you don't mix them up, as they differ slightly in size and shape. Make sure to cut the pieces out with a rotary cutter if you are planning to leave the edges raw as the pattern instructs. One huge help with this stretchy, lightweight fabric was ultra-light stitch witchery. After I had all pieces cut out, I layed them out on the front and back panels as they would be sewn. I then placed a strip of lightweight stitch witchery under each overlay where it fastens to the base, and fused the overlays to the front panel before stitching them down. Stitch WitcheryThis kept the base from stretching out while stitching, and kept the panels properly placed. If I hadn't done this, I think the front could have gotten really rippley, but it was a breeze to sew once they were fused in place, and the stitch witchery was so light it did not add any bulk.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?Love everything about this top - trendy, quick and flattering! I will say that it ends up being a "heavy" top due to the multiple layers. I used a very lightweight poly/rayon knit, and it is still heavy.
Fabric Used:Poly/Rayon/Spandex knit from JoAnn's; originally priced at $12.99 per yard, bought on sale for 40% off. I pretty much wash everything in the washer; due to the rayon content in this fabric (25% rayon in the slub knit overlays, 32% rayon in the solid base and sleeves), I pre-washed the fabric two times to minimize shrinkage after sewing.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:I sewed this pattern exactly as written. Do be aware that the hems on all overlays, the body and sleeves are left "raw", similar to current trendy tops sold. Definitely cut the pieces with a rotary cutter to get a smooth, clean line for the un-hemmed hems! After wearing this top the first time, I ended up fusing a lightweight bias fusible tape to the wrong side of the bottoms of each panel. The lightweight knit kept rolling at the bottom of each panel and driving me crazy, but stayed flat once the fusible bias was added: Fusible Bias Tape
One design change I would make next time is to sew the front and back "base" pieces wrong sides together at the shoulder seam. That way, when the top section of the overlay is sewn to the neckline and flipped to the outside of the garment, the shoulder seams will be hidden in the neckline for a really clean finish, with no raw seams exposed. Shoulder SeamBut sewn as directed it still turned out really nice.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?I am DEFINITELY sewing this again.........but lengthening it and turning it into the column dress I saw on the Anthropologie website, my inspiration piece!
Conclusion: Love, love, love this pattern! Once you get past the unusual way to pick your sizing in Silhouette patterns, you realize they are drafted and fit beautifully. (Peggy Sagers has you pick pattern sizes by finished garment measurements instead of body measurements, to make sure you end up with the amount of ease you need.)
Front View
Side View
Okay, this is my first review, praying all these pictures insert as planned, I don't want to ask my teenage son to take pictures again!
|
|Login|Help]
to add a link
Pattern with more than 5 reviews!
Tina Lee, great review, thanks for the tip on the stitch witchery. My next Sunny's top is going to be light stretchy rayon knit, so that's very helpful. and I looked up the Anthropologie column dress. LOVE. If you make the dress, please post it and how you changed it to make a dress. I want to copy you!
2/27/13 6:41 AM
Agree, excellent review - thank you!
2/27/13 8:54 AM
Thanks for the review. I have the pattern and look forward to sewing it. I love reading reviews on Silhouette patterns.
2/27/13 9:38 AM
Thanks Ladies - I've lurked on this site for the past few years, figured it was time I started contributing the reviews I so love to read before I sew up a new pattern! Patti - I'll post the column dress when I get it made, hoping to have done before April 1st............yikes!
2/28/13 9:02 PM
Tina Lee what a great First Review! I have this pattern and I will check your review for all of your tips. Thank you, your Sunny's top is so nice, can't wait to see your dress.
3/1/13 0:45 AM
Very helpful review. Great looking top.
3/1/13 5:30 AM
Wonderful review and very cute top!!!
3/1/13 7:13 AM
This top is super cute - I love the colors you chose! I have also used tissue paper and stay tape in the same fashion that you used the stitch witchery, to prevent the rippling of seams on knits. Nice job and thanks for the review!
3/1/13 7:35 AM
Great review & I love your top!
3/1/13 12:08 PM
Thanks for the review and suggestions. I just bought this pattern today. I have been looking for four coordinating fabrics, but love what you did with two.
3/2/13 0:48 AM
Congrats on your first review! Where oh where did you find fusible bias binding?! I must have this product!
3/2/13 11:02 AM
Hi SavageCoco, I bought the fusible bias tape at the Sewing Expo here in Minneapolis, but just checked and you can buy it online from Lyla Messingers website, www.ljdesignsonline.com . I hope that's ok to put a website address in here! You can buy the staytape in black or white, in regular weight or superfine, and in bias or straight - 8 options total. Hope this helps - I hate paying shipping, but know I save at least $50 everytime I keep myself from going into the fabric store for some small notion, because I ALWAYS walk out with a couple pieces of fabric as well!
3/3/13 1:38 AM
Beautiful top and great review! Now I need to put this pattern on my wish list.
3/5/13 5:24 PM
I have this pattern and have added a Post-It Note with your review URL on it so I can refer back to your great review. Love all the tips and pointers, but most of all, the knit top!
3/28/13 1:59 PM
I hav had this pattern for awhile I also have been looking for the perfect 4 fabrics I think I will follow your idea and use 2 colors but hopefully at least one stripe! Thanks for a great review full of tips for success.
4/19/13 3:14 PM