The Breton Top

This top is inspired by two fellow Sewists – Scruffy Badger and So Zo.

As you can see, this is a close duplicate of the top Scruffy Badger recently made, using the book Sew U Home Stretch.

I really liked the tops Scruffy had made and wanted some of my own. I already had this striped jersey in my stash, bought from Saeed Fabrics. I ordered a copy of the book and set to.

I graded my pattern from a medium at the chest to a large everywhere else. I used Lite Steam A Seam on the neckline. I had to take the sleeves in by about three inches because they were flapping around my arms.

The hem line… It crept shorter and shorter and shorter – it took me three attempts to hem this baby. I finally cracked out the walking foot on my sewing machine and things went much better. It didn’t help that I was working with some really cheap thread that kept snapping. There was violent swearing. Not for the first time, I apologise to my neighbours.

But I kept at it, determined to win this war. In fact, I’ve decided to stop being so grumpy around knit fabrics, inspired by my second friend – So Zo. I really liked her recent interview with Stitch and Witter and the emphasise she placed on comfortable clothing. I’ve realised it’s silly to reject knit makes, just because I can buy a knit top in Sainsburys for a fiver. If I want a long sewing career, it can’t all be horsehair braid and bound buttonholes – there needs to be a balance.

I’m wearing the top with my V1247 skirt. Aren’t they great together? I definitely need to make more versions of this skirt.

I love the gold buttons I sewed to one shoulder…

I think I’m slowly getting somewhere. I guess the issue is that I’m having to eat humble pie, and I’m not always enjoying the taste. I thought I more or less knew how to sew – then knit fabrics whipped my ass. I had to start at the bottom again. But if there’s one thing I am, it’s stubborn! You’ll be seeing more knit makes around these parts.

STOP PRESS! There’s another Pattern Pyramid giveaway over at The Bookworm Sewist. She’s added five more patterns to the giveaway, including a darling suit and what looks like … a vintage onesie!