Red Knit Top in a Day

I have been itching to do some sewing and the 3-day weekend was the perfect opportunity.  Many of you voted to start on the shower curtain, but I just couldn't resist a  quicky sewing project...so the new red knit top in a day was born.

Marcy Tilton by Vogue Red Knit top

I bought this pattern a while ago and had forgotten about it.  It fit the bill for a quicky top perfect for a 3-day weekend Saturday.  

I happened to have some red medium weight cotton knit that I bought for another project - all washed and ready to go.  As quick as that - the other top went to the bottom of the to-do pile.  

I didn't look closely at the time, but the pattern is a "wearable art" pattern which, I guess, means unfinished sort-of deconstructed/uneven seams. 

Lapped seams

You basically lap the front and back pieces and sew them down in a quarter inch seam with a varying zigzag stitch. 

Varying the zigzag from wide to straight stitch
on seams

The biggest challenge since starting to sew for myself again has been figuring out what size to sew.  Of course the fact that I'm still losing weight - down 36 pounds over the last 3 years! - doesn't make it easier to settle on a size.  My measurements are all over the place from a 12 to a 20!  

I ended up making a 16 and tapering the waist in a bit (Pattern sizes are frustratingly larger than ready-to-wear!). If I had followed my measurements on the pattern envelope, I would have made a much bigger size and it really would have overwhelmed me!  Thank goodness I tissue fitted the pattern on Donna the Dressform before cutting the fabric.

 I think that what I really need to do is get over my fear of cutting up my patterns and learn how to do a full bust adjustment.  Then I can make the smaller size everywhere else.  That will be my next challenge - after the promised shower curtain gets done!  Ha!  

My pup just couldn't resist being in the photo!  

Overall, the top was fun to make and easy to put together.  I did lengthen the top by 3 inches - it was way too short for me as drawn.  I also lengthened the sleeves from 3/4 to wrist length.  





















I'm not sure that the bat-sleeve, boxy look is the best look for me, but it is comfy and I will definitely wear this top with jeans on weekends.

Next up...Shower curtain...I promise!  ;-)