Pattern Description: From the Jalie website, "Top with criss-cross front. View A has a short flutter sleeve, View B has a flared three-quarter sleeve and View C is sleeveless." I made View B.
Sizes: All of them(27!) ranging from girls' size 2 to women's size 22
Did it look like the photo/drawing? Yes, more or less.
How were the instructions? They were okay. The majority were just fine. The only beef I had was with the closure of the front for those of us who are not nursing moms
Likes/dislikes? I loved the last Jalie pattern I made, so I thought, after being knocked on my kiester with the flu last week that this would be a good way to get myself back into the sewing room.
What I didn't like is the construction of the front. This pattern is beautifully designed for nursing moms. It's got a discreet opening in the front, and you tack the bottom front to the crossover. But for those of us whose nursing days are over (thank the heavens!), the construction is awkward at best. The instructions have you attach the two crossovers at the side seams, then attach the bottom front to the back at the side seams,leaving it unattached from the crossovers until later, when you sew it in place. That's really kludgey. I need to think a bit about how best to remedy it. If I make it again I'll give better instructions. Other than that, it's really well drafted.
Changes/Design Alterations: Just one. Instead of turning and sewing down the seam allowances at the neckline and bottom of the crossovers, I bound them with Beaujolais Rayon Jersey. I got this idea from CabinBaby. I like the contrast. Other than that, nothing.
Fabric used: Bold Boho Chic Jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics, trimmed with Rayon Jersey in Beaujolais. This fabric has really grown on me. It's got all sorts of interesting printing on it, and you can make it look very different by positioning your pattern on different areas of the fabric.
Would you make it again? Recommend it to others? Maybe. This is not the uncontested winner that the Sweetheart Top was. As I say, the construction for non-lactating moms makes it less than optimal But I do like it, and I do recommend it.
Conclusion: A good pattern . Like I say, it's not the grand-slam my first one was, but it sure isn't bad, and I would definitely sew Jalie again and again. Here's a picture of the finished garment:
Happy Sewing!
15 comments:
Looks fabulous -- I especially like your trimming the neckline/crossover bottoms in the Beaujolais jersey as opposed to turning them to the inside. Can you point me to a site that would have instructions on how to do this? Do you just cut bias a certain width, sew it to your edges and then fold the bias up and over the edge and topstitch?
Despite the construction problems, this top looks like an incredible winner. I love, love the fabric and the pink trim makes it even lovelier. Great job.
I love it! Love the contrasting trim!
You know, I ordered four Jalies last week after seeing your Sweetheart top. Now, I wish I had ordered this one as well because your version is so much more interesting than the photo on the Jalie site. Now I also want that fabric! Gigi
Wow that top is great! I couldn't figure out how you were going to work out the border print with that pattern. It really looks great!
I wondered how the unfastened-ness of this design would work out (I'd be leery of a wardrobe malfunction), so thanks for the review. Your version looks fresh and fun.
I really like this! But it is the fabric and what you have done with it. Love pink and green together. The pattern is cute too.
Glad to hear you are over the flu! What a night you had at the sale. I could have had those Midori drinks for you. Midori in Champagne is the best!!!!
Almost thou persuadest me to order the Boho jersey!
I love that pink trim with it. That's not my favorite Jalie pattern, but I'm sure I have something around here that would look fab trimmed out that way.
But I'm too far from parity to order new fabric at the moment. And I bet it's gone before I catch up...sigh...
Oh wow! Your version should be on the pattern envelope. It looks amazing! I'm absolutely in love with green and pink combination!
Everything about this top is perfect! I love it!
Any reason you can think of that would prevent me from lengthening this and turning it into a dress? I can see the DD loving one in black with cream trim. Please say no, so I can stop acquiring patterns -Karla
This is gorgeous! As I would expect. I love this fabric!
Karla, I think this would work great as a dress. I've made a few of them and they are great as tops. Funny that you mention the dress because I was thinking the same thing. The only thing that you would have to watch is the bottom panel. It is actually separate from the other pieces. You stitch the bottom to one of the crosses. You would just have to make sure the dress fabric was not too heavy on the front.
With rather a lot of lactating in my very near future, I think I NEED this one. Nursing clothes, like maternity clothes, should NOT be drab and boring. Yours looks as fabulous as I would expect from you!
I love how you've done the edges on this, is there any chance you could do a quick tutorial on how you did it? I had a look at your link to Cabinbaby, but I can't find anything there about it! Please, please, please??????
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