It's such a cute pattern, and I really love the shoulder gussets. They are a great detail and they would really shine if they were colour blocked. There are also many fabulous stripey versions of this in blogland and on instagram; but, I never seem to find great stripey fabric myself.
Instead this is an Art Gallery knit called Orni Incandesence. The quality is top, but this fabric is pricey: £18 a metre in most places. I am rather a cheapskate and would normally only buy fabric at that price if I literally worshipped the design! So, I was very lucky to be given this fabric by a newbie quilter who had bought it not realising it was a stretchy jersey (as a thank you, I have given her a great book on getting into easy quilting).
So, one evening I felt inspired to use it for this pattern. Now, this isn't like me; normally when I have expensive fabric I agonise over cutting it out and put off sewing it for fear of screwing it up! This time, I just cut into it and started sewing. It was only halfway through I started to question whether I should have trialed this with a cheapie knit first. Yes, I should have, is the answer!! I fear however I may now be spoilt for using cheaper jersey.
It's fine, but not as neat or as pleasant a sew as if I had had a practice go first. I struggled with some of the instructions, and had to do a bit of unpicking! The instructions have you set the sleeve then sew up the side seam and sleeve in two parts to avoid getting in a mess at the underarm; with the awkward seam allowances catching in the seams. I just could not do it! At one point I had unpicked so many times there was a massive hole under the arm! In the end I just had to abandon and come back a few days later with fresh eyes. I must have misunderstood something because it didn't come easily!
That aside, the finished top is great: nice colour, interesting shape. A real win. I have had so many compliments wearing this top out. Even total strangers have told me how great this top is: made my day and my week! I just wish it came over better in the pics.
Will I make more? Maybe, but the difficulties I had with the instructions have really put me off. Having said that, it uses very little fabric and the resulting top is really fun; I just need to get my head around that underarm seam! In the end, I'm happy with finished top, and feel confident and comfortable in it, and that's what counts, right?
