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Saturday, February 25, 2012

Vogue 8497 - Marcy Tilton Top


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Thanks to all of you who voted!
I won the Jeans Contest on Pattern Review!
Woot!

I hope I'm not becoming too repetitive, but I seem to be on a knit top roll. I've had this pattern for a long time, intending to get around to it "one of these days".

I've been collecting some great rayon lycra knits, and I've worked out a TnT pattern that I can lay on top of other patterns and transfer the fit, so there's no stopping me now. :)

I decided to make a variation of view B, which Marcy shows on her website (search the page for "Holey Moley").

Originally, I planned to insert a circle or two as she shows in her tutorial, but the fabric I used is a very lightweight, very drapey rayon/lycra and it would have been more painstaking than I wanted to deal with. (Those circles would be much easier in a cotton lycra.)


Marcy's variation of view B

Materials:

  • A lightweight rayon/lycra. I think I bought this from Emma One Sock.

Alterations and Modifications:

  • I redrew the shape of the front seam to mimic the tan striped top on Marcy's site. I think this is a more flattering line for my bust.
  • Rather than using the cut-on sleeve from the pattern, I used the armscye and sleeve from my TnT tee.
  • Borrowing the construction from the last few collaged tops I've made, I serged the shaped front seam, shaped back seam and hems. I overlapped the front seams and stitched on the conventional machine. I did the same for the back seam.
  • I used a neckline treatment I have used, and blogged about, before. I saw this on a top in Marcy's wardrobe.

    Same neckline treatment, different top. For this one I cut the strip on the bias and lined up the three raw edges to be even.


    The back neck, from this top.

    To summarize:
    • Cut a 1.5" vertical strip longer than the neckline.
    • Fold it in half the long way and press the crease.
    • Lay the strip against the neckline so that the raw edges of the strip are extended slightly beyond the raw edge of the neckline - maybe 1/8".
    • Top-stitch 1/8" from the folded edge of the strip, pulling slightly as you round the curves. To see my favorite video showing how to calculate a binding for a scoop neck, and how to attach the strip to the neckline, see the Sarah Veblen Neckline Binding for Knits video on the Threads Magazine website. I used Sarah's basic technique for calculating the length and attaching the strip, but applied to Marcy's raw edge technique. It's an excellent video, well worth pinning.

Conclusion:

I am really having fun with these rayon lycra print knit tops! They are so stretchy, but with good recovery. They are soft, comfy, and, I hope, flattering, flowing over lumps and bumps but not clinging to them. And I can whip one of these up in an evening!

Oh, you'll never guess what happened! I was typing this entry last night when the control key on my keyboard split in half. It's usable, but annoying, so it's back to the Apple Store today!

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33 comments:

  1. Another gorgeous top! Sorry to hear you're having all sorts of issues with your computer.

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  2. LOVE the top! and I love the way you're morphing all these tops, using the best features of each.

    Congratulations on the PR Jeans win! Brava Shams!

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  3. Love your top - the fabric is gorgeous too. Thanks so much for the link to the video tutorial. I really need to see things happen to learn and I have never done a binded neckline so am looking forward to it.

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  4. Congratulations on the win on PR! Love that fabric, looks almost hand dyed, doesn't it? The top looks great on you.

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  5. I love this top. I have the pattern and would never have guessed it was the one you used. I need to visit Marcy's site more often. To get ideas, and neat fabrics like you use. Congrats on the jean contest win!

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  6. congratulations on a well deserved win in the jeans contest! I am loving your tees and keeping all your great ideas handy for when I finally come back to knits again. Right now I'm sewing a cotton/linen dress (yes, a dress!) and also a crepe back satin blouse.

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  7. You choose the best fabrics for your tshirts. I like the way the stripes show off the design details of your top.

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  8. Congratulations of winning the Jeans Contest. Your jeans are truly unique and stylish.

    The top you made is great. I like the variation in color in the fabric and how you used the stripes as a design element in your top.

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  9. It looks great! I think I have this pattern too. And congrats on winning the contest. :-)

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  10. I absolutely love this top and the last ones you made. You are such an inspiration.I just love your work!

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  11. Yay for winning the Jeans Contest!! Well deserved, since you have revolutionized jeans for the rest of the world!!! Brava!

    Those tops as fabulous! I have that pattern in the archive, and haven't ever sat down to think about how I'd use it. I need to go through the fabric closet.

    Of course the control key never breaks in half unless you are using it!

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  12. Great tops! I especially like the way you finished the neckline. Just perfect.

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  13. Congratulations on the win! Good for you! Your top is marvy!

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  14. Congrats on winning jean contest. Love this top. I have been enjoying seeing all of your new tops.

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  15. Another congrats on the win! I was following this contest quite closely (as you can tell) - very happy-dancing for you.

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  16. ah, glad you won! Congratulations. Cute top too.

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  17. First congratulations on winning the contest! That is soooooo kewl!

    Second, if tops is what you want to make, then make them. You know what your wardrobe needs most. And finally, where did you purchase your fabric from its pretty awesome!

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  18. I love what you did with the pattern and the fabric, but most of all how GREAT this looks on you. Your ongoing passion and commitment to your designing and making clothes for yourself is so inspiring. I'd sort of 'forgotten' this pattern too....time to make another version for myself. I've used it over and over again, tweaking the piecing shapes, making it bigger for a cardigan etc. Keep blogging and sewing!

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  19. Thanks, everyone!

    @Carolyn, I bought this from EOS, but I just saw it on Marcy's site. She calls is Blur. She also has it in blue and white but it was called something else. Just look under Knits. But if you want it, buy it, because she'll probably take it to Puyallup and sell all of it!!

    @Marcy, Thanks!! I have lots of fun mining your website for inspiring ideas. Thanks to YOU!

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  20. I absolutely love that Marcy pattern on you. You look good. Congrats on winning the jeans contest. Yours was surely the cutest and classiest. Thanks so much for that video on necklines. That is so helpful. I have PatternMaster Boutique knits and made a top using a really flimsy rayon knit. The neckline band was a real challenge.

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  21. I tried to vote for you, but I was 3 days too late. Looks like you didn't need my vote anyways! Congrats! I love your new t-shirt! I like the tie-dye, and I love anything with a diagonal stripe/print.

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  22. congratulations on the big win! I can't seem to get on the PR website right now. And another great top. Thanks for reminding me about this pattern.
    I have it too.

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  23. Sharon, this is just a great post. Thanks so much. Such a gathering of cool ideas. Makes we want to get back into sewing knits. Your tops are fab.

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  24. Yet another super-cool top! You are the reason I now have an array of Marcy Tilton patterns (and have raided Dharma Trading Co. for felting supplies).

    So, I hope you are flattered and not annoyed (because of the chain-letterish aspects) that I've nominated you for a Versatile Blogger award! You're creativity has been a great inspiration for me. You can see my blog post about this at http://peggyscloset.blogspot.com/.

    To accept the Versatile Blogger award you follow these rules:
    1. Add the award to your blog;
    2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you;
    3. Mention 7 random things about yourself;
    4. List the rules;
    5. Give the award to 15 bloggers;
    6. Inform each of those 15 bloggers by leaving a comment on their blog.

    Thanks! ~ Peggy

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    Replies
    1. Peggy, what a sweetie pie! Actually, I hope it won't offend you, but I don't participate in these sorts of blogger awards. They trigger my social anxiety, weird as that may sound.

      I am extremely flattered that I have enabled you, in some small way, to get excited about being creative! And I'm sorry if I made you spend more money. ;D

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  25. I like the finer stripe on your latest version the best. Sewing blogs are like sex. Repetition is fine, as long as you spice it from time to time.

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  26. quick note to let you know i nominated you for the sunshine award

    http://houseofpinheiro.blogspot.com/2012/02/sunshine-award.html

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  27. Congratulations on the win!
    Lovely top. You manage to make even knit tops look exciting.

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  28. I am confused about the neck treatment. I think I understand up through stitching done the folded edge of the neckband, but then what do you do with the three layers of raw edges at the top of the neckline? Thanks!

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    1. You don't do anything. They just are what they are - three raw edges pointing upwards. :)

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  29. I'm loving these tops, Shams. The blur fabric is so cool, and you used it to great advantage. Don't you just love Marcy's web site for inspiration? I go there often to draw from her well of knowledge and experience.
    I've made this top twice, with two different seam designs, but not this particular one. now you've given me a great idea for a fabric I want to sew up for spring. I love your idea of nixing the dolman sleeves. I've concluded they don't really flatter me. I look far better with a set in sleeve that hits in the classic position at the edge of the shoulder/top of the arm.
    Great work, and congrats on the win at PR! I'm giving you my Inspiration of the Week award, but you don't have to post it anywhere on your blog, or follow a bunch of rules. Just have fun!!!

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  30. shams,

    You have been awarded The Versatile Blog Award! Display the badge on your blog by using the HTML code below. I have removed the first left vee < and you will need to add it back in when you use the code. Go to http://kf-biblioblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-goes-around-comes-around.html for the simple rules. Congratulations, Mary

    img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__GelmPSuz0/TptmHAlTDyI/AAAAAAAAD6A/xkbOUjXz9Zo/s1600/Versatile-Blogger-Icon.bmp" />

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