Riverside (self-drafted) top

 I had fabric off-cuts left over from my A-line skirt, and was inspired by both the May and June Pop-up sewalongs at Pattern Review to make this.

party in the back

The May theme was matchy matchy - and I considered different tops to go with the skirt. Perfect match! But I did not get around to it.

The June theme is Cool and Breezy. Since there was not a lot of fabric left it was bound to be a good cool and breezy summer top.

Plan one was to try to make the Marta dress bodice as a stand alone top. That would have required more fitting skills than I felt like I had.

The idea percolated for a while, then I thought of this pattern. I had copied a RTW top a few years ago, and it seemed a good fit. BUT... there was not QUITE enough for all the pieces. I was able to piece the centre front, adding a piece at the bottom, but not enough to do the same in the back. I had purchased some quilting cotton at an estate sale in April, the tones of which were perfect for this top. I considered doing some standard colour blocking: a strip in the back somewhere.

Business in the front

Then I got laryngitis and had trouble sleeping, and 'woke up' in a fog one morning, and had this vision - of  a lattice insert. Immediately I was convinced.

The next problem, of course, is to operationalize this!

In the end, it was not too problematic. I drew out the placement on a piece of paper, and tried to use that as a guide. In the end, I eyeballed it, and it is fairly balanced. 

The pattern is not perfect. It is challenging to get those bars across the upper back nice and even, and then I noticed that there are gapes. The back gapes, as do the armholes. However I was able to fix the gape at the back; see photos below). As for the armholes - too bad for me. No apparent fix!

 

 

The main fabric is more of the ramie from the skirt. And the contrast is from a length of 'Christmas' labelled quilting cotton purchased at an estate sale. (As mentioned already!)

I am really thrilled with the look of the skirt and top together.

A note about the name 'Riverside top'. Many Independent pattern makers give names, (rather than, or as well as, numbers) to their patterns. I asked on Pattern Review for a name for my top and a member (Seamingly Simple, from Alberta) came up with this name. She was possibly inspired by her visit to Ottawa, when we had lunch then went for a leisurely walk along the river, where I often swim as well. Perfect name, and I am grateful for the idea!

 

after adjusting centre back

also after adjusting centre back