A double up success

I need a good night sleep, because a drive to Montreal and a weekend with 50 fabulous women is about to commence.  But I promised a review, and a review will be wrote. writ. written. published. What EVER.

So on to

Butterick 5495  – A Review

Butterick 5495

Spill what you know about the pattern description!  From the envelope -Loose-fitting tops A, B, C, D with front drape gathered into loop, dropped shoulder, seam details and stitched hems. A, B: sleeveless. C, D: short or long kimono type sleeves.  What I think it should say.  Close fitting tops A,B,C,D with front drape gathered and held with a loop of fabric.  A,B: sleeveless with length variations.  C,D 2 sleeve lengths – kimono or dolman styling.

Who should make this top.  I would rate it advanced beginner.  If you are savy about reading patterns, it is a quick and easy pattern.  Don’t make it if you are Apple shaped, but I think that it would suit any cup size.  Don’t quiz me on how to do a FBA on this one.  I don’t know and I don’t care.  Blame my cousin.  She went in for a breast reduction about 10 years ago and didn’t invite me or my sisters to share in her discards!

Fabric?  Well you should know that I made two versions of this.  Let’s call them Version A and Version B (I know, the depths of my wit and IQ are wondrous!)  The fabric for both came from Fabricland.  I waltzed into that store grabbing bolt after bolt.  “A metre of this, a metre of that, a metre- no wait, 1.5 please of that”  You know the way we fabric store mavens throw out amounts like we know what we are talking about.  Until we get home and realize that the pattern takes a mere metre of 160cm wide fabric, and all the knits that were so cheap were 115cm wide.  Live and learn! At least it gives you, the reader, a better idea of where the seaming of the pattern is! 
Version A used two differernt, but coordinating fabrics.  View B may look familiar, especially if you read my friend Kay’s blog .  We have been emailing back and forth so that this weekend, in Montreal, we don’t look like a fashion faux pas! 

What makes this pattern so interesting.  Glad you asked!  It is really just a variation of the old twist top, but with the fullness gathered in, not twisted. It is remarkably like a Knip Mode pattern that Melissa over at FherTrade made.  (I don’t get Knip Mode, but my mom is going to Holland next week and has promised to try to track down a copy.  We DO have Knip Modes from the 50′s and 60′s though.  I should dig those up…)   There has been some discussion that the top is too tight and too paunchy in the abdomen.  I don’t find it too tight,I rather like the way the upper bodice fits especially.  The pattern pieces do cause a moment of wonderment, but it all makes sense quickly.

There is no gaposis  in the front whatsoever. I will admit it is a bit blousonly (is that a word- or did I just muck up the spelling?)  but it makes me want to stand up straight and pull in my gut!  I measured the area that gets gathered up- I believe it was 13 inches that gets reduced to 2 by the fabric loop.

Do you have any caveats about the pattern?  As always, I lengthened it.  I am not too thrilled with the handling of the neckline facing.  It is just turned under. 

 That’s it.  no seam finishing, no interfacing, no nothing. But you know?  It works.  On a fast and dirty one hour top, I’m not complaining!

Thumbs up?  Thumbs down?   Up for sure.  Know your body type, grade up if needed, and you should be okay.  Will I make it again?  Well, I have two already , but I do have a winter white fabric that needs a home.

And the finished product.  Excuse the hair and lack of makeup.  It’s been a long day, starting in the barn this am at 6:30, lunching with my fabulous sisters, visiting my mom and dad, trying to golf in the pouring rain,and packing.

Wait- it's not quite perfect...

There!

Version 2, or "Oh Kay!"

Gathering in the bodice

Shoulder shot- just because!

My car is packed – to the rafters!  I’m off to Montreal tomorrow morning for the First Ever Pattern Review Weekend in Montreal.  We ,the organizing committee have pretty well written a book with our emailing back and forth!  I am excited to see old friends, meet new ones and see if that gorgeous Cirque de Soliel $150/metre solid encrusted fabric is still calling me…..
I will try to write a short post each night, but that depends on how much of the wine that Kay and I are each packing gets consumed!