A couple of Sutton tops

Not the most flattering photo I've ever taken but it demonstrates exactly how much I love the True Bias Sutton pattern. So much so, that I made two black ones before going on holiday to Spain last month. Yes, I was on a bit of a sewing-production-line! I bought two meters of black viscose fabric from Edinburgh Fabrics and cut out a plain black Sutton. I have coveted this version for a few years so of course I decided to copy it! That's how the two black Suttons came about.

The only really fiddly bit is sewing the bias binding onto the lace around the neck. That takes some patience and some time to do correctly but the effort is worthwhile. I sewed the plain black Sutton using french seams throughout. 

For the lace version I used french seams when sewing viscose to viscose but if lace was involved I overlocked those seams. I felt that trying to french seam lace was just too much of a challenge!

For the sleeve hems I overlocked the hem edges, then turned the overlocked edge to the wrong side, and straight stitched the hem. Job done! I absolutely love these two and have been washing and wearing them almost weekly. The thing I love about this pattern is that it sits where you put it. There's no adjusting it through the day when you're wearing it and the v-necked front doesn't make a dive for the floor when you bend slightly over. It just works. That surely must be the sign of a great pattern!

A Sutton blouse

Oh how I love this top! I love absolutely everything about it...the length, the depth of the neckline and how it doesn't flop forward into a 'wardrobe malfunction' if you lean forward, the fabric, the finishing, the hi-lo hem and yes, the challenge it gave me. More of that later. So there we have it, I really like this pattern...*hovers over Publish button'...but...I know you'd like some more details so here we go.

This is not a picture heavy post, by the way. I took these photos a few weeks ago on the Sutton's inaugural voyage outdoors so I just need to get the bloomin' thing blogged! I've washed and worn the blouse twice already.

I've had my eye on the True Bias Sutton blouse pattern for a wee while and then there came a time when I thought I needed some more summer top patterns as the ones I have feel a bit same-y. Yes, dear readers, I purchased the PDF.

I already had 2 metres of this 100% polyester John Kaldor 150cm wide fabric hovering at the top of my 'to sew' list but no pattern leaping out at me until the Sutton.

This pattern takes quite a reasonable amount of fabric. I can't remember if I cut a size 10 or 12 but the fabric requirement for both sizes is around 1.6m and I lengthened the body by 2". I didn't make any other adjustments to the pattern. Basically I used up most of those 2 metres I had.

The neck edge is finished with bias binding made from the fabric. It has kimono sleeves and a yoke so there are huge possibilities for 'doing your own thing' with this pattern and ending up with very different garments each time. I particularly like this version with a lace yoke so you may see my version in the future.

The challenge for me was that it's constructed throughout using French seams. Hey hey, that was a surprise! I've never sewn French seams before but there's nothing like having to just get on with it so I slowed right down and...followed the pattern! Who knew that would work out so well, ha ha! Accuracy (and following the instructions too) was the key when you're sewing teeny-tiny seams and not the hefty 15mm seam allowance I like to charge my way through in a cavalier manner. Having said all that, because you're sewing each seam twice, it does take a little longer to sew up than 'normal' but you're also aware that you're sewing a good quality garment. I found the whole process very satisfying. All of this careful sewing has resulted in a lovely top that fits really well. There will be more!