Pattern: Nikko top by True Bias
Fabric: Family Fabrics – Jersey – Watercolor Mahogany Cherry
95% Cotton 5% Lycra at Cross and Woods
This blog is a collaboration with Cross and Woods
No matter how much I love swishy summer dresses with all the frills you can get, nothing beats layer season. I just love getting dressed for the colder weather and turtlenecks are one of my most favorite items, I know, they're not for everyone, but they really make me feel elegant and grown up ;)
So I was really pleased to have a chance to try the Nikko top and dress by True Bias, just what I needed for my autumn/winter wardrobe! And when the Cross and Woods ladies updated their shop with the latest Family Fabrics I just KNEW I had to make my top in the watercolor cherry blossom.
When the fabric came in it was even better than I expected it to be. The fabric has just the right amount of stretch for this top. It's firm and shapes back great. I love the brightness of the colors, even after washing they still hold great. The warm tones just fill my heart with autumnly bliss, don't get me wrong, I hate the wet, love the red. I can't WAIT to sew this up!
The pattern has 4 views:
A mock turtleneck top with or without sleeves, or a mock turtleneck dress with or without sleeves. Although the sleeveless views (A & D) are cut to resemble a racerback, you can still wear them with a regular bra, which is a big plus for me. The dress views, views C and D are straighter through the waist and hip, extending to the ankle, with knee-length side slits to complete the dress.
Confession: This is the first time I've ever used a paper pattern. I don't know why, but it always felt like so much work, because I started sewing last year with the use of digital patterns (the pattern is also available in pdf) I never considered using paper patterns.
I must say, although I thought it would be much more work, it wasn't really. I loved that I didn't have to tape pages together, I just layed the pattern paper and pattern on my floor, traced the size I needed with a tracing wheel (it was in a box I found in a thrift store), cut it out with a rotary cutter (yes you want that) and cut out the fabric. Easy Peasy.
Sewing:
It's a delicious fast and easy sew, especially when you use a serger like me.
I think I had it finished in an hour. I skipped the clear elastics in the shoulder seams, simply because I didn't have any, it's meant to stabilize your seams and prevent it from stretching out, so you might want to add it as stated in the pattern. You can find a great tutorial on how to use it here:https://blog.colettehq.com/tutorials/tutorial-stabilizing-and-gathering-knits-with-clear-elastic
I finished my hems with a twin needle on my sewing machine, because I love that so much better than a zigzag stitch, if you've never tried it you might want to try it out, it's not as hard as it seems and you get a lovely finish.
Fitting:
I made a size 10 based on my chest measurements, I have a large bust compared to my waist, but the best thing about this pattern is is that that front and back pieces are curved in the waistline, so even though my waist is a size 8 the top still nicely hugs my body without being it too tight around my bust. Speaking about too tight: the neck part is perfect, not too loose, not too tight.
I didn't alter anything on the pattern and I don't think it needs any fitting alterations, I love the sleeve length, and the general length of the top is perfect for me. I'm a big fan of tucking it in in a high waist pants (Check out the Lander pants for example, still on my to-do list https://www.crossandwoods.com/?s=true+bias&post_type=product) or skirt (it would be amazing with a lush linen Estuary skirt by Sew Liberated https://www.crossandwoods.com/shop/sewing/sewing-patterns/sew-liberated-estuary-skirt-pattern/) but I can see it work perfectly over a skinny jeans. And how about layering it under a sleeveless dress like I did with my hacked v-neck Hinterland?
The pattern instructions are very clear, and if you have a serger or am used to sew with knit fabrics this pattern won't be too hard for you to follow, I'm planning to make a lot more, that's for sure ;)
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