Stylearc is a pattern company that I have been wanting to love, but haven't quite. This top is the Amber Woven Blouse, and I think it has been my most successful stylearc project so far.
I think that the success is largely due to the fabric choice. It is a stretch silk georgette, which is not a fabric that I have used before. It drapes well and I suspect is rather forgiving when it comes to fit. I bought it to make a dress for my daughter and then used something else for her instead. I thought that the fabric would then languish in the stash as it wasn't really "me". Now that I have made this top up, I totally love it.
I changed the pattern a bit to use a wide lace insert. The external facing piece on the original pattern is round. I got the lace from Lincraft, tea-dyed it (though maybe not enough, or maybe it didn't take the tea too well), then found it torn, so had to do some repair embroidery with solvy underneath. This is a technique for machine embroidery that I have read about and never had need to use until now. I also changed to a bias binding on the neck to keep the lace in check.
I only had to make minimal fit changes (I did make a muslin, and then when I went to adjust the pattern, I could not find the muslin and had to guess the changes). I shaped the side seams a little, widened the hip area and raised the front darts.
I will make this pattern again, probably using the colour blocking suggested on the pattern.
I have been wondering about stylearc patterns. They seem to have a zillion cool patterns on their site. I love the lace insert. It's fantastic. And that was some serious dedication to repair it with embroidery.
ReplyDeleteThis pattern looks like a winner to me. I am a recent convert to raglan sleeves! I like what you've done with the lace and that there are infinite possibilities for future versions.
ReplyDeleteA very attractive top, particularly the imaginative lace insert; worth the extra work to mend it, from this end! I like StyleArc patterns myself, though they are expensive with shipping to the USA for me.
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't mind a question: what town do you live in now? I enjoyed very much learning about your previous town, an area of Oz I knew less than nothing about. It was fascinating and informative to look up about the entire area and sad to see what happened and is happening to the town. I'd like to do the same about whereever you are now, if you don't object.
Hi Jess,
DeleteI am living in Gladstone, an industrial, coastal town in central Queensland. It is certainly not as unique as my last hometown!
Lovely top. I love the lace insert.
ReplyDeleteSo Gladstone is still 'endless summer'? I've not much experience with northern Queensland.
ReplyDeleteThat fabric is beautiful, I think it looks wonderful on you, and I'm really curious as to where you got such delicious fabric?
I also love the lace inset, though it looks white, not really tea-dyed in the picture. I remember reading a discussion in tea-dying, and how to not have it wash out. The consensus seemed to be to use less effective laundry detergents. Modern ones work too well! (Fortunately for me who accidentally tea-dyes her tops quite often...)
I figure there'd be a mordant to make it more colourfast but I haven't researched that. One day...
The fabric is from EmmaOneSock. I bought for a flowergirl dress for my daughter, then when we went with a different fabric choice, I was left with this fabric...which I would not have picked for me but rather like now that it is made up.
DeleteLove this! I have lots of small pieces of fabric, so this pattern could be a winner for me.
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