For my final share of the Rainbow Dress pattern from Patterns for Pirates, I’m bringing you a TOP instead of a dress! Judy originally didn’t have this in the pattern plan, but added the top length because a) she’s awesome and b) she thought it’d be a perfect layering piece for high waisted pants / overalls / skirts / etc.
She was right. It’s perfect for all those applications. And then some. As you can tell by these photos, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to wear it tucked in or outside of my skinnies. So I did both!
The top is very much a fitted top. It has negative ease built in to hug all of the curves of your body and I LOVED playing with the look by having a fitted top and these fabulously gathered, balloon-like sleeves. It’s the perfect balance in my mind!
My top includes all of these elements from the Rainbow Dress pattern:
- Gathered 3/4 length sleeves.
- Lower, scoop neckline.
- “Top” length bodice, with 1″ added to bodice for side waist adjustments.
I found this fabric at my local JoAnn Fabrics. It’s a gorgeous color, but the stretch is odd because it has a super high vertical stretch and not a ton of horizontal. In reality, I should have probably cut and sewn it off the grain so I had the higher stretch going around me. Not sure if you can tell in these photos or not, but that’s what I did for my neckband and sleeve bands.
The fabric was also super thick. WHEWWW. Sometimes gathering fabric at this thickness is work. It was this time for sure, but the gathers still stayed really nicely and I’m really happy with how cute my new top turned out!
Believe me when I say that I’m going to be making a ton of tops with these sleeves this fall. I live in 3/4 length tops and I am super stoked to have some with extra fun sleeves! Proooooobably going to be mashing the sleeves onto the bodice of a looser fitting top as well (think Favorite Tee or Basic Tee) for some added looks.
Not only is Rainbow Dress a gorgeous new pattern, but it comes with some extra rainbow love. 10% of every purchase will be donated annually to the Trevor Project, in honor of our rainbow of friends in the sewing communities. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
Patterns: Rainbow Dress by Patterns for Pirates
Fabric: Apple Butter Rayon Ribbed Knit from JoAnn Fabrics
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