On a Nessie roll…
Yesterday afternoon/evening, I was on a Nessie Top roll. I made not one, not two but three of them in total!
Nessie Top 1: A present for Miss A’s friend who’s celebrating her 7th birthday this weekend (sorry no pics).
Nessie Top 2: Miss B selected fabric from my knit remnants tub and I sewed up a the colour-blocked version in a size 5 with 3/4 sleeves. It’s a good fit with some room for growing.
It’s hard to tell from the photos below, but it’s an a-line top with a high-low hem. Speaking of photos, I took 156 shots to get the following three. Miss B is not a cooperative model at the moment!
Nessie Top 3: Miss A insisted that I use two striped fabrics for her Nessie Top. I had my doubts. Actually, I was fretting about stripe matching the colour-blocked seam. Then after a short discussion we decided to change the direction of the red and white striped knit. I have to report, I love the result and Miss A does too. Miss A’s version is a size 5 with an inch added to the length and 3/4 sleeves.
The Nessie Top by Craftiness Is Not Optional comes with lots of variations. There is the basic pattern, a colour-blocked bodice version (like above) and a cute peter pan collar that can be added to any Nessie Top. In addition, you can choose from three different sleeve lengths – short, 3/4 and full length. I love a pattern with options!
I made some changes to the neckband after my first version. Specifically, I reduced the width of the neckband by 1/8 inch and shortened the neckband by 1 inch. I like my neckbands to sit flat against the body rather than upright like a mini skivvy. In this case, a shorter neckband that was stretched a little when sewn onto the neckline, helped me achieve my desired result. By the way, it’s hard to draft neckband lengths on knit patterns as the length required really does depend on the amount of stretch in the fabric being used.
The tops were constructed on the overlocker and I used a twin needle to top-stitch the neckband, along colour-blocking seam and for all the hems.
In a daring move I decided for the first time in my life to use a toning rather than a perfectly matching bobbin. You know… the old near enough is good enough (which is so not me)… and it was very liberating! In truth, this move to use a toning bobbin was driven by the fact that I’m all out of space for new bobbins on my thread board!
Pattern: Nessie Top by Craftiness Is Not Optional
Size: Miss B = size 5 & Miss A = size 5 with 1 inch added to the length
Fabric: Red & White Stripe – Hilco Knit from Earthgirl Fabrics, Strawberries – 100% cotton from Spotlight, and Red & Pink – Lillestoff Knit from The Drapery
Alterations: Removed 1 inch from the length of the neckband and 1/8 inch from the neckband width
Cute!
Thanks Leith
Those girls are so gorgeous and so are the tops! So proud of you for using a toning thread rather than perfectly matching. No longer sweating the small stuff! Love the stripes going in different directions as well. That pattern just might be about to jump into my cart…
Thornberry, I think this pattern is going to be a workhorse in our house and I imagine it would be the case in yours too. The colour blocked version is so good for using up those little scraps of jersey. I cut another Nessie Top this morning for Miss B!
Loved the stripes and the pattern matching. I would never have thought of putting the fabrics together like that, Miss A has a lot of style! Your girls look so happy with their new tops.
I’m so pleased that my girls are taking an interest in what I’m making them. Miss A and Miss B are definitely creating their own styles, which I think is wonderful.
Delightful! Really love the colour & stripe blocking.
Thanks for your lovely feedback. The pattern has lots of variations, but the colour blocking is so much fun I haven’t exhausted it’s potential yet!
They’re great! I think I might get this pattern for M.
I was actually thinking of making one for M for her birthday!
She would love one!! So special!
Look at you and your thread mischief- you renegade! Loving the stripes- this is totes adorbs!
Threads mischief is so liberating. I love breaking the rules (well my silly rules!). More Nessie’s already ordered and cut out!
Very cute tops. I love the strawberry print.
Thanks Lynn.
[…] has churned out a plethora of Nessie tops recently. A great simple t-shirt style, but with the added interest of a curved […]