Last Sunday was a windswept day in Ballarat, but that didn’t deter Sharon and I from snapping some photos so I can share with you a recent make.  This top was sewn at a recent sewing weekend with friends, always a happy time with great memories.

Can you guess the pattern?  It’s my second SytleArc Reynolds Woven Top… because when you are onto a good thing!

Like my first version, I’ve sewn this Reynolds in a seersucker.  I like that it is soft but also has a bit of body.  The easy wash and wear of seersucker is the icing on the cake!

This colour palettte is a little bit different for me, but I like it.  Strangely, well I say strangely as I have avoided these colours all my life, black and charcoal suit my ageing complexion.

I purchased this fabric with a shirt in mind, but chickened out at the thought of pattern matching the centre front, and the idea of a second Reynolds was born.

My pattern tweaks were the same as last time (see list below) with the addition of a slightly longer front split due to an error.  I forgot to allow for the seam allowance on the top of the facing when sewing the front split.  I realised this after I had cut into the fabric!  There were a few choice words, some delicate unpicking, interfacing was used to bring the cut edges together, the facing was re-positioned and the front split was re-sewn and re-cut.  And exhale!

The changes I make when sewing a Reynolds Top:

• I sew the sized 10 but shortened the neck elastic by 1″ (2.5cm) so the neckline sits close to my neck
• I remove 1.5″ (4cm) from the length
• I use a 1.5″ (4cm) hem allowance
• I reduce the sleeve cuff by half and used it like a binding to enclose the seam allowance
• I don’t follow the diagram on the instructions and cut out the neckline ‘v’ before stitching.  Instead, I sewed the ‘v’ and then clipped into the point.
• I hand-stitch the facing in a few places to secure it.  Flappy facings are a pet peeve of mine!

I have put this pattern away for now, but it’s quite likely that it will be used again.

Pattern:  StyleArc’s Reynolds Woven Top
Size:  10
Fabric:  100% cotton seersucker [sold out] from The Cloth Shop
Alterations:  There were quite a few minor tweaks… see bullet points in the post
Outfit:  Men’s Levi jeans purchased from a vintage store in Edinburgh (a happy holiday souvenir), gold t-bars purchased from Zomp a decade ago, Trovelore brooch from EST and earrings a gift from dear friends for my 50th last year via e.g.etal
Photo Location:  Ballarat