Happy Accident: The Story of a Near Wadder

Vogue 1085 (view B)

Fabric: "Flowers in Showers Jersey" from Gorgeous Fabrics
(Ann's having a Mother's Day sale, run over there and buy some, it's beautiful fabric with gorgeous colors!)

I love Sandra Betzina, and had high hopes for this knit top pattern.  I'm also a sucker for a cowl neck top, so I've been wanting to make this top for some time.  We're headed to a belated Cinco de Mayo party, and I figured this would be cute with my jeans and be super fast to make.  Well, I was right on 1 count...

It was super easy to make, with only 4 pattern pieces and requiring a yard and a half of knit fabric.  I've had this knit since my trip to NYC, and figured it would work with blue jeans.  The main pattern piece is the absolute weirdest configuration I've ever seen.  It's 1 piece cut on a fold, so the only seams are the side seams from armpit to hem.  I re-read the instructions 18 times making sure I was attaching the ties correctly, as they dangle down from the hem edge, not attach in the direction of the sides.  There is also no hole for the wrap tie to go through, you're supposed to just pull it out from under the other wrap side, which pulls the hem up, and does NOT look attractive.  (I'm sure that the photographer and Vogue did some wild fanagling  to get the pattern envelope picture to look so great!)

Just when I thought I'd wasted a few hours and some great fabric, I made an executive decision to open 1 side seam an inch to run the wrap tie through.  Huge difference!  I also tried it on upside down (with the side seam now sitting on my shoulders), and that was almost an improvement.  Like I said, this is the wackiest pattern I've ever worked with.  The Vogue pattern drafters must've been on crack and Betzina must've been on vacation!

Between the wrap ties and the bulk of the jeans waistband, it still wasn't quite perfect, so I tried it on with a black cami and my black RPL skirt from the Limited. Voila! It now looked lovely and feminine, and I would be able to get some use out of it.

Here it is worn backwards (with the "V" in back, and the cowl in front).  It's okay worn this way, but it's more striking with the wrap in front.

I still need to hem it (I halted all work when I saw what a mess it was turning into), and my only other word of warning to you is about the armholes.  Measure and trim if you wear anything bigger than a size Medium.  They are a little small, and it actually looks better hanging off the shoulder (like a cap sleeve) because of all the draping.  I don't think I'll be making this up again, it's pretty... uh... (ahem)... "unique".  Sleeveless cardi-wrap, anyone???