Yet another pattern that
finally got its turn after ripening in my collection for several
years. I was a little leery of the unfitted fit and the cut-on
sleeves which I have found do my figure no favors. I doubted it
would actually resemble the pattern photo on me. But it was calling
out to me, and I had just enough left of some ancient red interlock
to give it a try. With some modifications, of course.
I cut version A in a size
12 with no changes. The modifications involved assembly, because I
am just not a raw-edge sort of person. Instead of simply overlapping the
zigzag front and back pieces, I turned under the seam allowances on
the top pieces, top stitching them very close to the edge and then
again a bit over 3/8 inch away. Similarly, I did a conventional
bound neckline, turned to the inside and stitched down. The bottom
hem and sleeve hems were stitched with a twin needle.
But what to do to
emphasize those zigzag front and back seams which are what the top
is all about? Not knowing if I was going to actually like the fit of
top, I hadn't really thought much about the decoration. After putting it
together enough to try it on, I decided it would do, but it
definitely needed something...more. And that was where Alabama
Chanin came in.
I first discovered the
hand-sewn and hand-embellished knit creations of Natalie Chanin's
company, Alabama Chanin, a couple of years ago and immediately
purchased the Alabama Studio Sewing + Design book, a complete how-to
manual of their processes and designs. I doubt that I would ever
want to exactly duplicate anything in the book, but it provides a
bounty of inspiration and ideas that could be borrowed and adapted to
one's own garments.
I used the very easy-to-do
Cretan Stitch with two strands of embroidery floss on the front and
back zigzag seams. On the neckband, I did the simple, straight
version of the Zigzag Chain Stitch.
Both created spaces to stitch on single red seed beads that I bought in a big packet at JoAnn Fabrics. Because the embellishment is red-on-red, the effect is very subtle, even with the slight iridescence of the beads. So subtle that only one person seems to have noticed and commented on it. But I love it!
It's the perfect
easy-breezy top for hot summer days, loose enough to be cool and
comfortable, and yet not too over-sized or overwhelming on my small
frame. If I didn't have a line-up of other patterns clamoring for
their turn, I'd sit right down and stitch up another. I'm definitely
going to be making version B in the near future, so stay tuned.
