Marcy Tilton meets Alabama Chanin

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.