The short and sweet: Love this top. Fit me beautifully. Pattern is very well written. No craziness when taping the pdf together. If you are scared of sewing with silky fabrics, this would be a great pattern to practice with. Just press and pin lots! Now for all the details, read on…
When I find a pattern I love, I tweak it and modify it and use it over and over and over and over again. The Ella Top by Liola Patterns has been that pattern for me this August. I LOVE this top. I picked up the pattern as part of Indiesew’s Summer 2015 pattern collection.
I stitched it up straight off the pdf in a small with one exception. I debated a medium or at least a full bust adjustment, but decided to run with it. After seeing others’ versions, I did decide to raise the neck line about one inch. Here’s the tutorial I followed. It’s stitched up in a 100% cotton woven. I’m not sure where I found the cute elephant fabric but I love it. It’s a quilting/crafting weight fabric. The fit is almost spot on for me.
I decided to make a corded piping in a contrast fabric for the back trim. Love it. (Please excuse the wrinkles. I’ve worn the snot out of this top since I made it!)
Since I liked it so much, I decided to do it again. This time in a polyester silky leopard print that I picked up at Hobby Lobby some time ago. I’m not a leopard print kinda gal, but I’m planning on this being a layering tank.
To modify it this time, I stitched the neck and arm bindings out instead of down. I love it. Also, after wearing the elephant tank a few times, I decided that the back yoke was just tight enough to be uncomfortable sometimes. So, I just cut my back yoke on the bias. Boom. Extra give. Woo hoo. The final change I made on this piece was an easy one. Instead of the back pleat, I just gathered those few inches.
And then I went off and did it again.
This is my favorite! This is a piece from Hancock’s Fabrics’ special occasion line. I’m sure it’s a poly blend but I bought it so long ago, I couldn’t tell you more than that.
The modifications: 1. back yoke is cut on the bias and 2. added 11 inches to the length. That’s it. I love a good pattern hack!