Saturday 27 June 2009

14

Square neck quandaries

Another pattern is winging it's way to a tester today, my square neck smocky top!


It's taken a long time to get the pattern exactly the way I wanted (five revisions), but I'm conscious that it's almost July and this is a summer top so I really shouldn't faff about indefinitely!


This one has a quilter's cotton neck and sleeves and a super lightweight voile body. It should be perfect for our impending US trip as the voile is almost sheer and Maia really doesn't like the heat.


The voile has little printed giraffes in green and browns, it's very sweet. I have a lot, so I'll probably use it for other summer clothes.


One of the reasons that this pattern has taken so long is that I was hoping to also have the option to make it sleeveless.


But now that I've made one, I don't actually think it 'works', I feel it needs the sleeves to balance out the neckline. What do you think?

14 comments:

  1. Do you know, I actually quite like the sleeveless one too...

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  2. I have to say I like the sleeveless one as well, but I am tasteless ;)

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  3. I think the sleeveless one works too.

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  4. I think I agree with the consensus so far, the sleeveless looks good too.

    Since I've just heard on the radio that the temperature is likely to be reaching 30 degrees by the middle of the week, summery clothes sounds like a smart move.

    I don't like the heat either.

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  5. Hmmm.
    I'm actually not mad keen on the sleeveless.
    It's still cute, just not as effective as the other.
    However it would be great as a winter tunic over a skivvy - or does that defeat the purpose?!! LOL

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  6. Oh - I forgot to say....
    I looove the first version. Super sweet!

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  7. I love it with sleeves, but I think you are right, somehow the sleeveless isn't quite there. It would be great fro the over 100 degree scorchers we are having here every day though!

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  8. I guess I am strange. While the sleeves are adorable, I actually prefer it sleeveless!

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  9. I think the sleeveless works. But if you still feel ike it needs something, what about addingthose little fluttery, not exactly sleeve things? Do you know what I mean?

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  10. I love the sleeveless version - just think you need a bolder fabric for the bodice than the body (as you have done). Love both.

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  11. i love the sleeved shirt. if you need another pattern reviewer, i'd love to help (though i suspect you have enough reviewers).

    as for the sleeveless, i like it, but not as much as with sleeves. i can't put my finger on it, but i think it's just the weight of the top. the quilter's top (is that right? the very top of the shirt) looks heavy and the rest of the shirt is so breezy that the sleeves anchor the shirt. maybe if you did the shirt in all heavier or all lighter fabric it would balance better. this is just my very rookie opinion...

    cheers!

    (and yes, it's definitely muggy here in the states! living in the mid-atlantic and breathing one humid day in and out at a time)

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  12. I really like the sleeveless one prob as much as the one with sleeves. Both gorgeous. x

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  13. I love the original version (aka sleeved), but I also think the sleeveless is quite sweet as well. But maybe I'm saying that because it was over 90 degrees today where I live.

    i also second the offer to test this pattern (especially if you ever make it for adults... I love me some square-necked tops -- so much so that my wedding dress had a square neckline too).

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  14. I'm with Ashlee, I actually prefer it sleeveless too! Maybe with that adorable notch in the front on the sleeveless version. Or what about a band of the yoke fabric around the bottom on the sleeveless version?

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