Monday, January 3, 2011

Butterick 5562 - Striped knit top w/ shawl collar

After 2 (unblogged about) wadders in a row, I am starting this new year of sewing out on the right foot. I cannot claim any credit for the idea of this top. Originally I purchased the pattern for the short sleeve version, and never gave a second glance to the shawl collar design. It's sort of an uninspiring drawing, right? But recently Sharon made this top up in a horizontal stripe and I loved it. And just had to have one.

Unlike Sharon who whipped hers up in only a few hours, I spent most of my New Year's Day cutting out and stitching this up. Y'all know I'm super pokey when it comes to sewing, right? I'm blaming these wide stripes as well. They were matches along the side seams, arm seams and collar seams. Isn't this collar dramatic?! I love it! (Can't you see Tany wearing something like this? I kept thinking of her while I was sewing it.)

Although the envelope describes this top as being "close-fitting", I found the measurements printed on the pattern pieces to be somewhat big. Because my knit was really stretchy width-wise but not length-wise, I cut the XS at the sides and the S for the shoulders, armholes and neckline. This pattern will be really big on someone who is actually an XS size. I am not.

The fabric is a wool and modal knitted jersey, purchased on Ebay from the seller highendfabrics. I first read about this seller on Mimi's blog, and have had nothing but great customer service and beautiful fabrics from him. This fabric came from my third and most recent order. It's pretty thin, which I thought would work well with the gathering along the collar.

This picture is of a side seam where I paid a lot of attention matching up the horizontal stripes. I used my double needle to do all the hems. This row of stitching ran mostly through a navy blue stripe, so I used navy blue thread for it. The sleeves and collar were hemmed with off-white.

I tried something new for this top. I've been reading on a number of blogs where the sleeves are sewn in flat, followed by stitching the side of the garment and the sleeve seam all in one. I decided to give this a try, only took it one step further and did a french seam at the sleeve head. It worked and looks awesome! (Be sure you are working with a thin fabric if you want to use this method.) The sides and shoulders were also stitched with french seams.

The collar is gathered at the sides with a piece of elastic. I ended up turning the french seams at the collar into casings for the elastic instead of stitching the elastic to the fabric.

Where the collar meets the neckline I stitched a row of reinforcing next to the original seam and cut off the excess seam allowance. I then zigzagged it down to the inside of the top instead of the edgestitching/topstitching the instruction suggest. This knit looks like it might ravel a bit, and I didn't want to take any chances that it would ravel out at the neckline.

The only other changes I made were to cut 2 inches off the hemline and flare the sleeves out at the bottom slightly.

I love reading sewing blogs and regularly get inspired to try something new. So thanks for the inspiration, girls! I would never have given this a try or reached for it on a hanger at Macy's, but I love it!

39 comments:

  1. Super cute Amanda! I bought this pattern for the version I made but you and Sharon have inspired me to make this view! It's such a cool and trendy shirt! BTW: Thanks for your email address. I hope to drop you a line today or tomorrow! Thanks in advance for your help:)

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  2. This is such a cute top ,so different to what you usually make but it really suits you.

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  3. This is super cute, Amanda. I had read Mimi's post about the High End, going to have to check them out more, your fabric is gorgeous.

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  4. I love it! I'm adding this pattern to my wish list.

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  5. Yours is fantastic! I'm now working on one in basic black to pair with jeans and boots. I found it ran large also, even though it's described as "close fitting". I'm really loving this top and suspect we'll start seeing a lot of them on the sewing blogs.

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  6. I just got this pattern - I sure hope my version is as super cute as yours!

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  7. What a great looking top! I am curious about how you stitched the side and underarm seam as one. Could you post a link or tutorial for how you did it?

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  8. Very cute! I would not have reached for this top, either, but you did a wonderful job with it! I like Sharon's version too!

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  9. Great top. The time you took and the work you put into it paid off. I love it too. Thanks for your instructions.

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  10. I agree that the drawing is pretty uninspiring, but your version looks fabulous - I hope you feel it more than makes up for your 2 recent wadders. I really like your idea to use the french seam allowance as elastic casing too.

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  11. That top is gorgeous!! I really love blue and white stripes.

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  12. Very cute top!! I think I might have to stop by Joann and get this pattern at the next sale.

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  13. Flat sleeve insertion is my method of choice - much easier - esp. with stripes! Very chic top!

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  14. That's a super little top. Looks wonderful on you.

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  15. Looks so designer!

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  16. Yes, I love it the stripes are spectacular - Love it!!!

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  17. Great looking top and looks good on you. I favorited his ebay site. Thank you.

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  18. This is fabulous! A real stand-out top.

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  19. This is truly inspiring. I may have to have one of these. Very nice job!

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  20. I saw Sharon's top and was inspired as well. Yours is amazing, too!

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  21. I love that yours is more fitting and taut across your shoulders. I also love the way you style yours with the necklace. If I just look at the envelop drawing, I wouldn't get the pattern, but now I really would like one. There aren't a whole lot of cute long sleeve top patterns out there.

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  22. Looks great! Classic and cool, I love the stripes. So much better in-person than in the illustrations. Well done!

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  23. That is so cute! I love the way you styled it, too.

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  24. Love it,want one!! Especially like the pairing with the long necklace. The way you inserted the elastic was very clever. I also love the flat sleeve attachment method...and leave it to you to carry it one step further with the french seam. I'll be trying that next time!

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  25. What a fantastic top! It's such a great twist on the Chanel sailor/Mondo stripe trend that is in right now--fashionable but still creative.

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  26. I must buy this pattern! What a fun and great top!! It looks great on you.

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  27. It looks great on you.I'm saving mine for Valentine's Day - red stretch velvet. Thanks for the tips.

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  28. It is really cute Amanda! I agree, the envelope drawing doesn't do this top any justice like yours and Sharon's!! It's truly very stylish looking on you!

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  29. Beautiful Top! i will make one for me too :o)

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  30. LOVE IT! Super cute! Feel free to follow back, if you like. My blog is new, but steadily growing =)

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  31. Love this piece! It's right up my alley!

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  32. I'm excited to find your blog! I saw your comment on Sharon's blog (Adventures from the Sewing Studio) and thought I'd stop by. I'm almost finished with my top like this - making it in brown jersey knit. I wish I had read this post before starting because I made a medium, and am wishing I made a small! I figure this one can be big and I can just wear it with leggings and boots or something. Next time, I'll size down! I'll let you know when I finish mine!

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  33. I just finished mine!

    http://monkeybeanmomma.blogspot.com/2011/01/comfy-baggy-goodnessbutterick-5562.html

    I really enjoyed reading your post and getting some tips from you! Thanks again!

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  34. Very cute, Amanda. i love stripes for starting Spring!

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  35. Very, very cute! That's one sassy, well-made top (and it's flattering also)!

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  36. Hi Amanda. I'm working on the top now. How would I alter the collar pieces if I wanted to achieve the amount of drape illustrated on the pattern envelope? Thanks!

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  37. I found your post googling a burda shawl collar top pattern. I love it! You know there is one just like it on the anthropologie site. With stripes and all for $68. I'm going to give it a try.

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