You all know that I rather love a Style Arc pattern.  That particularly extends to their pants.  I don’t think that pants are hard to make – but I do think that they can be hard to fit.  It’s not just about circumferential measurements; there’s also that crotch depth and shape to take into account and where your muscle and fat are distributed in your stomach, bum and legs.  It can definitely be challenging!  I generally take the lazy way out with pants, and sew ones that use stretch fabrics and have elasticised waists.  Because my waist to hip ratio is not significant, I don’t get lots of gathers at the waist when I use elastic, so there isn’t increased bulk there.  But I do get comfort.

Style Arc describe the Misty stretch pull-on jean as follows: Want the look of a slim jean and comfort as well?  Then this is the pant for you, this style has all the features of a jean, slim cut leg, mock fly, front pockets, back yoke and jean back pockets. The treatment of the elastic waistband makes this a fantastic pant to have in your wardrobe.

First of all, the fabric. It’s a stretch woven cotton velveteen from Tessuti. It has a fair amount of stretch, and I love it. It was easy to work with, although I did need to be aware of the nap when I was cutting out.

I made these in size 10, my usual Style Arc size. My waist is way bigger than a 10, but it works for my hip measurement, and because the waist is elasticised I just cut the elastic to length (usually it’s exactly the same length as the waist of the pants.

The only alteration was my usual one to reduce the length. I removed an inch or so in two places, both from above the knee and below the knee.  That leaves enough length for a one inch hem.  I really enjoyed sewing the little details that make them into jeans rather than pants.  The front pockets – including a coin pocket, the front mock fly, and the back yoke and pockets.  All have topstitching details done with a twin needle.

So, here’s the front – complete with muffin top.  I didn’t have quite as much elastic as I would have liked, so the elastic waistband is a little shorter and tighter than I’d prefer.  That said it is still very comfortable.  The waistband is a double layer of elastic, zig-zagged together around the top, and is then attached to the top of the jeans.  If you preferred an enclosed waistband it would be simple enough to cut one from your main fabric, enclose the elastic inside it (I’d use narrower elastic than three inches if I was doing that) and stitch it to the waist of the pants.

And there is my backside in closeup.  I really, really like the back pockets and yoke.  And they are the only detail that can be seen when I am wearing them.  In future I’ll only include the back details and the front faux fly.  The front pockets are not visible when I am wearing them and I don’t use them (they are quite shallow).

And this is how I wore them!  Very happy with this pattern.  Now I just need some stretch denim…

I’m going to start this post with a disclaimer:  I pattern tested this top.  Which means that I didn’t pay for the pattern.  I provided the fabric and my time free of charge.  This was all done willingly because I liked the style of the pattern and I also like the designer.  I think that I’m still able to give an unbiased review, but according to research the simple act of being given something does influence you, whether you think it does or not, so take this blog post as you will.  There’s a well researched and thought-provoking series about this and how it applies to sewing blogging over on Zoopolis here, here, here, here and here.  Anyway, I’ll let the photos tell the story!

I love a knit top. I love a loose knit top. And I love a top that can be constructed entirely on the overlocker.  In around an hour.

Debbie of Lily Sage & Co, who designed this top, is very tall and very slim, so I was curious to see how it would work on 158cm plumpish me. I have to say that I think that it works very well! I sewed a straight size Large as per my measurements and made no alterations at all. That’s how I usually do things if I am pattern testing – I think that feedback on the pattern exactly as it stands is important.  From the pattern page:

The Sea Change top is loosely fitted, with wide kimono sleeves. The hem is designed to fall just below the natural waist for a modest, cropped look that will both complement and showcase high waist pants and skirts.  The top length can easily be lengthened through the top. The armbands and bottom hem band can also be altered in length for different looks.

Recommended fabrics
Light to medium weight, drapey fabrics will be the most flattering choices for this top. Options include knit fabrics like jersey, viscose, and rayon. Woven fabrics like silk satin, silk crepe de chine, and habutai will also suit this pattern. Extra fabric may be needed to match plaids, stripes or directional prints.

This is definitely loosely fitted, and I could possibly have made the size Medium, but I think that the Large is absolutely fine. I used one fabric throughout, but the arm and bottom bands can be made in a contrast. The pdf pattern went together well, and the instructions were very thorough.

The fabric is a rayon/lycra jersey remnant from Tessuti. I pre-washed it (as I do most garment fabrics) and I have a very strong suspicion that it is going to fade and pill very quickly. I love the colours and the drape but am quite uncertain about the quality of this fabric. I won’t be happy if it deteriorates after just a couple of wears!

There is a discount code for Lily Sage & Co at the moment. It also applies to the Twirl To Me dress, which I pattern tested as well. I’ll get it up on the blog once I have some better photos.  This is a top pattern that I will definitely use again.  I’ll be interested to try it in a woven.

My husband has named this my “woman on fire” top!  The rest of my outfit is all from warehouse outlets: skirt from Mesop; necklace from Elk; tights from Mesop; shoes from Diana Ferrari.

It seems as though most of the sewing blogosphere has already made Simplicity 1366.  I now understand why this has been such a popular pattern.

Simplicity describe this as a “loose fitting short sleeve top”. Well yes, it is. But they don’t say that it is dartless, with elbow length sleeves, and a slightly cropped length. Or that it has dropped shoulders that set in beautifully and seem to sit well on everyone.

Yes, there’s a fair bit of fabric pooling there – I should have shortened the back waist. But otherwise, it fits as an oversized woven top should. I made size 12 without alteration. Remember that I’m only 158cm tall, so this would be slightly cropped on lots of people. I finished the neckline with contrasting bias binding, but no-one can see that when I’m wearing it. So here is photographic proof.

This is very easy to construct and doesn’t take a great deal of fabric. From what I’ve seen elsewhere it can be made successfully from knits or wovens, and it’s easy enough to alter the sleeve length. Those dropped shoulders are in just the right spot.

I actually made this top so that I would have something to wear with this skirt that I recently – gasp! – bought. I find it so hard to buy things that I feel I could make myself, but this skirt really called to me. I adore the African wax cotton print. And it’s bags! How could I resist! The skirt comes from Ngati Fifi. It’s a wrap skirt with poppers that make it highly adjustable, and it’s reversible! I’ll show you the other side in another blog post soon.

The yellow cotton I used for the top was originally in Anna’s stash – it’s lightweight and has a shot appearance.  Although I love mustard, I don’t generally wear yellow – in fact, it’s only been in the last year or two that I’ve come around to giving it a go.  As long as I accessorise with colour and wear lipstick, I think it’s okay.  I’ll definitely be using this pattern again to make some more simple tops that will work with this skirt.