You’ve all heard me rave about Oliver + S patterns a thousand times.  Liesl & Co patterns are just as good.  Beautifully drafted, great instructions, well planned pdf patterns.  One of the most recent is the Maritime Knit top.  At first I thought “yet another simple knit top”?  Then I took another look at the line drawing and read the description.

This simple pull-on top is designed for knit fabrics with a little or a lot of stretch. View A features three-quarter-length sleeves while View B has short sleeves. Both styles include a bateau neck with topstitching detail and simple side vents, as well as a flattering fit. You’ll love the look, feel, and versatility of this shirt, which is also an essential wardrobe basic. Instructions include detailed information for adding a bust dart for a more flattering full-busted fit.

Suggested Fabrics

Suitable for knits of all sorts. Stable knits are especially good for this style. Suggested fabrics include jersey, double knit, thermal knit, and interlock.

For my first version I used a printed viscose/lycra knit from Darn Cheap Fabrics. I think that I cut the size 12. I did shorten it through the body to petite it, but otherwise made no changes. This is the 3/4 sleeve version. They’re more like elbow length, in my opinion.

I am extremely happy with the fit of this top. The neckline is finished with a facing, which I usually dubious about in knits. However, as this top fits over the head easily, and the facing is beautifully proportioned, it makes for a simpler neckline finish than a band yet one that looks much more professional – and is much more stable – than one that is simply turned and stitched. I still used the twin needle to secure the facing, as well as to secure hems.

It wasn’t long before I gave the pattern another try. I used fabric from Darn Cheap Fabrics again for my next version. This fabric is somewhat beefier. I think it’s a cotton/viscose/lycra blend. It was divine to sew and wore beautifully. Just the right weight.

The neckline is a lovely width and depth. This is a top that can easily be worn casually or to work with a jacket and pants (which is how I wore it). The little vents at the side seams are a lovely touch and are easy to construct, and the dropped shoulder is in just the right place.

Looking at these photos I wonder if I could slim the sleeves down a fraction. Actually, I have another two cut out ready to sew at Sewjourn, although I have extended the sleeves to full length for those ones using the Plantain pattern sleeve as a guide. Either way, this is another pattern that is going to get a considerable amount of use.

By the way, the pants I’m wearing with my tops are Style Arc Misty (in stretch denim) in the top photos, and Style Arc Barb (in bengaline) in the bottom ones.