Sometimes a pattern sits on my wishlist for ages.  Other times it doesn’t even make it to my wishlist – because as soon as I see it, my finger hits the buy button.  That is pretty much what happened with the Style Arc Esme Designer top.  Except because I wanted it NOW, I restrained myself for the couple of days it took between the release of the paper pattern and the release of the pdf pattern on the Etsy site.  The printed patterns can sometimes take a few days to be printed to order then sent out – whereas those pdf patterns are dangerously instant.  Even if they do take trimming and taping.

I was almost as fast to buy the fabric as I was to buy the pattern. The printed knit is pre-quilted, and came from The Cloth Shop. I bought the very last of the roll, and had to do some pattern tetris to eke the top out of the small amount of fabric that I had – all while trying to centre the design and match it at the seams at the same time. Unbelievably, I was successful. Clearly it was meant to be.

I cut this as size 12 with no alterations. The collar did have to be cut on the straight grain rather than on the bias. I figured that with a fabric like this one it would be fine on the straight grain.

Because the fabric is quilted it has substantial body. I needed to finish all the cut edges, as there was a layer of “fluff” between two layers of thinner fabric all quilted together, and when it was cut those layers all separated a little. You can see that more clearly in the next photo.

This was a very easy sew. I used a zig-zag stitch on the machine to secure hems, and used the overlocker for all the rest of the construction. The front hemline is shorter than the back, and there are slide slits. Those are all details that I really enjoy in a top. The pattern illustration shows the collar worn up, but in this fabric that just felt (and looked) weird, so I’ll always wear it folded over.

The pattern drawing and description from the Style Arc website is as follows:

ESME DESIGNER KNIT TOP: “The Wanted” garment of the season. This knit top has a fabulous bias cut collar that can stand fashionably high or turned over. Make it sleeveless or with sleeves for the cooler months.

FABRIC SUGGESTION & DESCRIPTION: Ponte, Scuba or any fabric with a stretch component

I’ll definitely be using this pattern again!