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The Maddison Top was one of the patterns in Style Arc’s January release.  I bought a few from that release, and they are patiently waiting for me to sew them up.  I’ve been having fun lately matching patterns to fabric, both for my winter work wardrobe and for casual wear.  Many of the clothes that I wore last winter don’t feel as comfortable this year due to my weight gain, so my wardrobe really does need replenishing.  This top is a wonderful casual item.

From the Style Arc website: MADDISON TOP: A great everyday raglan sleeved top with a slight trapeze the body, the wide hem allows this top to fall beautifully. Make this in a stripe to show off all the design lines. This top can be made in a knit or a stretch woven fabric.  FABRIC SUGGESTION: Knit, Ponte, Crepe with a natural stretch or Silk.

I used a stripe knit that I bought from the Darn Cheap Fabrics $2 table a while ago.  It feels like a cotton/viscose/spandex blend to me, and at the time they had loads of it available.  I suspect that it now graces many a Melbourne sewer’s stash!  I’ve used it before to make a top for Clare, and still have a small amount left.  It it lovely and soft, and was beautiful to sew with. Obviously I was swayed to use stripes by the pattern illustration, and I do think that they work beautifully in this top.

I sewed straight size 12 without alteration, and am very happy with the fit on me. There are bust darts and shoulder darts, which I think make all the difference in changing a raglan top from sloppy to neat. The body flares, which is always my preference. A couple of my friends have also made this top and found the body to be more flared than they anticipated, but I think that the line drawing is fairly accurate, as is the “slight trapeze” description.

The deep hem turning adds to the way that the top falls. In combination there are a number of details that lift this top above the average knit raglan. For my next version (there is going to be a next, also in a stripe) I will lower the front neckline a bit. I have discovered that many tops feel much higher at the front neckline on me than I prefer, but this is more due to my anatomy than the pattern drafting. I think that over the years I have developed a forward head/neck, so need to scoop out the front neckline of tops a little more than in the past.  If you are tall you might want to lengthen this top, and I suggest doing it below the bust darts but above the deep hemline.  I am 158cm tall, and like this length on me.

The neckband is fairly narrow, which gives a really nice finish. I sewed it on with the overlocker, then used the machine to twin needle around the entire neckline to hold it in place. The bottom hem is also twin needled. The sleeve cuffs are cut double before attaching to the main sleeve, so don’t require hemming.

This is a positive addition to my casual wardrobe, and the elbow length sleeves make it quite trans-seasonal. I’m looking forward to sewing up the next one! Style Arc have the paper pattern available from their website, and the pdf is available from their Gumroad store or via Etsy.