I’ll say right from the start that I am VERY happy with how this top has turned out.

It is the Style Arc Kylie knit top. From their website: KYLIE KNIT TOP: Fashionable and functional top. The overlay has a high low hemline and an opening down the back. This top can be made long or short sleeves therefore suitable for all seasons. Need a basic tee? – Just leave the overlay off.  FABRIC SUGGESTION: Knit jersey.

Firstly, I didn’t sew this in knit jersey – well, not far off though.  I used a lightweight ponte from Spotlight that has a fair bit of stretch, despite being a double knit.  Must be plenty of spandex in that one!  I used size 12, but removed most of the waist shaping in the under layer.

Construction was on the overlocker, and most hems twin needled by machine. I really like the overlayer – the shaping is terrific on me, as is the variation in its length. And that split in the back is lovely too!

The neckband is sandwiched between the underlayer and the overlayer, and to do this according to the instructions is actually rather tricky. I am sure that I recall this mentioned on other blogs that I have read as well. I had to unpick it and re-do it the first time around. The next time I make this pattern I will probably just apply the neckband once the two layers have been placed together. This means that there will be a seam allowance on the inside, rather than as it is now hidden between the two layers, but I think that it might all sit better that way anyway. At the moment there can be some slight pulling at the front neckline where the seam allowance is secured to the underlayer of the top but not the overlayer and therefore creates different levels of tension.

I also did a pretty poor job of setting in the sleeves. I really should have eased the sleeve cap in, but because I was being lazy I took advantage of the nature of the fabric and just stretched the armscye to fit. However this does affect the final shaping a little. You might not know if I hadn’t pointed it out, but I am aware of it. When setting in sleeves in the round, you really are better off easing the sleeve cap than stretching the armscye. Remember that Lara!  You can see what it’s done to the sleeve cap in these photos, probably exacerbated by there being two layers of ponte in the body of the top but only one layer in the sleeves.

Fortunately, my friend Kathryn sewed this top at Sewjourn in May and I was able to try hers on before I made mine. It’s handy to try before you sew! Her father made the lovely wooden bead necklace that I am wearing in these photos. Thanks so much Kathryn’s dad!

This pattern has a lot of potential. I have a much lighter weight printed knit earmarked to sew it in next. I think that it would look wonderful with the overlayer and sleeves sewn in a sheer fabric too. And as Style Arc suggest, you could play with sleeve length, or just bind the armholes.  Despite the imperfections of this version, I really, really like it and am wearing it a lot.