When I was at Sewjourn in November my friend Kathryn sewed up a gorgeous version of Simplicity 1463.  Since I had some spare fabric with me, I quickly borrowed her pattern pieces and gave it a go as well!

There really isn’t much to this pattern. Front piece, back piece, cuffs, neckband. That’s it. It does however take more fabric than you’d expect, because those sleeves are cut on.

Simplicity describe this pattern as follows: Make a scoop neck, high-low top with banded sleeves or great crossing back interest, and three V-neck tops with lace flutter sleeves, studs or a peekaboo lace neckline. Simplicity sewing pattern from Designs by Karen Z.  I sewed view A, the scoop neck top.  I do fancy giving view C a go at some stage, but I don’t yet own the pattern!

The fabric is a lovely stretchy probably poly/spandex knit that I picked up at Restash last year. I did make sure that I centred the bold pattern on both the front and back pattern pieces. Size wise, I think I sewed the Small. I was happy with the fit through the body, but BOY those cuffs were TIGHT! Even in such stretchy fabric! I’d definitely make them larger if I sewed this again.

This was really fast to make. Construction was on the overlocker, with hems secured via Vliexofix and twin needling on the sewing machine. I used the twin needle to secure the neckband as well.

Sadly, this top has moved to the wardrobe in the spare bedroom too. The cuffs are just too tight to make it comfortable enough for me. My arms aren’t especially large, so watch out for that if you are making this top. Otherwise, I recommend the pattern.

Before I sewed my DCF Challenge version of Simplicity 1318 (blogged last year), I sewed a wearable muslin to get a better idea of what size to choose.  This is a pattern that has been well used in the sewing community.  Both the reviews and the finished garment measurements printed on the pattern pieces indicated that there was plenty of ease.  I just wanted to check before I cut into my challenge fabric, so used some leftover Thai cotton double gauze to see if my guess on sizing was right.

I didn’t have much fabric, so this is view A, the short version without added bands. It was incredibly fast to sew.

I used the overlocker to finish the raw edges but did most construction on the sewing machine.  I wanted to be able to pivot nicely where the sleeve joins the side seams, and to be able to press the seams open.  Narrow hems were turned twice around the front edges and neckline and topstitched in place.  The bottom hem and sleeve hems were wider but treated the same way.

There’s really not much to this jacket. I have however discovered that I reach more for longer-line jackets than cropped ones, and this has already been transferred into the wardrobe in the spare bedroom.

Oh, and size wise? This is size Small, despite my measurements suggesting Medium. Always check those measurements on the pattern pieces and take your own ease preferences into account!