Surely I am not the only person who looks back fondly on garments sewn in years past, thinking that ‘gee I really liked that top…maybe I should make it again one day’.  Vogue 8634 is one of those garments for me.  It’s very out of print, but you can find reviews on it here.  It was a Pattern Review best pattern of 2010.

Close-fitting, pullover tops A, B, C, in two lengths, have collar and stitched hems. A: short sleeves. B: three-quarter length sleeves. C: long sleeves.

It’s at times like these that I am thankful for maintaining my blog.  I sewed this pattern three times in 2011.  Here’s the first rendition, which was my favourite and the one that prompts fond memories of the pattern.

Oh wow, check out blonder, younger, slimmer me! I used to wear this top with a tube skirt and vest made from the same fabric (it was a Darn Cheap Fabrics $2 table special). Always felt great in it! So, how did I go at recapturing the magic?

Not too bad, all things considered.  I sewed view C, as in the past, which is the tunic length version with long sleeves. I left out the front seam, and sewed the same size as last time but with the seam allowance through the body as small as possible.

Yes, it clings to the rolls. Que sera, sera. The fabric is a very soft rayon knit with a blotchy print. I reckon that I bought it from Darn Cheap Fabrics a little while ago. It feels absolutely scrumptious next to the skin.

I really like that the cowl neckline on this top is attached to a scooped neckline. It keeps it warm and cosy at the back without any chance of strangulation at the front. And of course it’s very easy to sew. Actually, this top can easily be sewn in an hour. All on the overlocker, other than twin needling the hems. Sorted.

The choice of fabric makes a significant difference in how this top fits, from memory. I’ll have another go at this in something that skims a little more, and will take a deeper hem. But in the meantime I know that I’ll happily wear this top layered under jackets or cardigans. I’m glad that I dug the pattern out of my personal archives!