Style Arc Florence woven top in de Linum linen
You might remember the Tessuti Rae dress that I recently sewed from de Linum linen. Since then I have agreed to be an ambassador for de Linum for three months, with my choice of fabric and pattern for each project. What a no brainer for me – I love sewing with and wearing linen! So here is my project for May.
The pattern is the Style Arc Florence woven top. As you know, Style Arc is not a departure from my usual style, but the colour of the linen is!
The colour is called Musk Rose, and it’s a 132 GSM weight which is light to medium. I have found that with my hair greying I am gravitating to more toned down colours. I rather like this one on me! The linen was lovely to sew with. Yes, it wrinkles quite quickly in wear, because, linen.
I sewed size 12, with the only alteration being the elimination of the centre back neck opening. I just sewed the whole thing up; I have a fairly small head and it’s rare for a neckline to not fit over it.
This pattern has lovely details. Those shoulder pleats, centre front and back seams with topstiching either side of the seamline, hem band, and double layer shaped cuffs forming the lower sleeve. And it’s an easy fit through the body, which is something that I always look for to better accomodate my belly and waist.
De Linum stock patterns that work with their linens – which makes sense! So if you like to sew for linen, and are wondering what might be good in a particular fabric, it’s easier to pair them.
This was also quite fast to sew – I think that I made it in an afternoon (not counting cutting out time). Construction was on the sewing machine, with seams finished on the overlocker. You could really go to town with contrasting topstitching if you wanted to, or could take advantage of all the pieces and seamlines to do colour blocking. This pattern and fabric combination is a definite winner for me!
That color is lovely on you! Try this tip with your next linen. Iron the fabric before you wash it. Do it in a well ventilated room and use a very hot iron. Then machine wash and dry. In almost every case the big crease wrinkled will be gone and you will be left with soft rumples instead. I got this from either Sandra Betzina or Marcy Tilton and it’s worked wonders with my linen. Something to do with the way linen is finished before shipping…it melts into the fibers and keeps it from creasing. There are chemicals in fabric so do it near an open window then pre wash right away. I’ve done it with Italian, Belgian, Irish linen with great success. The Italian one had a cpl creases out of the dryer but nothing big. The others had that soft rumpled look we love from linen.
Nice top and the color looks wonderful on you! The top stitching looks AWESOME … FIESTA 🙂
It looks good, colour well chosen, ‘very becoming’.
I have this pattern in my stash. You’ve inspired me to make it up. The colour is a lovely choice on you. A great shade to brighten up winter.
Wow..did you hit the jackpot..linen ambassador!! That is a great colour on you? Have you tried the Sandra Betzina tip for preventing wrinkles? She says to pretreat before washing by ironing with a hot iron. I’ll try that on my next purchase.
Color is fabulous on you. Pattern lines are good too. 5 stars on this one!
Lovely top, Lara.
That colour actually looks great on you. Do you think that pattern would work with a cardigan over those sleeves? I’m looking for tops that I can wear in winter without needing to be tucked in.