So, to the first thing that I sewed in 2023!  There are actually a few outstanding items from 2022 that haven’t made it to the blog yet because they haven’t been photographed, but I think it’s time to just draw a line in the sand and move on!

This is the Tamar Top by Paper Cloth Cut (worn here with linen Style Arc Ethel pants, sewn back in 2015 and now beautifully faded from wearing and washing).

I first saw the pattern on Katherine’s Instagram, and very quickly decided that it was just the sort of thing that would fit well into my wardrobe. As per the pattern website: A loose fitting summer top with a round neck or V-neck at the front and low (see orange and pink top) or modest (see teal top) V-neck at the back. The armhole is gathered with ties in a channel made by the facing, and the sides left open (with an option to close as well). There are two options for the ties at the back neck, two ties make a bow or one tie and a snap fastener. The neckline is finished with bias binding and the hem is a fine pin hem.

Everyone who reads my blog knows that I avoid waist definition in my own clothing, so this pattern ticked lots of boxes for me. A similar silhouette to other patterns that I own, yet enough differences in construction and details for it to be worth buying.

It was difficult for me to choose what size to make. The pattern comes with four sizes : XXS/XS, S/M, L/XL, XXL (6-18 AUS/UK) and is a generous fit. I think that in the end I sewed the L/XL. I chose my size based on the distance from the shoulder seam to the bust point, measuring it on me then comparing it to the pattern.

This is a straightforward pattern to construct, and there are no side seams! There are wide facings that form casings for the ties (the ties exit through buttonholes). Because it’s designed to be oversized, it doesn’t really expose too much flesh below the side seam tie closures, but there is an option to close the sides completely. I finished the neckline edges with self-fabric bias at both the front and back before sewing the vertical seams closed. It gives a really neat finish at the centre front and back V.

I sewed the higher back neckline option, and now realise that it doesn’t really need the ties to stay in place. They’d definitely be necessary with the lower back, but with this higher one they’re really just decorative. One of the harder things to figure out was what size to leave the arm openings. That’s something that is best worked out when wearing the top, but it’s a bit awkward to do on yourself! I just gave it a couple of tries, eventually working out that not many gathers seemed to work best on me.

And of course, you want fabric details!  It’s a really beautiful printed linen that I bought from The Cloth Shop. So many of ‘my’ colours in it, and the more that I sew and wear linen the more I like it. It was bought one day, washed, and sewn up the next.