Closet Case Cielo top
Thanks so much for your feedback on yesterday’s post! This recently sewn Closet Case Cielo top has also highlighted another alteration that I need to make regularly.
This is view B of the pattern, sewn in size 12, with the C cup option. I cut it slightly longer than the pattern length (I’m short through the torso, so didn’t anticipate that it would be as cropped on me as on the model, but I don’t do cropped so still wanted it a little longer). This is the same size that I sewed a dress version in last November.
I adore this fabric – it’s handwoven cotton that I bought in Chiang Mai a few years ago. Beautiful colour variations within it, and lovely to sew and to wear. I decided to do a single layer in the lower sleeve rather than the self-lining, and to bind both the sleeve hem and neckline with bias binding cut from the same fabric.
I was also able to play with the stripe direction a little on the back yoke pieces. Fun!
From the Closet Case Patterns website: Part of our Rome Collection, the Cielo Dress & Top is an easy, breezy take on a boxy tee and shift dress. Loaded with interesting details and interchangeable features, it will fast become a wardrobe building favourite. Choose between a semi-cropped top with a cuffed short sleeve (View A) or dramatic gathered long sleeve (View B). Or, make an easy fitting dress with sleek inseam pockets (View C), or without pockets (View D). All views have a slightly dropped shoulder, angled shoulder yoke and roomy fit, with a choice between an elegant bias binding or faced neckline finish.
And those sleeves are certainly dramatic! I do like a dramatic sleeve, but I tend to avoid them due to wearability issues. I don’t want sleeve hems getting in the way, and dramatic sleeves are often difficult to wear under other items. This one works for me because it comes down to a narrower opening, the sleeves are not overlong, and it fits nicely under the dramatic sleeves of my Pattern Fantastique Falda jacket. Plus, it’s fun to have something a little different in the wardrobe.
Now, looking at the front and back photos of this top, it looks to fit fairly well, albeit generously. It’s the side on photo that tells me a different story.
My thoughts:
- That front hemline is SO high! And juts out so much! I need way more fabric there to make it level the whole way around.
- The dart looks okay, and this is already the C cup version of the pattern. It doesn’t need a FBA to add length to the centre front.
- The back neckline is VERY low as compared to the front neckline. That’s not the case when the top is flat, or on a hanger. The top is being pulled backwards.
- It DEFINITELY needs a decent high rounded back alteration.
- It could probably do with a forward head or a forward shoulder alteration as well.
- I could consider sewing size 10 instead of 12 next time.
- You can also see the excess folds of fabric in the back bum and thigh of my size 12 Style Arc Parker pants (now too big for me). Ugh.
I’ve found a couple of tutorials that make sense to me for these high round back alterations:
- This one from The Curvy Sewing Collective
- This one from the Oliver + S blog
- A Dowager’s hump adjustment from Threads magazine
- Three ways to do round back adjustments on knits from Petite Font
I also find the free videos that Alexandra from In House Patterns shares on her blog and YouTube channel to be quite useful – she has them on many fitting topics. I’m also planning to catch up on some of the many Craftsy/Bluprint classes that I ‘own’ these school holidays (before Craftsy/Bluprint vanishes completely), namely:
- Sew The Perfect Fit with Lynda Maynard
- Pants Fitting Techniques with Sandra Betzina
- Fitting Solo: From Measurements to Muslin with Linda Lee
I have a number of other construction classes to refresh myself on too. I’m generally happy with the quality of my sewing (while noting that I should sometimes think a little more carefully about incorporating a few more tailoring techniques), but it is fit that is ever changing and ever challenging.
As it happens, I do already own the following fitting books (many with post-it notes in relevant sections):
- The Perfect Fit, from the Singer Sewing Reference Library
- Pattern Fitting with Confidence, by Nancy Zieman
- The Complete Photo Guide to Perfect Fitting by Sarah Veblen
- The Perfect Fit: A Practical Guide to Adjusting Patterns for a Professional Finish
- Fitting For Every Figure, from the editors at Threads
- Fit for Real People, by Pati Palmer and Marta Alto.
These are mostly Book Depository links, but if you’re interested in any do your own googling and purchase from your preferred book supplier. It seems to me that there are a great many fitting books available; I suppose that you need to find which ones explain alterations in ways that make the most sense to you and that include the alterations that you commonly need.
EDITED TO ADD THIS COMMENT FROM THERESA: Please note that “The Perfect Fit” Singer book and the other “Perfect Fit” are the same book. The Singer Sewing Reference Library came out in the very late 80’s early 90s as a subscription library. Singer did not own the copyright; copyright remained with the publisher who was free to reprint (without the Singer label) the same material after their contract with Singer expired. Sometimes the pictures are updated but the written content and examples remain the same. The other book from the sewing reference library that pops up a lot is the “Tailoring” book so be warned. If you think you’ve seen it before or something very much like it, you may have.
As you can see, I have no lack of access to resources and information about pattern alterations! I just need to ensure that I consistently put them into practice. I’m going to put together a reference folder of ‘my’ alterations to keep right at hand beside my sewing table, hoping that will prompt me to automatically make these alterations to my pattern pieces before cutting out. And the next thing that I will do before I cut anything else out for myself is to measure myself again! Sounds obvious, really.
Something that I will note is that I would definitely NOT get a better fit in ready-to-wear clothing. Even if this fit isn’t perfect, it’s still in fabric that I love, combined with a style that I like, produced via a hobby that I greatly enjoy. It’s definitely still worth sewing, while I continue on the journey toward improved fit.
Hello: I believe you are WAY too hard on yourself. The outfit looks outstanding on you! The fabric for your top does not appear to be soft thus would “jut out” whether longer or not. The fabric is beautiful and looks lovely on you. I thoroughly enjoy your blog and love to see your creations. Carry on!
Beth from Savanna, Georgia U.S.A.
Thanks so much Beth! Don’t get me wrong, I still like this outfit overall and will wear it as is, I just think that I do better with a little more effort.
You are very welcome!
I must say you are my inspiration to try new and different styles. I am 70 years “young” and just discovered Style Arc patterns. I am now enjoying fashion sewing again after years of quilting. I had almost given up!~
We can ALL do better…but it would seem you put forth a great deal of effort!
Your last comment really struck home with me. One of my daughters is very hard to please, sewing wise, she is highly critical of my fit BUT regularly brings me RTW to alter…
Great post Lara and Jed says your hair looks so lovely
Wow!!!! Thank you for the thorough response! I have some of those books and I also “own forever” some classes on Bluprint. Thanks for reminding me that I need to get cracking on them! I will persevere…like you, I love my sewing and, now that I took early retirement, I’ll have more time to do some slightly slower sewing. I post my makes in Instagram, though I haven’t done any sewing lately. With a move into a dedicated sewing area (first time in my life!!!!) that will change very soon😃
As a newbie to the frustrations of sewing, I find fellow sewists who disect and show their mistakes and suggest adjustments so very, very helpful. Thank you 💕
Please note that “The Perfect Fit” Singer book and the other “Perfect Fit” are the same book. The Singer Sewing Reference Library came out in the very late 80’s early 90s as a subscription library. Singer did not own the copyright; copyright remained with the publisher who was free to reprint (without the Singer label) the same material after their contract with Singer expired. Sometimes the pictures are updated but the written content and examples remain the same. The other book from the sewing reference library that pops up a lot is the “Tailoring” book so be warned. If you think you’ve seen it before or something very much like it, you may have.
Thanks Theresa! That’s VERY useful knowledge – I’ll edit my blog post with your comment!
That’s so true about RTW. It‘s still worth sewing even though the fit isn’t perfect because it’s still a big improvement on RTW. On RTW – knits because there’s a better chance of getting better fit than wovens – I often need to do a back “dart” to reduce the gaping in the back neckline. Thanks for those links. I need to get sewing.
Thanks for sharing. I also find achieving a good fit to be an ongoing challenge. I think the secret lies in really knowing and understanding your body shape and size. You would think that at 61 years of age I would be all over this but sorry to say…nope!
Forgot to mention, when I saw the matching at 90 (?) degrees at the yoke, I was like, “Oh, Wow!!” C
Subtley Spectacular!
what a lovely fabric choice for that top. very pretty. Although those sleeves would drive me crazy 🙂 I find the fit on Closet Case patterns to not be very easy to work with, to me they seem to need more alterations than many other brands.
I recently watched the tissue pants fitting by Patti Palmer and her daughter on Bluprint (I still have a sub that is still working). It was interesting the way they fitted pants. Even though you might not want to tissue fit, it did give a good visual understanding of how pants can fit and problems you might find.
I think your top here looks good. Check to see if the side seams are swinging forward or not. That is a fitting tell tale sign. If they are hanging straight then it might just be the drape (or lack of) of the fabric at work here.
I have been busily watching my Craftsy/Bluprint classes over the last 24 hours! I found Sandra Betzina’s class really helpful as she shows all the alterations on the flat pattern piece (I know I’m not likely to tissue fit). And she’s got a similar shape to me. Will be viewing more today!
I want to thank-you for continuing to blog and generously share your fitting notes. I know how time-consuming it is to create this content and I am grateful. They are so helpful.
This is a lovely top and looks great on you. I really love how the stripes match up on the back shoulder. What width of bias tape did you use? I’m attempting my third make of this top and want to use bias tape. I have 1″ bias tape that I made. I’m not finding the instructions helpful on how to use bias tape instead of the neckline bias in the pattern. Thanks in advance!
I used a fairly wide bias that I made mysel, because I wanted to fully bind the neckline rather than use the bias as a facing. I tend to randomly make my own bias in whatever width I think works well for the fabric and the garment style whenever patterns call for bias.