This has been another pattern I’ve been wanting to use for a very long time. The main thing missing were pockets..in comes Top 64 from Merchant and Mills for mods, and voilà we have the making of a (fun)ctional top.

There was only 1-1/2 yards of this Liberty of London in Alma to use, so the black linen came in handy, although I ran out before I could add cuffs for my sleeves. I’d been sitting on this fabric for more than a year, trying to decide what to make. It’s definitely a pricey fabric, but the idea is to make quality over quantity and I plan to wear this til it falls apart. Going thru a lot of my fabric makes me wince when I see how often only a yard or yard and a half was bought- little did I know then that it really limits what you can make. So I’ve been more careful about ordering in 2-1/2 to 3+ yards if they’re meant for clothes. Live and learn.

This is a size 14 and thought I would have plenty of room for my broad back according to the finished measurements. However, I forgot to take into account the sleeves. These are close fitting sleeves- quite nice actually, without all the extra looseness around the armscye. The problem is that I never thought about how the sleeve’s construction can change the ease in the back. So it fits, but it is a little snug when I bring my arms forward while driving, etc. When this is back on my cutting table, I’ll add an inch at the back for extra ease.

All hail, Liberty of London fabric- and the colors are so nicely saturated. A bit out of my comfort zone, but the black gives a litte relief.