Bow-hemian

It is about time to sew a woven top after looking at my fabric stash. This pattern has beckoned me for weeks now.
 

 

From Patternreview.com's description (New Look's description was vague): This easy to sew pattern includes a three-quarter, long sleeves or sleeveless tunic/top with split neck and optional shirttail hem and front pockets. The pants are elastic waist pull-on with tie front. I sewed view "C" that included the "laced-up" front consisting of tie made from the same fabric threaded through 6 loops. Instead of letting the tie "suspend" as shown on the model, I tied it in a bow.  

The directions are written in a logical fashion. The diagrams helped especially in constructing the front facing and the hoops through which the long nearly spaghetti thin ties were threaded.


Size: U.S. size 10-22. I sewed a "12" at a top tapering to a "14" 

Fabric Used: From fashionfabricsclub.com, "Peach beige, dusty orange, aqua blue, aqua green, magenta purple, black and white modern floral print. This very lightweight, soft cotton/polyester fabric has faint woven pinstripe. " I wore a camisole beneath my top due to it being semi-sheer. 

 

Favorite/Not-So-Favorite Features
I like the style of this top reminiscent of 1970's peasant tops. It is comfortable, a tad loose-fitting, but not sack shaped. The keyhole neckline with each tie end threaded through 3 of the 6 hoops (left edge, right edge) is a distinctive style feature. I was not certain if what I see as a "slight sweetheart shape" of the front of the neckline was intended after binding it with a bias strip (cut from the same fabric). As I compared my blouse with that worn by the model, I noticed our necklines look similar. The interfaced fabric facing went over the a portion of the bound edge at the front of the neckline, hence, producing the same type of curvature. But the "lattice effect" on the keyhole front looked elegant on the diagrams, but not so on my top. The number and width of the hoops do not work well with a lightweight and semi-sheer fabric. So, instead of leaving the ties suspended loosely as shown on the model, I tied them into a bow. 

 

Modifications/Alterations
* 1" petite alteration at the waist 

*Added 4 colorful beads at each end of the tie (and then knotted each to end) for embellishment and as an alternative to stitching those itty bitty ends of the narrow ties. *Omitted the side slits. I am not a fan of them.

*Omitted the side slits.

*French seams


 Conclusion: The style works well to showcase the print of the fabric. I recommend this pattern due to its ease of construction and classic style. This is an on-trend piece and works well with slacks, jeans, and skirts. The top was comfortable that I wore it all day to work and back-to-school shopping with my daughter in the early evening (took the photo with shelves of containers).