The day my brother took pictures of me wearing the Indigo sweater, he also took pictures of another top. I must have been in a quirky pattern shape phase the week I made both garments. This top is the drawstring-detail drape top (pattern no. 12) from drape drape, a Japanese pattern book by Hisako Sato. The top only has 2 pattern pieces, and I think these could even be turned into 1 piece since the center back seam is completely straight.
The draping at the front is created by folding the fabric back up to create the front hemline. There is a tunnel right below the right shoulder through which I threaded a ribbon instead of a self-fabric drawstring.
While 10 out of 10 people present (including me) agreed the Indigo sweater is a good look for me, 10 out of 10 people agreed that this top is ridiculous.
The size range for the patterns in drape drape is very limited. My bust (88 cm) is in between the L and XL sizes, while my waist and hips are already out of the size range and I consider myself very average sized for a Dutch woman. For this top there is only one pattern for all sizes and it is huge, so I can only imagine what it would look like on someone who is size S (78 cm bust)…
One of the problems is that the hem appears to hit me right at the widest part of my hips, which is not a particularly flattering look. I also suspect that I should have used a much drapier knit instead of Laguna jersey.
My sisters suggested I could hide a full-term pregnancy in this top and they are probably right. One of them was even so helpful to suggest I gift this top to a pregnant friend to use as maternity wear.
Dear pregnant friends and family members: you needn’t worry. There is no way this monstrosity will ever be bestowed upon you.
Drape it over thick, heavy sweaters? 😲
Play more with length… try the smallest size in a drapier knit?😉
Well done for modeling it for us! I do love that unexpected shoulder gather. xx
The problem is that there is only one size pattern in the book and because the shape is a bit unusual it’s not easy to adjust the pattern. I think the shoulder detail is the only thing I kind of like in this top, but anyway, this top no longer exists…
I have to say those Japanese pattern books are a wonder – they seem to be all about the styling. The clothes usually look good on the models who generally look about the size of a European 8 year old. I too like the gather on the shoulder though. Maybe you could incorporate it into a different pattern.
Some people have success with them. This was only the first Japanese pattern I’ve tried, I’m not yet giving up. 😉
Oh, thank heavens… I saw the photo and knew it was going to be a struggle to say anything nice about this top. It *might* look nice on a Japanese stick model, but normal women will struggle with a lot of those patterns because they have absolutely no shaping. Really, why would you waste yet more perfectly good fabric trying to make it work? Thank you for sharing the joke, and for being brave enough to show off this fabulous blooper!
Ahhh, and the first photo was even the best looking one… It was quite hilarious when I put it on when I visited my parents, all my siblings were there as well. My mother tried it on as well and it looked slightly better on her, her figure is a bit fuller than mine. Not good enough to let her keep it though… No one else was brave enough to try.
I’ve just had flash backs of me in my great British sewing bee drapey knit dress! It was similar, as in interesting to make, but not entirely flattering! One of my blogging friends liked it tho so I sent it to London so all was not lost!
It’s good to post the bad with the good (shows we’re human after all!) 😃
Yes, and I did get a good laugh out of it! Seemed a bit stupid not to share really, it might help someone else not to make the same mistake. 😉
Emmely, it looks so comfortable, though! I would love a top like that.
I really found that there was way too much fabric floating around my body, but I suppose I usually wear quite tightfitting clothes.
Yes, the sweater is definitely the better garment. ;- ) I thought the gathering on the shoulder of this top was interesting but it is not flattering, that’s a fact. I admire your willingness to try out new patterns in garment construction. As much as I enjoy piecing for quilts and things, I detest making clothing. Tell your brother he does a great job with the photography!
I’ve worn the sweater several times already and felt great wearing it. The drawstring top has been turned into something different that I still need to get pictures of. It’s a pity my brother currently lives at the other side of the country (which for US standards isn’t that far, but when you’re Dutch it literally is the other end of the country so feels very very far away). If he was closer I’d bribe him into taking all my pictures.