Unfettered Patterns #1004

This is a great transitional top!

Overview:

Sewing Time: +/- 2 hours

I don’t remember how I stumbled upon the Unfettered Patterns blog, but I’m glad I did. Who doesn’t love a free pattern?!

Pattern:

Planning a homecoming outfit is difficult in the south. You never know if it’s going to be hot and sunny, cold and rainy or cool and windy. Shoot one year we had threat of being in the path of a hurricane and it ended up being a hot, sunny day. My point is I usually have a few options and make a game time decision on what to wear. It also means I tend to wait to the last minute to make something to wear. This year was no different I began sewing Monday night when the festivities were kicking off on Thursday.

Because I knew I had minimal time I decided to keep it simple. This meant making a cute top to wear with jeans. I really wanted to make the Know Me 2054 sweatshirt in my school colors, but I knew it would be too hot for a sweatshirt. Thinking a long sleeve top would work for a range of weather conditions I made McCalls 8003. However the rib knit I used was a bit heaver than I thought and the predicted temps rose from the low to high 70s overnight so it was no longer an option.

That’s when I decided to try this cropped wrap top! It was exactly what I needed…stylish yet a quick sew. There are 4 pattern pieces as the sleeve is incorporated into the bodice piece and the front and back pieces are the same which just leaves a facing, waistband and the ties.

All indie patterns are not created equal. You never really know what you’re going to get. This was very true with this brand as I found very few reviews so it was a bit of a risk considering my time crunch.

Thankfully this pattern, though simple, is drafted well and fits as expected. The A4/letter sized print a home pattern is layered which was a surprise. All the pieces and notches lined up as expected.

Sadly there are no illustrated or photo instructions, instead you’ll need to follow written steps to complete your garment. For this easy pattern I feel this is fine for all but the very beginner sewist. Can you really complain when the pattern is free?

Lastly while the sizing seems accurate the largest size only goes up to a 47.5” bust. It’s hard to give this limiting sizing a pass even for a free pattern.

Fabric:

The recommended fabrics were double gauze, linen, chambray or viscose, basically a lightweight woven with some drape. I had 1 yard of this peanut butter cotton gauze in my stash that I snagged as a remnant piece this summer. My thought was it would become a tank top so 1 yd was just enough, but this pattern calls for 1-1/2 yds so I had to go to store and grab another 3/4 yard. Thankfully they had it in stock.

Since the fabric is 100% cotton I knew it would breathe if the temps combined with the sunshine made it feel a bit more like summer than fall. It’s also opaque for coverage, but lightweight so it has some drape. I love the texture of gauze and the added benefit is I wore it all day and didn’t have to be concerned with being wrinkled, even after many hugs.

Modifications:

I didn’t make any modification. I did skip sewing the facings to the bodice. The understitching combined with a good press seemed to keep the facings inside. I also tacked the front pieces together to prevent a nip slip.

Lessons Learned:

Sew more Unfettered Patterns!

Summary:

Pattern: Unfettered Patterns Cropped Wrap Top UP1004

Pattern Description: cropped wrap top with an elastic waist and loose fit, it creates a stylish and comfortable look that pairs well with high waist pants.

Sizing: 33-47.5” bust

Does it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope? Yes

Were the instructions easy to follow: Yes because this is a simple top.

Would I recommend it to others? Yes

Cropped Wrap Top: Unfettered Patterns 1004