Jalie 2562

Some sewing at last. 

I've had this Jalie pattern for ages and I have a feeling I've made it up more than once before but I only have one version in the cupboard.  However, that version has been worn, and worn, and worn.  It's a red cotton waffle fabric, and has a collar in blue cotton printed with red flowers.  And its one of those tops that spends very little time in the drawer.  If I'm not wearing it, its either in the laundry basket or drying in the airing cupboard. 

I was about to say "I don't know why I haven't made this top in several colours" but actually, I am ashamed to say that I do know why that is.  I was avoiding  doing the collar as I find them annoying to get right and rather fiddly.  True to form, these two aren't right either but they pass the ten yard rule and if I wear these two as much and for as long, as their predecessor, I'll be a happy rabbit. 

The body fabric is a very dark grey knit of indeterminate composition, but its a nice one.  It has a very smooth, almost silky feel and I think I must have bought as much as five metres because in total I've got one very drapey and fabric hungry cardigan, one long sleeved scoop neck top, one vest (sleeveless) and these two tops out of one bit of fabric.

The collar fabrics are both from my rather depleted quilting fabric stash.  In my size I can get the collar and placket pieces from a fat quarter with ease, which is nice.   Indeed, I found this to be quite an economical pattern.  The fitted nature of the top and its narrow cut sleeves mean it takes a smallish amount of fabric to create. 

But I can't tell you what size this actually is now.  I know I traced this as a multiple size, moving between a larger size at the top a smaller size at the waist, and a medium-ish size in the hips.  I know I traced it when I was at the height of my "overfitting" phase.  I found a post-it on the pattern which claimed it was too small for me.  However, since I've been wearing the previous one perfectly happily all winter, I figured that was a bit of a lie.  So I made sure I sewed a scant seam allowance and its turned out fine.  But its definitely a custom size. 

I didn't hem the tops but left them raw.  I know this will work because I did the same with the scoop neck from the same fabric and that has been washed and worn repeatedly since I made it, with no ill effects. 

And I've included a close up shot of one of the fabrics.... for no other reason than I bought this fat quarter years ago, having fallen instantly in love with it, and I wanted a record of its fabulousness.  I actually walked around several quilt shows with this fat quarter in my hand looking for more of it.   Never saw any more of it.  Clearly its fulfilled its destiny.  It must have been meant to be a collar all along.