One of the things Me Made May taught me this year was that I could do with some long sleeved tops that are slightly more fancy than just tee shirts. After my success with the Named Augusta hoodie, I went back and looked more closely at their past collections. The one before Ticket doesn’t have anything that particularly appeals, but their first collection has some really nice tops in it. This is the Kanerva Button Back shirt, made up in a remnanat of plaid brushed cotton and a scrap of spotty silk.
I wish I could say I loved it, but i really dont. Its just so meh! I like the idea, and I think the pattern is a good one, but this version is decidedly uninspiring. I like the fit of the bodice, I think that turned out well. I used bias tape as a facing around the neckline, and I think its sitting really nicely.
I didn’t have enough fabric to bother too much about matching the plaid, but its pretty close across the side seams, and it matches across the back. My posture in these pictures is terrible, the back doesn’t usually balloon out like that!
I think the thing thats really putting me off here is the peplum. I’ve never really been a big fan, but this one isn’t flouncy or gathered so I thought it would be ok. And if it was in the same fabric as the top it might have been, but I’m really not loving the sheer black. Its also sitting really weirdly around my backside…In fact, after looking at these pictures for the past 10 minutes, I think I might take it off, and just have a cropped top to wear with my high waisted skirts.
I do like the pattern, I’d like to find a striped fabric with some stretch (the pattern recommends a stretch woven, but this plaid is completely rigid which may be adding to my dislike of it) to make a cropped version like the example on the Named site. I also think it’d be nice in a semi-sheer fabric for summer, with no sleeves. One thing I will do next time is add an invisible zip into the side seam! I can button myself into this one ok because I have gibbon arms, but it takes a bit of contortionism. Getting out of it is even harder, but I managed (eventually).
So there we go, a fail post. I’m pretty lucky with my sewing generally, but I don’t think there is any way to rescue a bad idea! Poor fabric choice, poor fabric combination. Hopefully next time will be better!
Fifty Two Fancies 
It just stinks when you put in sooo much effort and the thing doesn’t do you any justice. I think this is a very ‘meh’ pattern. But… if you were to make it again… the models waist is right at the junction of the peplum and bodice, yours looks to be hitting you a fair bit below that so it makes your waist look larger. I’d shorten the bodice quite a bit for you. The peplum should be on your natural waist. I think the 2 contrasting fabrics shorten you a bit Kirsten, not aided by the brown plaid which is in itelf quite boxy. We live and learn hey? Before you toss it, perhaps try shortening the bodice by pinning it out and see if you like the effect of a shorter bodice. The pelpum could do with more flair to increase the difference between waist and hip? Looks like it needs more booty room on you luv š
Hope you didn’t mind that dissertation on your make, we all have fails, some are salvageable.
No, I think that sums up the problems with this top quite neatly! I have a really short torso, so moving the waist seam up an inch or so would probably work. I’m not sure it’ll ever be a winner though!
Oh you win some, you lose some. I agree with sewnipntuck’s thoughts, that the peplum seam is too low. If you really like the top sans peplum then I think wearing it with a high waisted skirt would still look cute. But if not, into the rag bag and move on I say!
Yup, I’ll try it without the peplum. Not a huge loss if it still doesn’t look right! I’ll salvage the buttons before donating it to Monsieur’s rag bag though š
I totally understand your pain….some sweaters I knit come out great….and then there are the others!! But before you totally give up on it, I think the suggestion of shortening the peplum will help tremendously. Then different colored bottoms could help it also. If you went with a lighter color, then you could see the peplum better. Or with a black skirt/jeans will make it look more like a cropped top! And because I’m an accessory junkie, I’d love to see a statement necklace with it and then a large bracelet since the sleeves are 3/4 length! It really does fit well!! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks Jodie, maybe I should have a play with it before writing it off completely š
I haven’t seen much of this pattern on sewing blogs– maybe only one other time. I love the button back but the peplum just isn’t quite right. It can’t hurt to shorten it into a crop to see how you like it. I hope your next project, whatever it may be, turns out to be something you love!
Thanks Teri, I hope so too! I haven’t seen it around much either, but it looks so cute on the Named website…
I agree with the peplum. It should either be a peplum or not. I would think more flare or no flare with it buttoning or sewed right to the bottom. If you just shorten the peplum would it look better?
I’ll need to have a play with the proportions of the whole top, it might be better with less fabric somewhere! I don’t think I could get it to close all the way down the back though…
No, I agree, I think the black would have to be made shorter at least, even if it was left open.
Bummer! I hate when this happens. I have had mixed feelings about this pattern – some elements are cool and some are just kind of blah. Could you just get rid of the peplum part and wear it as a cropped top over dresses or with highwaisted skirts?
And I agree with @Sewniptuck, I think you need to shorten the bodice to hit right at your natural waist – maybe in different fabrics you’d like it more?
Yeah, I’ll try tucking the peplum into a few skirts and see how it looks without it! Maybe in a colourful, less square print it would look better?
I hate it when something doesn’t work out! Always hard to reframe as “a learning experience” rather than “a waste of precious time”.
Along with shortening the waist, and maybe shortening the peplum a tad so it’s just above your hips, I also wonder how it would look if you could make a bound edge on the neckline that either picks out the lighter brown of the plaid or the black of the peplum? I liked the contrast bound neckline in the model photos – I feel like it might soften the plaid a bit? (or a bit of lace/trim “collar”… – dunno really, just thought it needed something up there on that edge!)
I think this one might be a wadder, unless cutting the peplum off/shortening the waist improves it enough to be worth playing with! I can see what you mean though, I’ll think about it for the next time I try this pattern š
Fair enough. The fit certainly works pretty well through the bodice, so that’s something for future iterations if you go there! I’m sure that fabric will be lovely and soft for polishing cars if it doesn’t work out š
Mmmm, I think I’d shorten it too, it its too short when the peplums gone, how about a solid black piece, just a couple of inches round the bottom š
Thats a good idea! I’ve put it aside for a few weeks so I can come back and look at it with fresh eyes, then I’ll have a play with all the new ideas everyone has come up with š