Monday, 6 February 2017

Style Arc Courtney Top from Leftovers



The Style Arc Courtney Top is a great pattern for trying out some colour blocking. I was rummaging through my fabric stash looking for something suitable, when I came across the left over floral cotton/linen blend from this dress and the white linen left overs from this shirt. I had just enough of both the fabrics to combine the two and create this top.
Style Arc Courtney Top
  
This top has some lovely design features and was fairly quick and relatively easy to construct. There are no darts or closures to worry about and the fit is meant to be loose, so there are no fitting issues to deal with either.

I love the combination of the plain and the busy fabrics. I think the white tones down the busy print and the combination has worked well. I am wearing it here with my purple Colette Mabel skirt which tones in well with the purple flowers in the floral print.

Even in this cotton/linen blend fabric, the shape of the blouse is not too boxy or shapeless. I love the interesting detail that the back yoke and gathers give to the back. I cut a size 12 and made it up with out any alteration to the pattern. It was drafted beautifully and went together easily.

I top stitched all the seams, except the side seams. I like the extra detail it adds to the top and it also keeps the seam allowances lying nice and flat. The arm bands are designed to be turned up like a cuff, but I preferred them left like this. The white arm bands help tie in the front panel and give a nice balance to the garment.

The raw edge at the hem was over locked and turned up and secured with a top stitch. I wanted to preserve as much length as possible. If I was to make this again I would lengthen it a couple of centimetres, especially if I planned to wear it with pants, rather than a skirt. I have a long body and I find a longer top suits my figure better.

The neckband is a length of bias cut linen stitched to the neckline and then cover stitched to finish it off. I have still got my L plates on with my cover stitch machine, but I was pretty pleased with how this turned out. A little bit wobbly on one shoulder, but not too bad.

I am quite pleased with my Courtney Top and very pleased that I was able to create it out of some left over fabrics too. I can see a few more of these in my wardrobe soon.

 Happy Sewing

 Jean
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40 comments:

  1. Maci_nic6 February 2017 at 22:50

    Thanks Jean, a lovely thorough review of a lovely top. I especially love your colourblocking choices and top stitch detail.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 21:18

      Thanks so much Maci_nic for your lovely comment.

      Delete
  2. KellysSewing6 February 2017 at 23:00

    Lovely top. Love your combo of fabrics!

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 21:25

      Thank you Kelly. It was a happy coincidence that I had these two left over fabrics in my stash.

      Delete
  3. Camelia7 February 2017 at 00:18

    Beautiful!

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  4. Debbie Cook7 February 2017 at 00:46

    Very pretty and summery! And I love the delicate look of the bias neckband.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 21:28

      Thanks so much Debbie. This is the first time I have sewn a bias band neckline in a woven.

      Delete
  5. MaryEllen7 February 2017 at 01:23

    Great job of color blocking - the neck is perfect

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 21:30

      Thanks MaryEllen. I do like the effect of the colour blocking and I was very happy with the neckline too.

      Delete
  6. Lynda7 February 2017 at 03:10

    It looks lovely, fresh and cool! Love the way you've combined the fabrics!

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  7. Vicki7 February 2017 at 06:35

    I like this top a lot. Very fresh!

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 21:44

      Thanks Vicki. I think it will be a favourite top.

      Delete
  8. Soposie7 February 2017 at 07:54

    This is really a very pretty top. Your matching of the fabrics to each other and to the pattern worked out really well, and the bias neck band is perfect. Nice work!

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  9. kbenco7 February 2017 at 08:08

    Such a clever use of your fabrics, the top has turned out really well.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 21:51

      Thank you Karen. I'm very happy with the outcome.

      Delete
  10. Sarah Liz7 February 2017 at 13:26

    A very pretty top. I like the neckline finish and have been thinking about doing this type of finish only recently! It really looks good.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 21:53

      Thank you Sarah Liz. This is the first time I have sewn this type of neckline in a woven.

      Delete
  11. KathyS7 February 2017 at 14:27

    It's a lovely top, Jean. Your fabric choices are so pretty. I never seem to have enough of anything to colour block with and I do like the look.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 21:56

      Thanks Kathy. I was really pleased to be able to cut this top out using both fabrics. I didn't have enough of either fabric to cut out the whole top in one fabric.

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  12. HobbyLover7 February 2017 at 17:22

    I just love the look of this top ! It's a great color combination and the use of the white was perfect. Very flattering on you.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 21:58

      Thank you HobbyLover. The narrow front panel creates a flattering illusion.

      Delete
  13. OzAnnie7 February 2017 at 18:03

    I just LOVE your new top. I never considered colour-blocking this pattern. Fabulous!!! And it is so flattering on you too.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 22:03

      Thanks OzAnnie for your lovely comment. This pattern is ideal for colour blocking.

      Delete
  14. Janine7 February 2017 at 19:44

    Thankyou for the review. I have been eyeing off this pattern to use a few small pieces of fabric and your review has convinced me. Your top looks so nice and summery.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 22:12

      I'm glad you found my review helpful Janine. I love the summery effect of the floral and white combination too.

      Delete
  15. Paola7 February 2017 at 20:57

    It's very satisfying to make such a nice top from leftovers. Looks great with your purple skirt too.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret7 February 2017 at 22:15

      Thanks Paola. It's always a win when you make something that works well with other garments in your wardrobe.

      Delete
  16. Marianne8 February 2017 at 04:52

    Brilliant use of leftovers! Your top looks so fresh and neat. Time to ditch the L-plates!

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret8 February 2017 at 07:06

      Awww thank you Marianne. You say the nicest things.

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  17. BeaJay9 February 2017 at 09:41

    I love that top - it looks so fresh for our hot summer. Gorgeous. Your cover-stitching on the neckline is wonderful.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret9 February 2017 at 22:11

      Thanks so much BeaJay. I'm enjoying my new coverstitch.

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  18. Ruth12 February 2017 at 19:41

    Really fresh combination of colours and great that it's from leftovers! Win win

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  19. Sharon27 February 2017 at 13:48

    Beautiful fresh top, love the colours in the floral and the white make is very fresh looking. You will get there with your binder, take your time.

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret27 February 2017 at 16:53

      Thank you Sharon. I'm sure the only way to get better at using my cover stitch machine is to actually use it more. I did use it again over the weekend and even changed the threads. It was actually very easy.

      Delete
  20. Jan Crews29 December 2017 at 13:57

    Thanks for your sleeve pictures. I was frustrated trying to figure out how to sew the sleeve band on, but your pics helped. 👍

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    1. Sew, Jean Margaret29 December 2017 at 18:49

      So glad my pictures were of help to you Jan. It makes blogging seem worthwhile when I receive comments like that.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous12 April 2024 at 06:11

    Very nice result! Thank you for posting this project, gives me helpful idea to repurpose clothes that do not fit anymore.

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