Jalie 2787

After I finished my white blouse and the marathon of knit tops, I was ready to bite into a little more of a challenge and make a jacket. I started tracing Hot Patterns Deco Vibe Carrie-d Away Jacket (now OOP). Then I got sick, and didn't even go into my sewing room for the better part of a week. I came back and couldn't face the jacket, so I whipped up an old favorite that I have been meaning to remake for a couple of years.

The pattern is Jalie 2787, the Criss-Cross top. I made it once before when Myra was a wee one, and still wear it often.

The fabric I used this time is a cotton-lycra jersey from the remnant bin at Hancock's. It was a bit curly, but has really nice recovery, which is pretty essential for this top if you intend to use the nursing option. Which I do.

Here's how it works. This is absolutely hands down my favorite nursing top. In fact, after nursing all three of my babies for a collective 4 1/2 years (and still going!) this is the only nursing top that is still in my closet. I love it so much that I am willing to overlook the fitting issues that I (and many of the reviewers on PR) have had with the crossover panels. But I'm going to tell you all about them.

The major issue is the underbust area of the upper crisscross panel. Despite the fact that the top fits snugly with negative ease across the bust, the underbust area gapes open. My initial thought was to shorten the panel below the fullest part of the bust, in order to tighten up the area underneath.

You can see though, that the side seam already pulls forward significantly under the bust. This is mostly due to the elastic that holds the lower front panel up, but shortening the "legs" of the crisscross panels would only make it worse.

But to all that I say, I don't care. I love this top. It is comfortable, cute and convenient for nursing. Gape away. I will still be wearing it.

But before I made this top, I did finish tracing the HP jacket. I even stitched together the tracing for a tissue fit.

And well, I don't know. The style is cool and interesting. I thought the construction would be super complicated, but it really isn't (although the pattern does have 21 pieces, including lining and interlining - yikes!). I'm just not sure how well all those gathers will behave in the ponte knit I have in mind. Perhaps I need to seek out a sleeker pattern? Maybe I'll muslin it in an ugly sweater knit I have and see how it behaves.