Thank goodness for holiday barbeques. They bring people together, provide a great excuse to eat festive season snack foods and, more importantly, provide you with advice on what tank to sew because the weather is bananas hot and you are melting and need advice STAT! All hail the sage words of Michelle because this lady is sporting a fancy new top and is loving it!
This bad boy is the Springfield Top by Cashmerette. It is a woven tank with bust darts (yay!) and two views. View A has a loose silhouette with an optional hem band. I made up View B with princess seams at the back. Even better – the pattern is drafted for different cup sizes. Huzzah! This is everything a lazy lady melting in the summer heat is after!
The fabric is the navy Birch rayon from Cotton + Steel. I had been drooling over this since its release but was reluctant to buy it online without having felt the drape. While up visiting my friend Jess in Queensland in December I stumbled across some in a little shop and snaffled it up super quick. Though for some reason I thought that 1m of fabric would be sufficient?! Curse you Holiday Mode Amanda!
The biggest challenge for me with making this was cutting the dang thing out due to the aforementioned 1m of fabric. When I bought the fabric I wasn’t thinking this particular pattern just a generic tank so found myself 60cm short. I ended up cutting things on the flat and piecing the bias strip together from two pieces. It was crazy pattern Tetris but totally worth it. Sewing wizard achievement unlocked!
Construction wise this was super easy and for once I made no silly mistakes. The instructions were clear, easy to follow and well illustrated. I finished the top with French seams because I like the look and also didn’t want to lug my overlocker onto my desk from its home on the floor. This was a seriously quick and drama free make which was exactly what I needed post-surgery. Gotta love simple projects!
What I loved about this pattern:
- Princess seams at the back. Why have I never sewn a top with this before?! Seriously. How has this happened? Because I am now Team Back Princess Seams. Woot!
- The separate printable versions for different cup sizes. Freaking. Genius. I used the time I saved sorting out an FBA and working out what pages to print by eating a packet of Twisties and catching up on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I call that a life win! And for those playing at home – they were Chicken Twisties. Controversial AND delicious!
- The fact I could squeeze this out of 1m of fabric like the thrifty boss I am. It was pretty touch and go there though…
What I would change for next time:
- Look at pinching some fabric out in the centre front. There is a slight gape there that I am noticing the more I wear it. Not a deal breaker but something to investigate.
- Lower the darts 1 or 2cm. They are just a little high up and my bust is more “relaxed and casual” than drafted.
- Nothing else. I seriously dug this pattern but I hate even numbers of bullet points 😉
The Deets
Pattern: Springfield Top by Cashmerette
Fabric: 1m Les Fleurs rayon by Cotton + Steel. Grabbed at Stitch Piece Loop.
Notions: thread from stash, sass sewasauruses own
Size: 12 E/F
Adjustments: shortened at hem by 5cm, pieced bias tape
See Also: Cookin’ & Craftin’, Sew Pretty in Pink, Scientific Sewing
Overall, I am in love with this top! It’s been washed and worn constantly this month to house inspections, work, out and about and mooching around the house. It’s gotten to the point where I need to pony up and buy some more rayon and make a few more so people see me in a different top at some point this January. But hey, when you make something this lovely and rad, you just need to rock it out… Cue cheesy photo… Bwah ha ha!
I’ll be using “relaxed and casual” to describe my bust from now on, that’s awesome.
Bwah ha ha! It’s how all the rad ladies roll!
This fits so nicely! And how good is the triumph of winning pattern Tetris, having no scraps leftover at all! And fact – I was so freaking pumped to learn that in Italy Twisties are called Fonzies. Ehhhhh!
I’m so happy with my game of pattern Tetris – things got super intense and I may have included one of the fraying edges on the hem but it got folded up so everyone won!
Ehhhhhhh – that is the best fact EVER!!!
Bloody gorgeous! I never wear vest tops, because, well bra straps and a relaxed and casual belly. Maybe I need to re-think and give into the Cashmerette hype lol
And I now need some rayon too. Dammit!
I have to say I was sceptical about the bra strap coverage but this one has been great! It’s also got a nicely shaped arm hole so there isn’t any gaping. Winning!
Side note: yes, you need ALL the rayon. We all need ALL the rayon – it is amazing!
If I’d known you were going to eat chicken twisties…
Nah -totally stoked that someone took my advice and it was a win! That never happens!
You are a cheese twisty lady?! 😉
Total win! I love this top SO much! Thank you!
Total winner. A well fitting tank pattern is gold. Go fourth & make multiples!
I’m heading to Melbourne for a weekend away with my Boo on Friday but am going to sneak into a a couple of places looking for rayon!
Yes! I love this pattern too. Second time around I made a little neck facing and stitched it down instead of facing with bias which I thought made the neckline sit better on me (in a very un-giving fabric). Back princess seams, YES! Have you tried the Deer and Doe Arum dress? It has them too. Mmm. Love this in that rayon. You totally need more.
Pattern twins! Yay! Ohh the facing sounds very fancy!! I haven’t tried the Arum yet – it is one of only a couple I haven’t snaffled from D+D. I shall check it out!
Love your top and it’s edging me closer and CLOSER to buying the Springfield 🙂 the only reason I haven’t is about my resistance to PDF overall but I’m slowly getting over that (rather more quickly now I’ve seen your top) I completely agree – having Cup sizes there for you and BACK princess seams…I’m in! I am working on the Cashmerette Harrison right now with Jenny in her course and am loving the process. The Harrison is great too and she’s come out with an adjustment to a sleeveless shirt dress using the Harrison as base which looks perfect for MY summer which remains months ahead 🙂 I’m in Canada…still a little early for sleeveless shirt dresses! I always enjoy your blog. It’s fun and inspiring.
PDFs and I are not the best of friends but this one was pretty small if that is any help 🙂
Ohhh the Harrison looks super good! I have been very tempted by it – I had no idea about the shirtdress option. This must get into my life!
And thank you 😀 I have fun sewing so I always hope that comes across!
Love it!! I think I’m going to go and have a look at this pattern. Extra bonus sewing points for the pattern tetris!
Thank you! It was a surprise win for me but am so in love with the pattern now! If you love a tank top this is well worth the investment!
One great tank top! Congrats on a great fit!
Thanks, Linda! I am so happy with how this turned out!
Oh how I long to be perspiring Down Under, sporting a floaty rayon girl-sized Springfield top with back princess seams. Stifling heat how I miss you.( No idea about the chicken twisty thing,) P.S. Don’t anyone knock the skills required for fabric Tetris. I managed to piece a roll of wrapping paper around a child carrier seat box yesterday. Imagine my feelings of superiority when another large package was wrapped in Christmas paper (for lack of Tetris skills). Signed, Sad and Cold Up Top
Ohhh that is some mighty tetris right there! I hope you got a nice and warm cocoa after doing that!!
I would totally share some heat and humidity with you if I could – it is in the uncomfortably sticky part of the year currently O_o
Bonus points for mentioning Twisties- though I am a team Cheese Twistie fan! I am coming over in April and it’s usually one of the first Aussie treats I have :-). Love the top, that fabric is so pretty , and the back seams didn’t mess up the pattern too much, and what a great fit !
Ohh that is the second Team Cheese reply! I am team both flavours but sometimes chicken is just the best 😉
Yay for an april visit! I hope you have a most excellent time!!!
Woop! Tres snazzy. Thanks for making it look so good!
Ooo this is lovely, I LOVE this pattern! i was lucky it fit straight from the packet, means they can be whipped out very quickly, it is addictive!
Thank you for including a link!
This looks great! What a beautiful top. I might have to check this pattern out when summer comes around here.
Seriously good! and I’ve just bought the pattern.
Totally jealous over the gorgeous fabric Which store in qLD did u find it???!!!
This fabric is beautiful!!!
Just wanted to thank you for noting your size! You sew the same Cashmerette as me and I was wondering if this would look like a boob tent — it doesn’t! And, now I can purchase with confidence. You look amazing in this!