Butterick 6183 - The Lisette Top

I bought this pattern as soon as it came out. I loved the top and had a ton of ideas for it. 

Butterick 6183

I'm really digging tunic-y tops over skirts or pants. The two outfits that I've already made using a tunic top are very comfortable to wear. So I've been looking for more patterns in this style.

First some pattern alterations ~

The great thing about this pattern is that it comes in cup sizes. New me needs the "C" cup pattern piece instead of the "D" cup piece. That's where I started. After pinning the pieces together and tissue fitting them to me, I determined that I needed some space over my abdomen, well that issue hasn't changed. I altered the center front piece by cutting and spreading it an inch.

I also added 5/8" to the center back piece so that I could put in an invisible zipper...changing this from a "place on fold" piece. I like the exposed zipper that the pattern features, I just didn't want it in my version.

The sleeves were widened to increase the biceps. I also added 2" to the bottom of the sleeve hem to make the sleeves a little longer.

I made no changes to the shoulder seam or the neckline and I started with a size 22.

Construction ~

I really wanted a top to go with the fruit skirt but I only had a large scrap of it left...not enough to make an entire top but enough to print block a top. So I pulled a white linen from the collection to use with the fruit scrap to make the top.

• Figuring out the combination to get the best design from the small scrap was the first challenge.
• Then after getting all of the pieces cut out, I realized that I needed to underline all of the pieces. I used cotton batiste to do that.
• I assembled the top, tried it on and it was a little too tight in the abdomen area, so I went in and reduced all the seams to 3/8" wide from under the bustline down.
• The pattern pieces were all altered to reflect this change.

Otherwise it was a straight sew. It took a little longer than I thought it would, as in all day but I'm glad I made it.

Here is version one...a work related view ~

Finally I will be making this top again. Liesl has a pinterest board called, Lisette: Sew Your Style, where she's collected a lot of amazing ideas for garments from her patterns. There are quite a few inspiring pieces here that I definitely want to try especially since this top can be made in a variety of fabrics!

...as always more later!