Fabric Spark is giving a paper copy of this pattern away today! They provided the fabric for this top. All opinions are honest and my own. Thanks for supporting the shops that support this blog!
Step 1) Procure gorgeous super-soft Loominous fabric. Step 2) Mix in your (favorite) top pattern. Step 3) Sew for 2 hours. Step 4) Remove from sewing machine. Step 5) Press and wear. (Maybe 3 days in a row!) Best. Shirt. Ever. Really! I am IN LOVE with this Loominous fabric from Anna Maria Horner. And I got to use my favorite top pattern The Bess Top from Imagine Gnats. The fabric is Loominous from Anna Maria Horner – yarn dyed lightweight woven cotton, it has an amazing hand and drapes so well. Plus, it’s called Big Love, the Primary colourway – how could you not love it?
I met Daryl from Fabric Spark for coffee a few months ago. She is super inspiring to talk to and I always come away ready to check out amazing bloggers and pattern makers I haven’t heard of yet. So good! Anyhow, We started chatting about working together on an apparel project and I immediately thought back to the Loominous fabric I’d seen in her shop when I picked out my Monthly Sparks bundle.
I had recently made a muslin for the Bess Top pattern from Imagine Gnats. (Imagine Gnats makes my most favorite patterns ever!) So I suggested that maybe we could make a Loominous Bess Top. Lucky for me she agreed! Fabric Spark now stocks the Bess Top, the Alder Skirt and the Roly Poly (children’s Pinafore). Hooray!
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Bess Top pattern by Imagine Gnats
Imagine Gnats patterns make wearable, comfortable clothing that’s not too fancy. They all have little design elements that look great and are really simple to sew. And they come in a really wide range of sizes. (I have made the Alder skirt before as well, in fact I wear it the most out of all my handmade clothing!)
The Bess Top (or tunic or dress without pockets) is made from only two pattern pieces. The back curves over the front and *bam* you’ve got sleeves, without even knowing it! Rachel has taught me to use jersey strips to finish the neckline, hem and sleeves and it has changed my life – literally! I’ve been using the technique on lots of other projects recently.
This top is a size 6 throughout, with a size 4 through the bust area. I used the lower neckline and replaced the shoulder pleat with pretty gathers. I don’t hate the pleat, in fact I love it. Unfortunatly, the pleat doesn’t love me, the gathers soften the detail by spreading the extra fabric along the whole seam. Much better!
I’ll do a proper pattern review when I post about the next Bess I’m making, from nani IRO double-gauze. I managed to order some from Fabric Spark before this print (Jewel Song Pocho) went out of stock, but she has others and some Ellen Baker double gauze in stock as well. Everyone is talking about double gauze – really, everyone!– so I figured it was high time I got my hands on some. My first impressions are great, and I’m excited to see how it drapes in a top. Fingers crossed it will be amazing!
Loominous by Anna Maria Horner
When I started working with this fabric I asked for a bit of extra so I could match the main stripesat the sides of the top. In the end it doesn’t look exactly matched because of the ikat-esque “stripes”, but I did end up using about 1/2 yard more than the pattern calls for to match the main sections. Ordering a little extra will save you lots of time and headache!
The bold patterns in this fabric make placement really important. I quickly searched online and found this top by Miss Make – wide strip in the center front – perfect. The internet is such a useful thing! The back of this top is centred on the two large orange stripes, mainly because I was trying to conserve fabric so I could make a little something for one of my girls with the leftovers!
If this Loominous print is not your favorite – Fabric Spark stocks 5 to choose from!
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Hooray! Fabric Spark is giving away a paper copy of the Bess Top pattern today!
This giveaway is open to International readers, from August 28 – September 3, 2015 at midnight EST. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter – and if you don’t have Facebook to sign in with, just use your name and email address. There’s a “click to enter”, no social media login entry too!
Beautiful top!
Thanks so much Erica!
I love this pattern and if I was making it for me, I would use PETITE FLEURS – PETITE BIRDS MULTI, or ARCADIA – INK. I am a bird lover and all things whimsical!
This top is amazing! Love the idea of gathers instead of pleats! I really want this pattern! I’d use the nani iro clear heart in yellow.
I love it when bloggers tell me more about the fabrics that are obviously beautiful, but I just can’t physically touch! I am a fabric “petter” by nature but often need to shop online so a big Thank You for sharing how lovely this fabric is! I love the one you chose or the Straw Crosshatch!
I’m so glad it helped Sarah J. 🙂 I will have to remember to do that more often!
I just want to copy you and use the ANNE MARIA HORNER LOOMINOUS – BIG LOVE – PRIMARY
I love this top! I wonder how it would look if the sleeves were just a bit longer to cover my upper arms more. I’d pick Joel Dewberry’s Notting Hill – Hourglass fabric. I love everything by Joel Dewberry!
Really cute top. I do like the Best of Morris – Anemone. So pretty. Thank you for the opportunity.
So cute! It turned out lovely!
Yay Jen, Thank you!
i love the ECHINO – BUCK AND DOTS MUSTARD!
seriously, this is SO great in every possible way!! love love love the gathers, this fabric, and super excited that Daryl is carrying the pattern 🙂
Hooray Rachel! Thank you so much. It’s getting a ton of use too 🙂 I’m so glad Daryl got the patterns in. I’ll have to try the Roly-Poly for my youngest next 😉
I would make the Bess Top in Anna Marie Horners – Primary or Traffic. Love the design.
Thus is a great top! And love the Loominous version. Think I must make one….or several.
Love the top!!!
Thank you so much Deb!
I would make this top with Architextures – Crosshatch -Curry.
I would make one in Architextures – Crosshatch -Curry
Love your top. Very cute. I think I would use this fabric : BUTTERCUPS HONEYDEW
I think I would use either Loominous Big Love or Folk Song Azalea
I would use Loominous in orange, such gorgeous fabric and a great pattern.
I love the top you’ve made. It looks great on you ;). To make this top, I’d take the fabric Mochi – Hot Cross Buns Natural, I think.
Awww…. Thanks Mirjam!
I would definitely use the Loominous! It is beautiful and so is the top. Looks great with your necklace, too! Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks so much Jenni! 🙂 Glad you like it!
I love the Feathered Coral Night by Angela Walters.
I would make the top out of Ellen Baker – Monochrome Circle Shades Charcoal
i WOULD LOVE TO MAKE THIS USING CLEAR HEART DOUBLE GAUZE. i THINK IT WOULD LOOK GORGEOUS AND i KNOW DOUBLE GAUZE IS SUPER COMFORTABLE.
very cute both the top and fabric
love the pattern.
thank you for the chance to win. This looks like a great, simple top and will allow of adjustments if needed.
I hope I win!
Michelle
Looks great in this luminous
Beautiful top! I will be looking to get this pattern..
It looks like you had a blast on this photo shoot and there are some real sweet poses!!! I’m not sure what fabrics I’d choose, maybe the same as your top!
I love your shirt! 🙂 I like the CHARLEY HARPER – FEATHERS CORAL fabric! 🙂
For myself, I would use At The Conservatory in Aqua. Love the flowers!
I really like the Bess Top and have wanted to make one for ages – my favourite fabric is KAFFE FASSETT PAPERWEIGHT – SLUDGE
Pauline
I would use this one.
http://fabricspark.com/collections/mid-century-modern/products/kira-by-stof-turquoise#
I think INDELIBLE – FLORET STAINS MULBERRY would be lovely with this pattern.
What a darling top. I would love it in blue. I liked Katrina Roccella Imprint, the add night one.
Beautiful top and the fabric is so nice and soft!
Really cute top, and great fabric choice!
I love the fabric you chose!
Thanks so much Amanda! It’s one of my favorites.