5 out of 4 Patterns Jenny Cross Front Tunic

Last month I took some time to review and think about my favorite and not so favorite sewing projects from the previous year. I blogged about my top hits and top fails and let you know what I wore a ton and what just never really made it out of my closet. One of my sewing fails was a cross front top that I wanted to like, but it just did not work for me. I was nervously excited when I saw that 5 out of 4 Patterns wanted to release a cross front top that was very similar. So, I signed up as a tester, and today, I will be reviewing – and telling you what I think about that pattern – the Jenny Cross Front Tunic.

The Pattern Details

The Jenny Cross Front Tunic Pattern is a fitted dolman top that can be made in short or long sleeves. It is tunic length and the cross over is daring and low. The pattern includes the overlay cross front top as well as a tank pattern to wear as a modesty layer underneath. The tank layer has the option of a lower or mid neckline. I made the lower neckline. The back hem on the cross over top can be straight or curved. The pattern also includes a full bust adjustment as well.

The pattern works best in knit fabric with great drape. I used an ITY from Knitpop on my short sleeved Jenny. Since it was light and airy, I knew I would wear it more in the summer so I left it without sleeves.

I made an XS bust and graded my top to a XXS waist and hips. I also took 1 inch out of the pattern at the lengthen/shorten line to adjust for my  (lack of) height.

My next Jenny is in a lightweight, loose, open weave sweater knit that has a ton of stretch and drape. This fabric took a little bit more patience to sew with, and since the weave was so open, I definitely could not do without a tank underneath. I was really glad that a modesty tank was included in the pattern!

My Thoughts

What did I not like about the previous cross over top that I made?? Well, the neckline on the previous pattern was finished with only hemming. Nothing was keeping that neckline stable. This meant that when I moved, it would fall under my bust. It was just open and swingy, which felt weird and meant I was constantly adjusting it.

However, on the Jenny top pattern, the neckline is finished with a band AND clear elastic. It is seriously not budging. I can run after my kids and move all about doing mom life, and I am not worried about it falling down and exposing me. I also just don’t like to constantly adjust my clothing.

Even with all the security, I can still breastfeed just fine in this top! That always makes me excited when I can easily nurse from the top in a pattern. My baby just bats away the fabric when I try to nurse by pulling my shirt up.

I know I will wear my tops with the modesty tank (which I am glad is included in the pattern!), but I think the clear elastic also makes the top just fine to wear without the modesty tank because you don’t have to worry about the cross over falling down.

I normally don’t really like clear elastic that much, but it worked really well for me on this top. I found it worked easier to serge my band to the neckline seam first and then go back over that seam and apply the clear elastic with a zig zag stitch on my sewing machine without stretching anything. If I applied the clear elastic and the band at the same time, it didn’t look as good.

Another thing that I did not like about the previous cross over top was the amount of ease. It was just too much fabric all around my stomach. I think the Jenny top is much more fitted but still drapes very nicely under my bust.

I made the curved hem back on this sweater version (and I forgot to zip up my shoes – whoops!).

Now let’s talk about the underlayer. It is a simple quick tank finished with bands. I made the same adjustments to the tank as I did to the crossover top. I used a lightweight jersey for it. I was so excited that my friend Aimee gifted me this fabric because the color is perfect for me to wear under my sweater Jenny in the winter and then to wear again under my short sleeved Jenny in the summer!

Resources

1. The Jenny Cross Over Top Pattern can be found HERE. Grab it while it is on sale this week!
2. The fabric for my blue floral Jenny is an ITY from Knitpop.
3. The fabric for my open weave sweater was from a local destash.
4. The fabric for my tank came from my sweet friend, Aimee.
5. The clear elastic that I used came from Amazon.
6. My necklace was a Christmas gift from my sweet husband! He got it here.

Thanks for reading! I hope I have inspired you. You may follow me on Instagram or receive updates by liking my page on Facebook. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures: I received this pattern for free as part of the testing process to give the designer feedback about the instructions and fit of the pattern. This post also may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. There is no cost to you.  Any and all opinions expressed are my own.