Hi friends! I have a fun new top for fall to show you today! I wanted to start working on a few transitional pieces for our (hopefully) coming soon cooler weather, and I can’t wait to share with you all the fun design details in my project for today!

The Pattern

I chose the Made for Mermaids Mama Catherine to use as my pattern because I could not get over the details! The top has a lined (or optionally unlined) yolk that lands above the bust. I chose the square neckline because I have so few square necklines in my closet. The pattern also includes a round neck option.

The pattern includes the option of short, 3/4, and long fitted sleeves or two different styles of flounce sleeves. I went with the high low flounce and LOVE how they look. I have never worn sleeves like this, and I just felt so fun swishing around in these! Here is my not awkward at all attempt to show you these sleeves.

The top itself has a lot of ease and is just so cozy. I wished I had made one when I was pregnant!!

The pattern has three different hemline options: a top, a tunic, or a dress. The top version is a straight cut, while the tunic and dress have this amazing curved hem.

Sewing Tips

It is hard to hem a curved hem in the round after the side seams are sewn because the point at the side seam will not sit correct. I used a stretch stitch on my sewing machine near the end of my side seam so I could back stitch and not have a serger tail, and I left about 1/2 an inch to 3/4 open and not sewn at the bottom of each side seam. This let me easily hem this area. For the rest of the hem, I used wonder tape to hold it down. This helped it lay flat, and I am super happy with how my hem turned out.

For the seam in my flounce sleeve, I used the flat felled seam option in the pattern, and I really like it!! It means when my sleeve flies around in the wind, no one sees my pretty pink serger seam. I didn’t have a matching red thread in my serger and didn’t care for that to pop out!

The only adjustment I made was that I removed 1 inch of length from the skirt. I normally don’t shorten tops, but I do shorten tunics. It is really easy to shorten this pattern since the  skirt is just a straight cut on the sides.

The Fabric

I used the bamboo lycra from The Fabric Fairy. I am in love with the drape and feel of this fabric! I made a top out of it in a different color this summer (you can read that post here), and I have wanted to sew with it again ever since.

Of course, I have to gush about the fabric I chose because it really helps showcase all the fun details I love about this top. If you make this pattern, you will need fabric with nice soft, beautiful drape. Since it has lots of ease and has flowy sleeves, you want fabric that flows and swishes with you and doesn’t tent out and make you look bigger!

This burgundy color is so rich and just screams fall to me! Who wants a nice hot cup of tea with me (or coffee or whatever you drink!)?

Resources

  • You can find the Mama Catherine pattern HERE.
  • You can find the fabric I used HERE.

Disclaimers

I received this fabric for free to sew it up and show what it would look like once worn. Also, this post does NOT contain affiliate links, so if you purchase anything from a link in my post, it makes no difference to me. My opinions are still my own, and I am grateful for the support of stopping by and seeing what I am up to!

I also loved this top so much that it made it into our fall family photos!!


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