Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Cowl-neck Knit Top


I bought a RTW cowl-neck knit top a few years ago and have always looooved the style of the collar (is a cowl-neck a collar?). Despite having spent many hours searching and keeping my eye out for a similar paper pattern, there just doesn't seem to be one. If there is, I certainly have never come across it. 

Anyway, last week I decided I could wait no longer and made it my mission to create a pattern from the store-bought top. The only problem, was that the piece was a bit odd. While the garment was constructed, it really was impossible to make out what was happening. I decided to take it to my sewing class to seek some assistance from my teacher. She suggested we unpick half the collar, trace it off and sew it back up again. That we did. This is what we discovered:


Here is a pattern of the collar. The left-hand edge shows the centre-front. 


Here is what the piece looks like pinned into shape. There's a fold in the fabric. The purpose of this is to give a full front, while reducing bulk at the back of the collar.




The back collar is a little floppy. I did identify this on my muslin and scrawled down the changes necessary to alleviate this problem. Unfortunately, I didn't notice the scrawl when I was cutting this fabric out. The next version should be better.



I finished the armholes by attaching a thin strip of fabric and then turning it under. I then sewed it down using a normal straight stitch. I overlocked the hem, turned it under and then sewed it down using a very narrow zigzag. For some reason this fabric did not want to be sewn with a twin needle.

I made this top using a cotton/nylon purchased from The Fabric Store for $6/m during the Christmas holidays. I was immediately drawn to it as it's my absolute favourite colour. It's also a bit 'Metallicus' looking.

I definitely plan to make this top again. I really am very happy with. I love tops with cowls, ruffles and other embellishments as I think they look more feminine and interesting than plain tops.

14 comments:

  1. Cool! I love a good cowl neck too, but like you - haven't yet found 'the pattern'. Great idea to deconstruct something you like and copy it!

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  2. Lovely top, I'm a fan of cowl necks too. Just a thought re the back neck... This happens to me as well due to my square shoulders. Once I adjust the shoulder angle on the pattern the neck is usually fine or requires only minor changes.

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  3. When I first looked at your post I thought your photos were of the bought top and then realised this is your version. It looks really good . I love the colour too. It does seem to be an unusual pattern for a cowl - there are plenty of cowl neck patterns around but none like this.

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  4. Very nice. I like a good cowl neck, too. Also, I agree with Dillander above- I have issues like that with the back neck sometimes and a square shoulder adjustment always seems to help.

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  5. Hey, great work! Groovy looking cowl and the fabric looks really lovely made up. I like the colour of your jeans also.

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  6. Gosh you have been busy - what with the sewaholic dress and tidying your sewing room and now this! Great job - now I wonder how you sewing room looks ...

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  7. That is a clever pattern piece. I've never seen a cowl neck collar piece like that before. You don't need it any more but Kwik Sew 3740 seems like it would give a similar look (though the collar piece is not like that). http://kwiksew.mccall.com/k3740-products-20273.php?page_id=3334&search_control=display&list=search

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  8. What a great top. I really like it when you can make your own pattern off a rtw item. Your sewing room looks really good too. You have been busy.

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  9. Definitely Metallicus-looking, but not Metallicus-priced! Nice work.

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  10. Ooh, that is such a nice top. I was just inspecting the pattern piece photo, for the purposes of slavish copying, and had to laugh at the "metric and customary measurement guide". I suppose I am easily amused.

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  11. Oh, also I thought THIS was your favourite Cue top - love the colour and love it even more on you btw, so I was thinking "no wonder it's her favourite" - but then I realised you made this one! Great job, and interesting to see the inside collar shape too...

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  12. Great color plus easy laid back style equals perfection! So fun to see your sewing space too.

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  13. Very nice laid back styling. Will your new organised sewing space lead to even more beauties like this?

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  14. Take this as a compliment. Took me most of the post to work out this was the top you had made from the rtw. I thought it was the rtw!

    :-)

    I love that colour too!

    And it is a very flattering neckline, I can see why you wanted to copy it. I <3 Cue clothes. Champaigne tastes on a beer budget. Good thing I sew.

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