Jalie 2787

After I finished my white blouse and the marathon of knit tops, I was ready to bite into a little more of a challenge and make a jacket. I started tracing Hot Patterns Deco Vibe Carrie-d Away Jacket (now OOP). Then I got sick, and didn't even go into my sewing room for the better part of a week. I came back and couldn't face the jacket, so I whipped up an old favorite that I have been meaning to remake for a couple of years.

The pattern is Jalie 2787, the Criss-Cross top. I made it once before when Myra was a wee one, and still wear it often.

The fabric I used this time is a cotton-lycra jersey from the remnant bin at Hancock's. It was a bit curly, but has really nice recovery, which is pretty essential for this top if you intend to use the nursing option. Which I do.

Here's how it works. This is absolutely hands down my favorite nursing top. In fact, after nursing all three of my babies for a collective 4 1/2 years (and still going!) this is the only nursing top that is still in my closet. I love it so much that I am willing to overlook the fitting issues that I (and many of the reviewers on PR) have had with the crossover panels. But I'm going to tell you all about them.

The major issue is the underbust area of the upper crisscross panel. Despite the fact that the top fits snugly with negative ease across the bust, the underbust area gapes open. My initial thought was to shorten the panel below the fullest part of the bust, in order to tighten up the area underneath.

You can see though, that the side seam already pulls forward significantly under the bust. This is mostly due to the elastic that holds the lower front panel up, but shortening the "legs" of the crisscross panels would only make it worse.

But to all that I say, I don't care. I love this top. It is comfortable, cute and convenient for nursing. Gape away. I will still be wearing it.

But before I made this top, I did finish tracing the HP jacket. I even stitched together the tracing for a tissue fit.

And well, I don't know. The style is cool and interesting. I thought the construction would be super complicated, but it really isn't (although the pattern does have 21 pieces, including lining and interlining - yikes!). I'm just not sure how well all those gathers will behave in the ponte knit I have in mind. Perhaps I need to seek out a sleeker pattern? Maybe I'll muslin it in an ugly sweater knit I have and see how it behaves.

Jalie 2787

Since I wasn't too jazzed about my last wrap front top, I approached this one with a little trepidation, but I think it was more successful!

I'm not looking my best in these pics, so you'll have to pardon the headless shots.  This top is Jalie's criss cross nursing top made from a nylon Tactel knit from Fabric.com.  I definitely am happier with the fit here, although it isn't perfect.  All I did was cut the criss cross panels to my full bust and the rest of the pattern pieces based on my high bust.  Other than some minor gapping on the lower edge of the wrap section, which I noticed that several other full-busted reviewers on PR had, the fit is good!

Here is the gapping I was talking about.  It looks like I'm raising my arm, but I'm not.  That is the way it lays with my arms down.  You can also see that the side seam pulls a bit to the front.  I think this in inevitable if the criss cross panels are going to be snug across the chest.

Here is the other side, which lies quite flat and nice.  I'm pretty close to the same size on both sides, so I'm not sure how to account for the difference, but this was also noted by other reviewers on PR.

The back fits well and you can see the cool bell sleeves, which I really like.  All in all, I think this one is a winner.  I didn't take a picture of the nursing opening for you (because that would be weird), so you'll have to take my word that that aspect works quite well.  For the next time, I may try to take a small wedge out of the wrap section where it gaps and see if that helps.