The Ava: Faux Wrap Top

I realized I haven’t posted at all this month! So I’ll try to hurry and get this out there before the month changes!

This is the Ava Top from Michelle Design Co. I’ll interject here to say I KNOW I was silly in making this detailed faux wrap top in black so that you can’t actually make out the details. I’m sorry. To try to right this wrong, let me offer one over-exposed photo so you can at least kind of get the gist in the following photos with regular exposure:

And, just in case, here’s the line drawing that I took a screenshot of directly from the instruction booklet:

Okay now can you kind of imagine the lines of the top when I show you a picture like this?

Hopefully at least kinda, sorta.

So the first time I saw the Ava top was actually in a newsletter from Surge Fabrics, where the top was shown featuring one of their fabrics. I kept it in the back of my mind for a bit and then finally emailed and asked what the pattern was. Kayla, of Surge, was so kind and not only let me know what pattern it was, but also let me know that the pattern designer would be having a sale in the next week or two.

Well, that just seemed like the stars were aligning, so a week later I bought the regularly $16 pattern on sale for $12.

Around the same time I was able to go to Harmony Provo and find some fabric for the project there. I found this heart pointelle knit sitting in their clearance section and decided to go for it. When I brought it to the cut out counter, though, I realized it wasn’t actually on sale. But I didn’t think saving the $4 (I paid $12 for a yard instead of my imagined cost of $8), was worth cancelling the cut.

The fabric is made of cotton and lycra and is thick and more structured. Thanks to the lycra it does have a decent amount of stretch and good recovery. But I think the bulk/body of the fabric didn’t really jive well with this particular pattern.

The cutting out and sewing of the project was fairly straightforward. Changing my perpetually white serger thread to black was definitely among the most difficult parts of the project. The faux wrap feature led to some unique sequencing (for example, hems are sewn first instead of the more typical last). Because of how the hems connect on the side seams, the sleeves are sewn in the round, which is more difficult than flat, in my opinion, but not overly so, especially when it’s done with a knit fabric.

The instructions are beginner friendly but I have to say that I was flummoxed by the instruction regarding the neckband-and not because I couldn’t understand it. No, I understood it just fine. I just couldn’t figure out why the designer couldn’t have just used notches and called it a day. Instead of having notches in the pattern, the instructions take you through the process of creating your own notches?? Kind of? You are told how to fold your neckband strip into half, then into half again, then into half again to find the placement for 7(!) notches. The fold, fold, fold process is repeated with the neckline on the bodice. And I just can’t help but thinking that surely there is a better way to do this? Notches are friends not foes.

Aside from that, the instructions are helpful and beginner friendly.

Anyway…I knew going into this project that it might not work out for me. I mean, if I had that mindset for every project, I’d be much more pleased with what I make most of the time. But this top in particular was out of my comfort zone for a couple reasons. For one, it’s tight fitting and I don’t know that I’ve ever been into wearing anything tight, but definitely haven’t since entering the Have Had a Baby phase of my life (which, consequentially, never gets phased out). And for two, it’s low cut (for me). I still liked the design enough to try it out.

And the tighter fit doesn’t bother me so much as the lower cut does. If the cut were even just an inch higher, I’d be more likely to wear it, but where it sits is just a touch too far into my discomfort level.

And then, as mentioned, I think the fabric I used was a misstep. I should have used something smoother, lighter, more graceful instead of this clunky cotton. I don’t love the lightweight rayon/cotton blends but honestly, I think that would have been a better fit here.

I need to give myself a little space from the pattern but I could see myself coming back around to it and seeing if there isn’t a way I can make it work for me. Adjusting the neckline would be tricky business because I think where a wrap falls is critical to making it look flattering, but there might be something that can be done. And I know for certain I can pick out a better fabric a second time around. So the project wasn’t totally for naught. If I come back around to it, I’ll let you guys know if I can figure out a way to make it work.

Pattern: Ava Top by Michelle Design Co
Size: F
Adjustments: None
Fabric: Heart Pointelle Knit from Harmony in black
Cost: fabric $12; pattern $12
Would I make this pattern again?: I would try it again