Hello! I have a fun project to share about today, the Wrap Top Vondel pattern by Halfmoon Atelier made with a Modal Challis in a fun collaboration print from Minerva with Melissa Lowry. To start, I’m going to gush a bit about the fabric. I was gifted this fabric in exchange for making this project and writing about the experience.

This is the second fabric project that I’m working with for this designer collaboration. I really loved this print. I thought the teal botanical elements with a cream background would become a garment that I would wear a lot. Botanical or geometric elements are design elements that I’m constantly drawn to in fabric prints. As this is a print on demand fabric base, you can select any of the POD fabric bases to pair this print with, if you’d like.

There’s a very long list but I’ll include a list of of some additional fabric bases in the POD options:

Ponte Roma Knit

Chiffon

Velvet Stretch Knit

Viscose Lawn

Viscose Jersey

Viscose Challis

Soft Crepe

Lyocell Twill

Stretch Woven Crepe

+more on the Minerva site…

For the sewing pattern, I’ve been wanting to sew a wrap top. I picked up the Wrap Top Vondel by Halfmoon Atelier. I’ve really enjoyed sewing and wearing designs from Halfmoon Atelier. There’s some lovely details in the pattern including gathered shoulder yokes, utlizing the burrito method to enclose the inside back yoke, and a gathered detail along the back yoke.

Supplies

2m Minerva Exclusive Melissa Lowry Bordado Bonito Modal Challis POD Fabric

65 x 37cm (25 1/2 x 14 1/2") Lightweight woven interfacing

80/12 Sewing machine needle

Pattern Piece Options:

Size - 4

Sleeve - Half sleeve

Wrap top

As with any fabric that I’m going to sew into a garment, I washed and dried this fabric a couple of times on warmer temperatures to pre-shrink the fabric.

Modifications:

As I was using a drapey fabric for this project, I traced out the pattern pieces that were intended to be cut on the fold, to instead cut them out in the flat. I like to add this step when I’m sewing with a more drapey fabric. It helps to get better alignment to cut out the fabric in the grainline that you’re intending. This step change the Back and the Yoke.

The pattern uses the burrito method to enclose the back yoke seams, inside the top. The instructions are well written however, I recommend following a video. I’ve sewn the burrito method a few times in the past, but I don’t use this construction method often. Quickly watching amy video online that walks through the Burrito Construction Method was a helpful shortcut.

I like that the pattern has you make your own bias binding from the same fabric to finish the inside neckline. You also create the wrap ties from the same fabric as well. It’s a really nice detail for the inside and outside of the top.

You will cut out two pieces of fabric for the Back Yoke but the pattern has you add iron-on interfacing along the outer Back Yoke. I didn’t cut out the back yoke pattern piece until after I ironed on the interfacing to a larger piece of fabric. You do get some waste with this step but I like the finished result.

I included a picture of the waist tie opening, from the inside view of the top. I like the finishing notes included for this portion as well. Admittedly, I included a waist opening on both sides of the top. I wasn’t sure if I would prefer the tie to lay on one side over another. I included both and thought I could close up the side I wouldn’t use later, by hand.