I'm always looking to add simply elegant and classic pieces to my wardrobe, and I am pleased to confirm that this project fits the bill exactly!

I had originally planned to make a cardigan out of this fabric, but once received, I realized it was the perfect t-shirt weight and therefore much more suited for a relaxed or body-hugging top and much hemming and hawing ensued. I finally settled on the Jennifer Lauren Ostara top, which is a versatile, slightly vintage and 40's-style inspired pattern. This pattern features a few different options in regards to sleeve-length and necklines and I decided to make the version with elbow-length sleeves and the sweetheart neckline featuring a few accordion pleats at the center front.

This fabric was perfect for this project! With its composition of 95% cotton and 5% Lycra, its stretch potential is ideal: it bounces back easily, puckering is minimal, and it doesn’t squeeze the wearer in areas of the body that require greater stretch. The weight is ideal for beginner sewists too as it doesn’t easily get pulled into the machine and presses very nicely. It even doesn’t pucker between twin needle stitches with no fiddling with thread tension required, a rare find indeed!

I made a size 6 corresponding to my waist measurement. It is a little small at the bust and hips, but I find that the neckline lays smoother this way, and I have plenty of ease at the hips, so this choice didn’t cause any fit complications. I especially appreciate that the elbow-length sleeves are drafted to sit mid-elbow length and not in the space above the elbow, as I find the latter unflattering in that it breaks the line of the arms and makes them look a bit awkward. Not to mention that I am bizarrely convinced that I feel colder in the fall and winter when my elbows are exposed!

This project was easy to cut out and sew and the instructions detailed with clear illustrations. It particularly contains good advice for working with knits. The only step that had me a bit befuddled was the sewing of the accordion pleats at the center front of the neckline, I just couldn’t understand how that was meant to come together. Luckily, Jennifer Lauren has a short and very helpful video specifically about how to sew these accordion pleats for this pattern on her YouTube channel and following the instructions after watching was a breeze.

I love how this top turned out. It fits nicely, it’s comfortable, and I love how the sweetheart neckline and pleats evoke the classic ballet leotard shape. At first, I was a little worried about the color because I chose the Dark Old Green colorway, and in the end, it corresponds really well with my coloring and works well in my wardrobe. As a basic stretch top, it’s extremely versatile and will get lots of wear.

I’m happy to see that this Minerva Core fabric exists in lots of different colorways, it is an excellent pick for stretch tops. And it’s Oeko-Tex certified – fantastic!

Thanks for reading,
Sarah
Instagram: sarah__naomi_
YouTube: Sarah Naomi

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