SA Avery top

So you all know how much I love StyleArc, right?  Well, here is my latest pattern from them.  This is the Avery Tunic Top. 

It combines a knit and a woven, pretty cool, right?  

Here is how the top is described on the SA site: 

"A great spliced Tunic top using a combination of woven and knit fabrics. This tunic features a high low hemline with wide hem facings that are top stitched down. The back yoke features an exposed zip. This zip is optional, also this tunic can also be made in all knit if preferred."

The description fits the final result really well.  As you can see, I deviated from the original design based on my fabric choice for the knit.  But speaking of fabric, isn't this stripey tribal type woven cool?  It is a Telio fabric that Ottobre uses quite a bit in their designs.  Fabric.com has been carrying them on their site and I have been trying very hard to restrain myself from purchasing more and more!  

The knit is a super soft knit also from Fabric.com that is in one of my favorite all-time colors--coral.  It was a risk putting these two fabrics together but I decided to go for it and like the result.  

As you can see from the photos, I made 2/3rd ish sleeves.  These sleeves were very long and I am 5'7".  Before shortening them to hit my wrist, I chopped at least 2 inches off the bottom.  They are that long!  I also sewed a cuff along the sleeves since I was afraid that my hem may stretch a bit due to the softness of the fabric.  

Next, I did try to insert an exposed zip up the back but again, that knit was just too soft!  I even used interfacing and just couldn't get it to look nice.  I decided I still wanted some sort of funky back neck treatment so I played with several ideas and came up with the version you can see below.  I ended up slashing the center back seam of the upper top, stitched on two self-faced pieces made from the lower fabric, and stitched on the neckband by first overlapping the decorative bands.  I treated the top as I would had I made it with either a zip or solid.  I added the little buttons that are non-functional as a bonus.  :)

  

I really like so many things about this tunic.  It is comfortable and would look super cute two solid colors or maybe even two coordinating prints.  As usual, the drafting is very good with this pattern company. 

Depending on the weight of your fabric, you may want to interface the hem facings.  If my fabric was any lighter in weight I would have.  That is a pretty cool design detail you want to look good and hang properly.  And yes, I did an amazingly horrible job matching the stripes.  For some reason, I decided to start matching the pattern pieces at the lower edge, not the upper.  Duh.  I hope to never make that mistake again!

Thanks for reading! I love hearing from you!

Sue