Simply Sienna Top: Sinclair Patterns Sewn With Simply By Ti Fabric

I call this hairstyle: Sea Salt Spray Failure. 

I do not look beachy-fresh. 

I look slightly frazzled. 

Fortunately, my new top is fabulous!

This is the Sienna Drawstring Knit Doloman Top from Sinclair Patterns. The Sienna was free for about a month or so with a code in the Sinclair Patterns FB group, and naturally, I snatched it up. 

Pattern Details

 Sienna is a casual top with cut-on doloman sleeves in 2 lengths: Short like mine, or 3/4. It also features a banded neckline, cuffs and some crazy fun side tie rouching. 

This pattern has been getting tons of love in the Sinclair FB Group, and there was a video sew along for it recently as well. I won't reinvent the wheel here; you can pop into the Sinclair Sew Alongs Group and find the videos by searching #SewSienna. 

Along my journey to fine-tune my self fitting skills, I've discovered that I have a small shoulder joint and that I often benefit from shortening tops between my high bust and neckline. This can be a major PIA for tops with sleeves. My most favorite thing about Sinclair Patterns is that they have a Petite, Regular and Tall draft. I am able to choose the Petite draft and avoid having to make that upper chest/sleeve cap adjustment!  

Fabric & Construction Notes

I used a delightful baby French terry from Simply By Ti. Yes, I made a French terry short sleeved top in May. Don't judge me, I live in Michigan. This is the second time I've used the Simply By Ti baby French terry and I love it just as much as the first. It's mostly rayon with a little polyester and spandex in there to balance it out. What you end up with is a crazy soft fabric that drapes beautifully, doesn't cling or wrinkle and keeps it's shape even when you sleep in it, then have to run to the grocery in the morning but are too lazy to change your clothes. (What, just me?)

About the Draw Strings

The thought of turning out tiny tubes of French terry made me hesitate on my choice just a bit. I considered just using ribbon or something pre-made, but I was feeling the need to not buy anything for this top. (Use what you have, Crystal.) Everyone knows that a trip to Joann's "just for drawstring ribbon" will end up costing me $40 in impulse purchases.

 So, I did something crazy: I made drawstrings. I used the serger trick where you run a long thread tail which gets sandwiched into the fold of the string. Then you pull nice and gently to flip it right side out.

It ended up being so easy that I was convinced it was too good to be true. The width of the tie is not a super skinny spaghetti size, and that really helped. Plus, this fabric is incredibly well behaved. There's no slinking and sliding as it goes through the serger.

Look, I Cover Stitched Something That's Not Jeans!

For the first time, I successfully cover stitched a neckband into place. No skipped stitches, the tension is right and it's not stretched out or distorted. I'm really quite proud.

Where Can You Find Yours?

While the pattern is no longer free, you can purchase a copy of Sienna Drawstring Knit Doloman Top from Sinclair Patterns HERE
You can purchase this baby French terry fabric, by the yard, from Simply By Ti HERE

I'm still working out how to wear leggings... these are clearly too big.