This is McCalls’ 6752, a super-baggy top with a cowl neckline and gathered waist with zipper.
I made it with “Patriot Blue Ikat Cotton-Viscose Jersey” I ordered from Mood. I thought I was getting 2 yards but I got 2 ‘panels’, which meant two separate, small pieces of fabric that barely made this top. I have a love/hate relationship with Mood. Love the fabrics. Hate the expense of ordering from them, and I especially hated the surprise of receiving this fabric hacked into two measly little pieces. It made it really difficult to not only find a pattern that I could eke out of it, but also to work out how to place the pattern pieces to fit them all in while still having some sense of order as to where the stripes would fall on the top.
Have you ever seen Lily Sage & Co’s blog? It’s a must-view — Debbie is a garment engineering genius, not to mention that she always looks drop-dead gorgeous in her photos. She makes unique, gorgeous garments, often self-drafted or at least heavily modified versions of commercial patterns, and always finds the best way to show off a patterned fabric. Look at her Chanel-inspired dress using the same fabric I used:
Read through her posts and have a look at the other two dresses she made with the same fabric. I’m such a fan. Everything she makes is breathtaking. The only drawback is now that I have made something using the same fabric that Debbie has used, I feel a bit like the “nailed it!” side of one of those Pinterest Fails pictures, you know, like this:
While I have worn this top a couple of times and I’m happy enough with it, I feel like it might have been more successful in a solid fabric…the gathered waist area is too busy and although I did my best to pattern-match given the limited fabric, it’s all just a bit wonky. The zipper detail gets lost in the chaos. I realize now how I could have altered the pattern pieces to avoid having those stripes at the waist sitting at an angle. But hindsight is 20/20, and I chalk it all up to part of learning how to work with patterns & stripes.
Here’s a little more hindsight for ya:
I do like the design of the top, and the pattern itself has four options: two tops (this one and a crossover front top) and two dresses. Great summer options for lightweight knits, and easy to sew.
I added this top to the Link Up that Helena of Gray All Day kindly hosts each week as part of her challenge to “Sew it Chic in a Week”. Go check out what people are sewing each week!
Frivolous At Last 
Love your version of this pattern. I’ve made it using a solid, but never a print. But your version is so cute, I’m about to rush to my sewing room to see what I’ve got in my stash! Thanks for the inspiration!
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Thanks! Likewise to you–I’m heading to my stash now to see what I can colour block! 🙂
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Oh I love your oversized sleeve version of this fabric! What a great style and use of that jersey. And thank you for your kind words 🙂
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Thanks, Debbie. I do love your blog and your choice of garments and talent in executing them!
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I like this striking shape in the striking print, even if the zipper detail gets lost a little. When you do notice it, there is a great effect. Nice work!
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Thanks, Helena!
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You’re first pic reminded me of Debbie’s Sea Change top, maybe she subconsciously influenced this pattern choice.
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Quite probably! I’m very drawn to the baggy, drapey tops we’re seeing so much of these days.
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I really like this top in this fabric! the kimono-like sleeves are nice, and you look great in it! It is no where near a “Pinterest fail” at all (I like the nailed it strawberry comparison picture though:-)
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Thanks. I get such a kick out of all those pinterest fail pics out there…laugh out loud funny. 🙂
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hi Lori, I don’t know any other way to contact you to let you know, in case you don’t, that none of your blog photos are available on an ipad viewer. If you care, there’s something you can do about it, I think, but maybe you don’t care.
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Hmmm, that’s troubling. So you’re looking at the blog in Safari on an iPad? Or using some other app? I don’t seem to have the same problem on my iPad. Anyway, please tell me what you can about how you’re accessing the site so I can see if there’s anything I can do to fix the problem. Thanks a lot for letting me know, Felicia.
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I just checked again and everything was fine. So, is it an occasional problem with my ipad, or an occasional problem with your site? I use the wordpress app for my ipad mini, and read on the reader, or I click to see the original, which takes me to individual sites. I tried both with you and no photos (I read a number of other posts from others at the same time and there was no problem). You’ve checked to make sure your site is mobile-friendly? If so, I’d say don’t worry about it.
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The zipper was the first thing I noticed! This is such a dramatic shape and it looks so fresh and modern in this print. I understand your frustration with Mood…when I visited the LA store last year, I did get better service/cuts. It makes me die a little when I have to pay exorbitant prices for shipping 2 swatches.
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Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth! I just need to stay away from the Mood site so I don’t get tempted. But then I’ll see some dazzling fabric on someone else’s blog and I start scheming all over again. 🙂
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I really like this top! The fabric is really striking!
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