We are heading into the final months of summer here in the Pacific Northwest and I have been working on some new additions to my wardrobe for this transition into Fall. It is still quite warm here, but my hope for these new items is that they will easily transition into the cooler weather with an added layer or two.
The first of these new makes that I wanted to share is my Beatrix top designed by Made by Rae. We just got in a few of the amazing Loominous yarn dyed shirtings by Anna Maria Horner and I couldn’t resist using one of them for this structured but comfortable shirt! The Big Love plaid ended up being the perfect choice- I love the color, the feel and especially the giant scale of the pattern.
To start, I took Rae’s advice and made a muslin of the pattern to check the fit. For this pattern I was mostly worried about the fit in the shoulders and sleeves. My muslin showed me that the shoulders fit great but the sleeves were a bit tight- I almost felt like I could pop a seam if I bent my elbow. A slight adjustment (widened by about 3/4″ on either side) and I was off and running to make my finished garment.
Due to the scale of this plaid, it was pretty easy to get all my stripes to match up nicely. I also paid close attention to where the color in this unique yarn dyed fabric was going to fall. I wanted to maximize color and impact and I think the result is fantastic. The construction of this top is beautifully done and simple to sew. The lined neckline with under-stitching, especially, gives it such a professional, finished look.
My favorite detail of this top is the back… I love the button up closure. I chose some coral-red buttons to finish off the look- they pop just enough so that you notice them but aren’t too flashy.
Inspired by Rae’s beautiful versions of her Beatrix top and the jewelry she paired with them, I went in search of the perfect accessory to go with my own top. I happened to have the perfect chunky necklace hanging in my closet! It was almost like I made the top to got with the necklace- Don’t you love it when that happens!
Overall, I think my Beatrix top it the perfect addition to my late-summer wardrobe. Add a cardigan and it will carry on through Fall. Then, it might be time for a new version in flannel shirting… What do you think?