Cashmerette’s Selwyn Top -Pattern Review
Click on the image above for a video on my review
So I have been saying that I don’t care for pattern memberships but I’m going to take that back! Enter Cashmerette! And I must say, I’m sad I haven’t given them a chance. Perhaps because I always felt that I would have to do a multitude of adjustments. They came out with their Selwyn Top for their June releases and let me tell you… this pattern is VERY well drafted. I have to say I was impressed by the drafting, the instructions and all the things I got for my $9 for downloading JUST that one pattern. If you are a beginner this is a great pattern to have in the stash. You get to learn a few techniques such as creating pleats, attaching bias tape, and also creating buttonholes. If you are not into the buttonholes you can always do snaps but I just think buttonholes are easier. If you feel like you need more hand holding, have no fear because Whitney from TomKat Stitchery made a sew along for you.
Since Cashmerette’s patterns are drafting for a C bust cup I had to do a Small Bust Adjustment. But I wasn’t really daunted by it. There are plenty of tutorials on their website on how to do this for princess seams which this pattern has or you can also use her “Ahead of the Curve” Book that was released in 2021
Not only does it have a plethora of “how to do this and that adjustment” it also has quite a few patterns that you can download once you purchase the book.
ADJUSTMENTS I had to make
I talked about that Small Bust Adjustment. Yup from C cup to B cup for princess seams. It was an easy one to do.
Add 3 inches in length to the front bodice, side bodice, back bodice and back side bodice. Easy to do because you have length or shorten lines on the pattern.
Since I lengthened the bodice I also had to grade and make sure it all matched with the hips.
I had to raise the armhole as it was a tad lower than I usually prefer. Easy adjustment.
I also took the side seams in as it was a tad too loose on me by using size 20 but size 18 was a tad snug. So I took about 3/8” in on both side seams. So for four seams thats about 1.5 inches total. Lots of places in this pattern for adjustments! Which is always very nice.
See the big gap right at the lengthen shorten lines? yes I added 3 inches to the length, it had to be added to all the pieces. If you look closely to the piece on the right hand side you will see the small bust adjustment on the princess seams. VERY easy to do!
I did do a toile for this. I wanted to make sure I did before cutting into my really nice Liberty fabric, I also wanted to make sure that all the SBA adjustments I made on the pattern were correct.
I used broadcloth to make a toile for this pattern. Didn’t bother ironing anything! Love the color but not finishing this one.
HACKING IT
I highly recommend this pattern and it is ripe for hacking. How so? Well let me tell you all the ways!
You can add plenty of length and create a dress.
You can take out the pleats (just fold the pattern piece with the pleats and then cut your fabric) and make it into a simple top.
You can change the collar, add a stand collar or perhaps a Peter Pan collar.
If you are feeling brave you can also do shirring in lieu of the pleats.
You can also shorten the bodice and add in a A- line shirt with buttons all the way down.
Like I said, there are plenty of ways to hack this pattern.
Just a note for everyone, this pattern is available on Cashmerette’s Clubhouse Membership for June it’s just $8 ( a steal as far as I’m concerned) and then its POOF!!!!! It’s gone unless you have an all access Membership so if you like it, then go get it because you have til the end of the month which happens to be next week on Friday, June 30th.
LAST but not least…
You can add sleeves but they ask you to use the Vernon Shirt’s pattern sleeve and if you don’t have it, they give you a discount code so you can get it. You need fabric, they also give you a discount code for the Sewing Studio.
Fabric I used is Tana Lawn Mistral / C from The Fabric Store Down Under
