I finally got around to sewing the Sagebrush Top by Friday Pattern Co. after wanting to make this pattern for a long time! And I don’t know how I feel about it. I think I like the foundation of it, but have a bunch of things that I feel conflicted about and might want to change in some way. I’m here to tell you my thoughts about it in hopes that maybe you can help me make sense of it.
For the record, this was intended to be a wearable muslin. And it is indeed wearable! So that’s a success. I made size L (my measurements are 37.5″/30.5″/39.5″ last time I checked) after waffling between L and M because my measurements are directly in between. I wasn’t feeling motivated to do an in-between cutting job like I usually do, so I just made a straight L. I mean, it doesn’t NOT fit. I’m wondering if it’s worth making a size M just to have a comparison, since the poofiness of the sleeves kind of obscures the shoulder cap (which is usually my point of reference for shoulder fitting). One of the things that’s happening that you can see in the photos of the back is that it sticks out a bit at the back hem. This could be due to my fabric, which is a lightweight quilting cotton that I had laying around. But I’m wondering if a smaller size would help.
I do want to talk about the fabric a little bit more. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what colours I gravitate toward, and what kinds of prints I actually love wearing, and this fabric falls outside the colours and patterns that I wear. I just never wear yellow. I bought this fabric intending to make it into a dress, but then realized that I would never wear it and made a pair of sleep shorts out of some of it. But there was a lot left so it was a good candidate for this trial. The thing I’m struggling with is being able to look past the fabric to decide if it’s the fabric that’s making me not love this garment, or if it’s the style/shape itself. Small scale florals, also not my thing. I’ve made muslins in fabrics that I wouldn’t really wear in the past, but I’ve never had such a struggle to assess the finished garment as I have with this one!
This is an experimental garment for me in a couple other areas. I wanted to find out if I was a Ruffle Person. I discovered earlier this spring/summer that I am in fact a Big Sleeve Person, so I’m into the sleeves on this. And I do enjoy the ruffles as well, plus they were fun to sew! So maybe I am a Ruffle Person in certain circumstances like this added detail. The problem for me is that I don’t think I’m a Tucked in Shirt Person. A lot of the versions I’ve seen online of the Sagebrush Top have it styled tucked in. I have never enjoyed having my shirt tucked in, and I don’t know how to modify this pattern in order to make it look like the tucked in silhouette without actually having to tuck it in. Any suggestions?
I do not usually enjoy elastic cuff sleeves, but I decided I would give them another chance and make the Sagebrush as intended. It turns I still do not enjoy elastic cuff sleeves. Shocking! I think maybe an easy alteration for that detail would be to swap out the elastic for a fabric tie, kind of like a sleeve drawstring. I’d want the tie location to be on the outside of the sleeve instead of the armpit. That will mean adding a separate cuff piece to the bottom of the sleeve instead of the drafted one that extends from the bottom of the sleeve and gets folded up. I could remove that length and add it back with a sewn cuff so that I could create an opening opposite the underarm seam.
On the subject, of sleeves, I have a more general issue to discuss. Due to my discovery that I enjoy big sleeves, I’ve started to have a general problem in my wardrobe. I live in Nova Scotia, which is a place that has seasons. Right now, we’re heading into cooler temperatures and then winter will be here with subzero (Celsius) temperatures. I need to be able to layer my clothing for warmth. It’s extremely uncommon for there to be days in the fall/winter/early spring that I can just wear a short sleeved top or dress without a sweater or cardigan on top. But these big statement sleeves do not work to be layered. I can’t put a cardigan over the sleeves without all of the fabric bunching up aggressively inside. This isn’t comfortable and it looks weird! So then I find myself only wearing the Big Sleeve garments when it’s warm out, and then I have a big wardrobe hole in cooler seasons where I have no fun garments to layer with warmer cardigans. And then I end up wearing work t-shirts that say “I <3 Orchestra” a lot with sweaters over top. To be clear, I do not hate those t-shirts and do in fact <3 orchestra, but it makes me sad not to have as many creative wardrobe choices. How can I solve this problem?! Is this just how Big Sleeve Life has to be? Is there a solution?
So, those were my ruminations. Do I like the Sagebrush pattern? Yes! Do I think I’ll wear it a lot as is? Probably not. Will I take the time to make all the modifications I mentioned above so I can see if it’s capable of being something I’d wear a lot? Honestly, unlikely. Do I want to solve my Big Sleeve problem so I can fully embrace the Big Sleeve life in all seasons? YES! Plz halp!
I’m with you on the big sleeve dilemma, and it’s what has kept me from sewing big sleeves. My only solution is to layer backwards with a long sleeve tee or turtleneck underneath. Then maybe a coat will fit over the big sleeves?
Author
Oooh, excellent idea! A couple people on Instagram suggested this as well. I think maybe I’ll have to do a trial of some under-layering, because that’s generally not something I do. But I’m definitely willing to try if it gets me year-round wear out of my big sleeves!
For the blousey, tucked-in look, maybe you could add a couple long ties into the side seam an inch or so above the hem, then tie in front or back (on me that would raise the hem to where my waistband sits). This style does seem to have been designed to tuck, what with all the interest at the top! Also, since the color is making is tricky for you to assess your feelings, you could overdye this in a navy or something and look again. I can’t speak to how the fit feels obviously, but it looks like the neckline sits really well, and the top doesn’t appear too big, just fun and dramatic!
Author
Oooh, these are all such good ideas! Thank you! Now I’m wondering also with your idea of the ties if I should lengthen it into a dress and have a waist tie. Maybe that’s the solution for me!
I love this! Small-scale florals aren’t generally my thing either (on me, I like them on others) but this one is v good.
I have thought a lot about shirt sleeve / sweater sleeve lumpy mismatch problems and my ideas are:
– Sweater vests
-warm pinafores (maybe this would approximate a tucked in aesthetic too?)
– Cardigans (etc) that also have huge sleeves so there’s enough room (I saw someone on insta altering their sleeve pattern for this purpose). Maybe with a cuff so the wind doesn’t blow right up there.
-Capes?
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Author
These are all such excellent ideas! I think I do need to wear more pinafores based on the kinds of tops I like – then maybe I won’t wear t-shirts to work so often! I don’t think I am a sweater vest person but I’m very intrigued by the idea of making sleeves roomier on purpose. That’s definitely something I will consider next time I’m making a cardigan!