Lucy Top – Sonia Estep Designs
Something about halter tops.. they are just so flattering in the summer. It also is an extremely cool choice for those hot and humid days. The Lucy Top from Sonia Estep Designs has been released and is a PERFECT edition to my summer wardrobe.
The Pattern
As soon as I saw this pattern, I knew I had to sign up for the test. It is a halter top with a swing style bodice which is dreamy for hot summer days. This type of shirt is definitely designed for knit fabrics that provide a good drape. The fabric should also have good stretch and recovery, specifically for the neck binding and arm binding.
One thing I really liked about this pattern is the back seam. While you can adjust the pattern to make it one continuous piece, I actually liked having the seam to be able to get as much out of a smaller piece of fabric as possible. I was able to make these shirts with less than a yard because of how the pieces can be cut!
For the release weekend, the pattern is going to be on sale for $4 (regular price $8) 50% off!
The Fabric
For this pattern test I had two fabrics that I couldn’t choose between. So I ended up making two shirts! I fell in love with this red and white floral in liverpool from Surge Fabric Shop as soon as I saw it and the Grean leafy ITY was something I’ve had for years waiting for the perfect project from Sincerely Rylee Fabrics.
Liverpool
Liverpool fabric is a poly spandex blend that is textured on the right side of the fabric and smooth on the wrong side (the side that is against your skin). It’s typically 2-way stretch, however in this case, it was 4-way with great recovery.
ITY
ITY (Interlock Twist Yarn) is a beautiful, drapey knit which can be very flattering. It’s slightly silky feeling and can often be referred to as a “dressy” knit. I chose this fabric for the beautiful drape, stretch, and recovery.
Process
This was a pattern which uses your bust measurement as the lead measurement. Besides that, with how drapey of a fit it is you don’t need to worry too much about the rest of your measurements. I found this shirt to fit me very well with no adjustments needed. The only thing I did not do was Hem the bottom as I wanted a very smooth finish to both shirts. I also Liked the length as it was prior to hemming.
This was the first halter top shirt I have ever made. It was a bit of a learning curve but Sonia Estep provides a very well made tutorial video going into all the steps with great detail. Key takeaway: PRESSING IS YOUR BEST FRIEND! Without pressing it would have taken much longer to get the neck and arm bindings to be placed correctly. The neck band in particular took some getting used to but after watching the tutorial video and making the shirt now, I am very confident in making another!
My measurements placed me in a size 6 for this pattern.
Final Thoughts
I’m very happy with how this shirt turned out and I am so happy to now have a halter top that looks like it’s from a store!
Are there any changes I would have made?
To the pattern, no. I think this pattern is very true to size and does not need any adjustments. At most, the neckline could potentially be lengthened or shortened, depending on the look you were going for. I’ve also seen this turned into a dress which I would LOVE to try!
For the fabric: ITY is a GREAT choice for a pattern like this. It is super light weight and very breathable. Liverpool on the other hand… I would not recommend wearing liverpool on a very hot day. This shirt is still a great summer shirt but I would only wear it when it is not humid, and not over 80 degrees. It is not very breathable but because the shirt is very flowy, I was able to keep “mostly” cool. It does however give me a more dramatic drape as it is a more structured fabric which I really like for date night!
Get the Look!
The Lucy Top is going to be on sale through August 02, 2020 for 50% off! Go grab it while you can!
Pattern: The Lucy Top from Sonia Estep Designs
Fabrics: Rose Blitz on Ivory Liverpool from Surge Fabric Shop | Mystery ITY from Sincerely Rylee Fabrics
Which shirt do you prefer? Let me know in the comments! I hope you enjoy the Lucy Top as much as I do!
