The Indiesew 2015 Fall Collection Blog Tour: Summer to Fall with the Beatrix Top

I’m so excited to be a featured blogger this year on the Indiesew 2015 Fall Collection Blog Tour. I have been sewing and reviewing Indiesew patterns for a while now, and I love what Allie has done to help bring independent sewing patterns to us at home. Indiesew is a perfect example of the amazing things that can happen when we all support each other, and I’m proud to be a part of what’s happening there.

From this collection, I decided to sew up the Beatrix Top from Made by Rae, who (as my regular readers know) is one of my favorite designers. Her patterns flatter the modern woman like no other, they’re very well-written and illustrated for ease of sewing, and they are among the best fitting garments I’ve made. Rae also includes a built-in bust adjustment for A/B and C/D cups, which takes so much of the guesswork and SBA/FBA nonsense out of sewing. I truly wish every pattern included this, because it would make so many more women want to sew.

The Beatrix is a boxy blouse with a center back button placket — and it’s perfect for a work-to-weekend look. The best thing about the pattern is that there are so many options. View A includes the placket as part of the back bodice pieces, has a rounded bottom hem, and features long or short simply hemmed sleeves. View B has a contrast placket along with a banded hem on the bottom and sleeves. And it’s totally easy to mix and match, which is what I’ve done here. I made View A with short sleeves, but added the contrast placket. Why? BECAUSE IT’S AWESOME. I used a Kokka double gauze for the body and some quilt cotton for the placket.

So as we’re doing the Fall Collection thing but my forecast for tomorrow is 92º, I thought I’d show a couple of ways that I’ve styled the finished Beatrix. The style is a bit boxier than other traditional tops, which is so on-trend right now. It makes it perfect as a summery top with shorts, sunglasses and some big stud earrings. The double gauze makes my blouse breathable and light, even with the full coverage and higher neckline.

For fall, I decided to layer it up. I put a long-sleeve tee on under the top, which you, if you are like my husband, might categorically hate. He says it’s a 90’s fashion fad, like wearing cropped cardigans or grungy plaids. I say, a) what else besides another T-shirt was I supposed to wear in November under my sheer Contempo Casuals top with the vinyl lips on it, HUH?, b) keeping the look somewhat monochromatic with the black tee works. I put on a chunky beaded necklace with the same colors as the back placket (party in the front, party in the back!), along with some skinnies and boots.

Isn’t it purdy?!

So, the verdict: I LOVE THIS TOP. I’m so glad Allie included the Beatrix Top as part of the Indiesew 2015 Fall Collection! I think it’s among the most versatile patterns in the bunch, perfect for work or weekend in warm or chilly weather. This makes it a great value, especially when part of the bundle. Interested in seeing more? Check out the whole schedule for the Blog Tour! There are so many great sewists with amazing ideas for how to make each of these pieces your own. I promise you’ll like what you see!