Hi! It’s Jessamy from Jessamybmakes and I’m excited to be guest posting today! I’m sharing all about my newest Matcha Top, sewn up in the Olive Plaid Gauze.
This was the first time I’ve worked with single cotton gauze. I have sewn with double gauze, and this fabric is somewhat similar. It is more airy and has a looser weave. The particular plaid I worked with did not seem to have a right and wrong side, or if it did, I couldn’t tell them apart! I will say that this gauze is definitely not as soft as a traditional double gauze, due to the looser weave.
I did a quick bit of research to find out what defines a gauze fabric. Gauze is made using what’s called a Leno weave, meaning that two warp yarns are twisted around the weft yarn. This is what provides stability to the fabric, leaving it lightweight, but strong. Even though it’s lighter weight, the fabric is still mostly opaque, so I do not feel like I need to wear a tank or anything under the top.
The Matcha Top has been on my to-make list forever and when I saw how light and flowy (that’s a technical fabric term) the single gauze was, I knew it would be a perfect match! The only thing I didn’t take into consideration was the center front seam. The Matcha is sewn with two front pattern pieces, giving you a center seam. I am apparently a glutton for plaid-matching punishment, so I decided to plow ahead with my plan.
I will admit that I am a bit of a rule follower, and even though I’m confident in my garment sewing skills, I still tend to follow pattern instructions fairly closely. Sew Liberated patterns often have you finish your seam edges prior to sewing your garment. If I’m being honest, I find this step somewhat tedious and don’t always do it. However, it made sewing with this fabric so much easier! Due to the looser weave, the edges have a tendency to fray rather easily. I would highly recommend that when sewing with this fabric, go ahead and finish all your seam edges before sewing. It makes working with the fabric that much easier - you’ll thank me later!
The Matcha Top is relatively simple to sew, but has some really nice details that elevate it from just a simple loose-fit top. According to Sew Liberated, the neckline is “mandarin-inspired”. I love how open the neckline is, with the shirt fronts gathering directly into the collar. It lends itself to the comfort of the top.
The pattern also allows you to choose how low cut you want to the neckline to be. I chose the higher of the two options. I like how open the neckline still is, without being too low. However, it is a little tight when pulling it on over my head. So, next time I make this top (and there will be a next time!) I will probably choose the lower neckline. The shoulder details also add some visual interest, and a chance to play with directional fabric.
I sewed this top in the size 2. The only adjustments I made was to shorten the bodice pieces by 2” at the lengthen/shorten lines. For reference, I am 5’1” with a 33” bust, 28” waist and 37” hips.
If you like the idea of a boho-style top for this fabric, the Roscoe Blouse by True Bias would be another great pattern to pair it with. It also has a loose shape, and open neckline, but no center front seam to worry about pattern matching.
While I love the end result of this top, I have to be honest and say this wasn’t my favorite fabric to work with. The looser weave of the gauze made it a bit fiddly, especially when trying to match plaids. Finishing the edges prior to sewing really was the key to making it easier to work with. That said, sometimes a little bit of fussiness is worth it in the end!
