SEWING CLUB PODCAST EP 7 | ASHTON TOP

Can you believe we are seven episodes deep into Sewing Club Podcast? We can't either! Ep #7 is all about the Ashton Top by none other than Helen's Closet.  Following along from the Smultron Dress, we were in the mood for a sewing palette cleanser - and the Ashton Top was just that very thing! 

Pattern: Ashton Top by Helen's Closet 

Size: 4 

Fabric Type: Yarn Dyed Stripe Linen

Fabric Supplier: Tessuti Fabrics

Gem and I were both interested in sewing a woven tank and we'd be wanting to try out a pattern by Helen's Closet. A good woven tank makes for a simple but wearable handmade wardrobe essential! Because the Ashton comes with a sleeve expansion pack, we knew it would be suitable for those of us sewing summer or winter wardrobes right now.  

The pattern comes with options for two lengths; standard and cropped, plus two options for finishing the neckline and armhole; either a full facing or a bias facing. I chose View B, sleeveless and cropped with the all-in-one option for a neck, arm and hem facing. 

This is where I went rogue! I wanted to play with some details as I already have a few plain tanks in my wardrobe. This fabric already has a lovely 'slubiness' to it in the stripes but I wanted to experiment with frayed fabric so I patch tested it and the effect was fun! I really liked the shape of the all-in-one facing and how it frames the bust area in a nice fluid curve. I thought it was too well-drafted to be hidden and that the facing deserved to be on the outside, with a fray detail for the edge.  

Construction wise, this meant the shoulder seams on the main bodice piece are sewn wrong sides together instead of right sides together as the pattern has you sew! I used some top-stitching thread in a contrast colour so that it was very obvious that the facing and fraying is a design feature...

I really like the construction method; it's very well thought out and includes the 'burrito method' of attaching the facing to the bodice. Being an all-in-one facing gives it a really clean finish! Finished off with a 'Perfectly Imperfect' label, et voila. It's a quick sew but in my case it took as long to sew as it did to fray the edges! But if you follow the instructions it comes together in just a few hours. I would definitely recommend it for beginners! 

 You can listen to Sewing Club Podcast Episode #7 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Audible (insert other favourite poddy platform). Here you'll find all the show notes and we'll reveal the pattern for Episode #8, so you can join with us and sew along at home! 

Be sure to check out Gem's gorgeous teal Ashton over at Sewing Gem 

Want to sew your very own Ashton Top? Get 30% OFF the pattern with code: SEWINGCLUBPODCAST