Pattern: Style Arc Raph Knit Polo Top – semi-fitted polo style top with slightly open V-neck collared neckline.
Fabric: Oatmeal poly/viscose wide rib that’s been in my stash for ages.
Pattern notes: I haven’t used a Style Arc pattern for a while but I was in the market for this kind of top and generally trust their drafting, if not their instructions. It’s quite a challenging sew due to the precise stitching needed to get the collar and placket nicely set in, and the instructions indeed really did not help me much. It was hard to tell where to end the placket stitching so I didn’t have enough width to overlap them properly, hence the slightly distorted bumps I ended up with at the base.
It also took a bit of mental modelling to figure out which sides together to set the collar in – the instructions could simply have mentioned this and saved a lot of test-basting. I used a lightweight knit interfacing inside the collar and plackets, but only interfaced half the plackets and the under-collar to keep it lightweight and flexible.
The pattern includes a binding piece to cover the seam allowances inside the neckline, but it was getting quite bulky so I just graded down the lower seam allowances and topstitched the top collar SA down on top of them – this fabric doesn’t ravel and the stitches sink in so I think it looks fine.
Fit notes: I selected size 8 and bought the single size PDF as it’s a bit cheaper. It came out quite loose – as expected, as it’s semifitted and Style Arc usefully lists all of the finished measurements – but I wanted a closer fit so took in each side seam by about 1/2″ tapering to 1″ at the hem. I took about 2″ off the length at the hem. I also shortened the sleeves and finished them with a band, mainly due to fabric scarcity (I only had 1m, 1.6m is recommended).
Thoughts: I’d like to try this again, refining the placket insertion to get it perfect and perhaps using a terry type fabric for even more of a 70s look – I like this contrast collar version. I think I’ll still wear this one even though it’s not perfectly sewn.
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