Knit Top - Vogue 1567 by Paco Peralta

I love this top! First, it's purple.  Second, it's designed by the phenomenal Paco of Barcelona. Go HERE to see the pattern.  Third, the knit rayon/lycra fabric is perfect.  It drapes well and doesn't sag, due to the lycra content.

To construct  the neckline, you are told to sew in some stabilizing tape at both the back and the front.  I used fusible tape and it worked well.  It's applied on the facing side so an imprint of  it doesn't show on the outside.  I bought my tape years ago from Judy Barlup (now retired), who called it Japanese tailoring tape.   THIS  product now for sale on Amazon seems to be very similar.  Once applied, the fusible tape does not show on the outside, as it's fused to the facing side of the fold at the neckline, in both the front and the back.  It controls the stretch, thus allowing for the 'straight across' front neckline look (without the tape, I feel that the neckline would end up draping, and therefore looking more like a cowl...not bad, but not desired here). 

I thought this pattern was very well drafted - it went together easily.   I used my baby lock cover stitcher to do the sleeve and waistline hems as well as the neckline in the back. 

On Saturday evening, here in Alaska, we had a nice snowfall.  Right after we took this picture, on Sunday morning, Nick and I did our house chores, then changed clothes to go cross country skiing at Beach Lake, near our house.  This is just one of the reasons we love living in the Anchorage, Alaska area.  The outdoor quality of life here is phenomenal!   

Eventually, I'll make the skirt too, to go with the top.  I really like everything that Paco Peralta designs, and I'm thrilled that his designs are featured in Vogue Patterns. 

Right now, in the sewing room, I've moved on to a simple T-shirt dress using some wool knit from Italy that I have left over from another project.