I guess what they say about that jolt of energy before going into labor is real! I started this Papercut Patterns Array Top the evening before I went into labor with my son and I was not able to get around to finally finishing it until a few weeks ago. The Array Top was a pattern I had purchased a while ago and intended to make a comfy, elevated sweatshirt-type top to wear around the house.
This was my first time sewing a Papercut Patterns garment and while it took me much longer than it should have to complete (blame a little thing called motherhood), overall it is a simple pattern to construct. While this pattern can be made as a top or a dress, there are a few other options to customize it: with gathered bell sleeves or wide, straight sleeves, an elasticated hem or non-elasticated, and an optional waist belt. Papercut Patterns is a popular indie sewing pattern brand based in New Zealand and known for stylish, modern patterns.
Puffy sleeves are such a trend right now and I’ve been itching to incorporate them into my wardrobe. I opted to make an Array Top with gathered, puffy sleeves and a non-elasticated hem. I envisioned a comfy top that could be worn around the house yet more chic than your average sweatshirt.
I used one of my favorite types of fabric for relaxed comfy clothes again, a double cotton gauze from Mood Fabrics this time in a striking, summer-ready yellow. The double cotton gauze is airy, soft, and lightweight, which makes for a comfortable, flowy top. The fabric’s lightweight properties makes it a bit sheer, but not totally see-through. I feel comfortable enough wearing just a bra underneath.
As I was still pregnant when I began this project, I chose to make this top in a size 2 (the pattern ranges from sizes 1-8) to ensure a loose fit, but now that I’m pretty much back to my pre-pregnancy measurements, the size 2 is quite roomy. While it’s a bit large around the shoulders and underarms for me, I do like the length of the top overall. The tight gathered wrists actually help to make the sleeves fit a bit better on me.
The construction itself is quite simple, there are no real complex techniques that an advanced beginner might have trouble with in this pattern. For me, I always have trouble with sewing necklines with binding correctly so that is the only part where I stumbled. I backtracked and stumbled my way through fixing the neckline to be somewhat as the pattern instructed. The result was a wide, boat-neck fit, which after a lot of pressing looks alright. It’s not my favorite look, but it’ll do. Next time I will know the correct way to finish the neckline.
It was my first time making elasticized, gathered sleeves, and I was so pleased with how simple it was to complete and how beautiful it looks! It definitely provides more definition to an otherwise simplistic top, and adds a bit of fun to the look.
As far as the actual pattern goes, it was not my favorite in terms of instructions. I think there could be easier methods of explaining some of the construction process, and the illustrations are a bit confusing to the eye. I should probably not complain about this detail because it’s easy to calculate, but it would have been convenient if the pattern would also reference measurements in inches not just in centimeters, for those of us who don’t use the metric system (thanks, USA).
All in all, I’m happy to have completed this garment which makes for a unique top that is as comfy as it is stylish. I’m looking forward to wearing it more often and creating more iterations of the Array Top and Dress!
Pattern: Papercut Patterns Array Top / Dress, $14.57 USD (PDF), $21.85 (Printed).
Fabric: Talamanca Mustard Double Cotton Gauze, Mood Fabrics
Size made: 2, made with gathered bell sleeves and non-elasticized hem.
