Am I alone in that I can literally hear one word and end up with a song in my head for a week?
When Lauren at Elbe Textiles started talking about her latest release, the Staley Top, knowing her penchant for heavy metal, I immediately had the sounds of Alice in Chains playing in my head and thoughts of slouchy sweaters flashing before my eyes.
Alternative title: That Post Where I Had a White Thread Stuck on My Leg in Every Photo.
The Staley Top is a slouchy knit sweatshirt/sweater/tee with two options. This is View A, a cropped sweater with a split hem that is slightly longer at the back. View B is a semi fitted t-shirt with a scooped neckline and a curved hem. Both views come have options for a B- or D-cup.
I cut a size H for myself from the D-cup pattern, which worked out well. The only fit adjustment I made was a 3/4 inch full bicep adjustment for these chunky arms.
For fabric, I used up some cozy, light sweatshirt fleece I bought a couple years back. Fuzzy on the wrong side, smooth on the right side, a fair bit of drape. Not the recommended fabric (which is light- to medium-weight knit fabrics with at least 30% stretch widthwise) because it's heavier-weight, but it does have the requisite stretch.
I really love the Staley! It's got the coziness of a sweatshirt, without the restrictive hem band that often comes with. Love that split hem!!
If I had to file a complaint, it's that the neckline is quite wide. Here I'm wearing it with the Cashmerette Concord T-shirt with scooped out neckline, and you can see the Staley's neckline is much larger.
Style-wise this wide neckline isn't a problem... I think it looks good! But for warmth purposes, in Vermont winter, I know I'll be needing a higher, tighter neckline.
I'll definitely make another, but with the recommended fabric next time.
From now until then, though, I'll be singing "Heeeeeeere they come to snuff the Rooster, aw yeah!" and having flashbacks to middle school.
