Here's my Fresh Press Patterns Iris top!
I'd been admiring the Iris tops I'd seen on Instagram, especially those made by Amber and Emmanuelle, when Joanna of Fresh Press Patterns emailed me to see if I wanted to try the pattern. I received the pattern for free, but my opinions are my own.
The Iris top is a cool tunic length top that is longer at the back, with rounded hems. The Iris top has no real side seams, but rather the front and back bodice pieces overlap at the underarm and are topstitched down for a few inches. It leaves the sides open for a lot of movement, but it's never revealing, which is nice. Iris has short, cuffed sleeves, and the hems and neckline are finished with bias binding.
The instructions for the Iris are not lengthy or super detailed, but they recommend professional industrial construction techniques, which I found interesting.
I had a bit of trouble setting the sleeves in, as there seemed to be something strange with the notches, but when I ignored the notches and set the sleeve in with an easing stitch, everything came together just fine.
The fabric I chose is this super lightweight stuff I bought at a shop in Mandalay when I was in Myanmar last year:
My mom and I stumbled on a crazy sale in which piles of fabric were laid out on a tarp on the street in front of the shop. Everything was insanely cheap and women were rummaging through the piles, with fabric flying everywhere.
I think this geometric stuff I ended up with might be a rayon or rayon/cotton blend, maybe? Definitely natural fibers. Super soft, lightweight and drapey, which is perfect for the Iris.
I really like how the Iris top turned out! Such a cute design. Thanks, Joanna! Looking forward to seeing what you design next!
