After last week’s post of the complicated moto jacket I decided to give myself some instant gratification. Turtlenecks are inexpensive to buy as long as you want black! A muted teal green or the perfect taupe is almost impossible to find. I used to have a purchased funnel neck turtleneck (in black of course) that I loved, but it faded and I tossed it into the Goodwill pile.The Debra Zebra Top by Style ARC is a simple three-piece pattern that sews up in 45-minutes! If you add cutting the three pieces then maybe an hour from start to finish. I did have to make alterations before it became the 45-minute wonder. One must purchase a Style Arc pattern in a single size. I choose a 12 and my first try fit perfectly…too perfectly. Every lump, bump and bra strap showed! The shoulders, sleeves and armhole fit well, but the neck was even too tight. I have very little experience with pattern alterations, but it seemed to me that a pivot from the shoulder would open up the pattern to the bust area and then another pivot would keep that open line straight down. It looks like a FBA but flatter and no dart in the end. It worked! The neck was a simple addition to the seams.
I proceeded to make two more tops in about 2-1/2 hours, including changing thread etc.
The seams are serged with very little pinning. The hems are finished with a double needle in my sewing machine. I can do a cover stitch with my serger, but not in 45 minutes! The other advantage of a double needle is the wider choice of thread colors for the hem. BTW, do you know that double needles come in a stretch needle? I didn’t until my Amazon account suggested them.
45 minutes, I’m always impressed by speedy sewing – I generally measure my sewing in weeks, not hours! Looks like a good wardrobe basic. must look out for twin knit needles on Amazon.
Hey Wendy, Nice job. It’s great to be able to whip up basics in our own color palette. I get so tired of black.
I find there’s no point in shopping at all if one doesn’t want an all black wardrobe. Thank you for the picture of your alteration. I would never have thought of that, and so would have just made the bigger size, which would have resulted in dropped shoulders.
Oops, I’m logged in under my other blog. That comment was really from me, “older babe sews clothes”.
Thanks for reminding me about this pattern! I have it and haven’t made it in ages. Yours are perfect colors to fit into your warm earthy palette!