A Stitching Odyssey: Triangle Stag Print Agnes Top

A few weeks back I was contacted by the folks at Girl Charlee in the UK, asking if they could tempt me with any of their jersey prints in return for a review. Tempting me was the easy part, as they stock the best variety of knits I've seen in a while, but picking out a favourite was really hard. So hard that they took pity on me and sent me a selection.

The first to jump my sewing queue was this super cool triangle stag print, which you'll be pleased to hear comes in a couple of other colourways too! I immediately knew I wanted to pair it with the lovely Agnes, the most recent knit top pattern from Tilly and the Buttons, and I love the result...

The jersey was an absolute dream to work with, behaving beautifully and feeling cotton-rich on the skin. You can really see it's good quality, and satisfyingly, it doesn't curl up when cut or hemmed. The stags are few and far between, so you may need to think carefully about where you want them to appear on your make. I ended up with less on the front than I would have liked, but I've got one on each sleeve that I like to pretend are bad-ass bicep tattoos! 

I don't usually finish my seams when working with jersey, but I couldn't resist pinking the neckline seam to match the triangle print. I know, I know...such a geek!

I made the simplest Agnes I could for maximum wearability, but I'd love to try out the sweet ruching options for future versions. The pattern is everything you'd expect from Tilly and although I didn't need to follow the instructions, they look as comprehensive and clear as always. 

Size wise I'll make a few changes next time. I did what I usually do with Tilly's patterns, grading from a size 3 for the shoulders and neckline, to a size 4 for the sleeves down to the waist, and finally to a size 5 through the hips. But I ended up having to reduce the seam allowances for the sleeves and down to the waist because my Agnes was too tight on the arms and across the bust. So next time I think I'll make a size 5 all over and just grade down to a size 4 for the neckline and shoulders.

Anyway, get yourself down to Girl Charlee now and check out their awesome prints. They come in a variety of weights perfect for the colder weather, including Ponte de Roma, Hacci Sweater Knit, Sweatshirt Fleece, and French Terry Knit!