Sleeveless Top Challenge

After making my first Sorbetto top recently, I decided to do a sleeveless top challenge: the Sorbetto versus the Pendrell.  I felt that the princess seams of the Pendrell would be more flattering to my shape than the basic vest shape of the Sorbetto.  So away I went….

I’ve had some Anna Maria Horner voile in my stash for a while but keep changing my mind about what to make with it.  I struck whilst the iron was hot (literally) and quickly cut out the sleeveless version of the Pendrell (version three). Once sewn though, it was surprising to see just how plain a top the sleeveless Pendrell really is.  On me, it was verging on the frumpy. I didn’t take any photos of the Pendrell in its frumpsville phase, you’ll just have to take my word for it.   

I didn’t want to waste my precious voile, so I needed to do a bit of re-jigging. Hhhmm, what to do? In the end I added a Peter Pan collar and I think it saved the day.  Inspired by ooobop’s lovely dress in this post, I drafted my own collar using this tutorial. To stop the neckline looking too bulky (it was already bias bound) I top stitched the collar down.  It's not perfect, but it still works and at least the collar lies flat. The addition of a collar definitely makes it more wearable.  Overall, I’m pretty pleased with it.

I couldn't resist adding a button

Now that I’ve sewn the two patterns within a week of each other, here’s my list of what does and doesn't work for me with each pattern.

Sorbetto

Barely 0.5 metres of fabric needed

Very quick to sew

Free download!           

Great for a holiday wardrobe           

Way too short (this is easily remedied though)           

Quite boxy in shape on me

Needs to be tucked in on me to look good 

Cool pleat down the middle            

Pendrell

More like 1.5 metres of fabric needed

Still quick to sew but not in the Sorbetto's league

Pattern is good value, considering this is my third make from it

Too plain on me without added collar or sleeves

Nice and long

Princess seams extremely flattering

Can be worn tucked or untucked on me

Two sleeve options available

In conclusion, I think they’re more or less neck and neck. I think the Sorbetto is better as a casual

holiday top, whereas the Pendrell is a more elegant style.  They’re both great patterns and I’m sure 

I’ll make more versions of each one.  It was a fruitful experiment though – I’ve now got two very

wearable tops for my holidays. Result!