Tried and Tested - The Lulu Top by Craftiness Is NOT Optional

You guys have maybe heard of Jess?  You know, that completely unknown famous sewing blogger and now pattern designer?  Ha!  Jess's blog is one of the first I started following when I got back into sewing, and with good reason - she's got amazing taste and she really is one of the rock stars of the sewing world!  Also, she bakes some seriously amazing looking desserts.  I only wish we were neighbors...well, maybe my hips are glad that we're not ;-) 

When she asked me to test her newest pattern, The Lulu Top and Dress, of course, I said YES!  This is seriously such a great pattern!  There are tons of options and details to really make it your own, and if you have more than one little girl, you can coordinate without them being too matchy-matchy.

The Lulu can be made with all knit or knit and woven together.  I chose to sew up the top with cap sleeves and a cute little pocket.  I used this adorable knit from the fabulous Girl Charlee (ooooh, there's some left!  Go buy it!) and some chambray that I think I picked up at Joann.

Including taping the pattern together and cutting it all out, this literally took me less than an hour to finish.  I love the way the binding goes on the neck and arm holes - super duper easy and it has a nice clean look.  The gathered waist is actually a casing for elastic - I think it would be fun to change it up and make a casing for a drawstring, too!

I made the Lulu Top in a size 6 and it fits my petite 6 year old perfectly.  I did shorten the elastic, since my daughter's chest size is closer to a size 4, but the length and everything else fit her perfectly.

I wanted to add the faux placket to this top, but didn't really like any of my button choices, so I went with the pocket instead.  It's so cute!

The instructions for the Lulu are very clear, and the illustrations are great.  It's a very straightforward design, and I think it would be a great choice for an advanced beginner who wants to start working with knits.  You definitely don't need a serger for this one, but I do think you should know how to use a twin needle.


Thanks Jess, for having me test for you, and for knocking it out of the park with your Lulu Top and Dress Pattern!