I went through a lengthy process of brainstorming, drafting, and prototyping for this top, but I’m very happy with the result!

This is one of those projects that started with the fabric, rather than a pattern or an idea for a specific garment. I picked up this beautiful lightweight viscose-linen gauze from Fiber Snob, a fabric shop in Santa Rosa, CA. At first I only knew two things about the project: 1) it would be some kind of top, and 2) it would need to be lined because of the fabric’s sheerness.

The airy drape of the fabric steered me in the direction of Greek-inspired designs, and I ended up designing this top with a cowl neck and shoulder tucks. At first, I considered cutting the top on the bias to give it even more drape, but I didn’t have enough fabric; fortunately, it turned out beautifully when cut on the straight grain.

I made three prototypes: one to understand cowl construction (based on a tutorial from Threads Magazine), the second to test the shoulder idea, and the third to refine the design and resolve some fit issues. Because the fabric is so thin and delicate, I used a microtex needle, stabilized the fabric with tissue paper when sewing a single layer, and made extra sure to go slowly around curves to avoid stretching.

The top is fully lined and constructed with no exposed seams on the inside, which gives it a clean finish. The shoulder tucks add volume to the top as well as visual interest, resulting in a relaxed and breathable fit that’s perfect for hot summer days.