Just a head’s up – this is another kind of boring, repeat pattern post. Sometimes I feel like I’m a bit of a snooze for making the same things over and over, but honestly – I enjoy tweaking my patterns with each make, until I have something that is as close to perfect as humanly possible. It’s a process, to be sure. It’s also the only way I can bring myself to cut into precious fabrics. Don’t wanna goof it up!
So, with that being said – I made another Coppélia cardy! (for previous versions – see one two three). This one in another piece of my prized Merino stash, hence why I needed to perfect this fit.
I also wore my hair up for you guysss! Look at me, branchin’ out and shit 🙂
This Merino wool is different than the first piece I sewed up (see Coppélia three; the leggings are the Merino!). It is MUCH stretchier, a bit more sheer, and much much softer. Due to the stretch, I did have to take down the pattern size a little to accomodate, but it all came out fine in the end! I was also initially concerned that the color would look bad on me… and maybe it does, but ehhh I don’t care. I love it, it’s so bright and happy!
Let’s see, pattern changes. I started out with my base Coppélia, this time sized down to XXS with 1″ taken out of the center back. I took an extra chunk out of the side seams (maybe 1/2″? I dunno, I just serged it off haha) and about 5/8″ off the under arm and sleeve seam, for a much closer fit. The biggest change I made was to lengthen the top, so it would be wearable with my jeans. I slashed through the pattern about 1″ from the bottom and then added 2″, making sure to true up the lines and everything when I was done. This pulls the cardi down long enough to cover my waistband, which hits right below my navel. Perfect!
Another change I made was to tighten the neck band for a closer fit. I just kind of wing’d (wung?) it up as I went – tacked it down at the center back, then starting at the CB on one side, I pulled the band while I serged it to the neckline. Once I reached the end, I went back to the CB and attached the band from the opposite side. I think I ended up pulling about 2″-3″ off the neckband at each end. The result looks a little gathered when it’s laying flat, but once on it gives a nice snug fit – which is important with a low wrap top like this.
I like the ties wrapped in the front, but after taking these pictures I ended up tying them in the back like the pattern envelope.
And this top looks great with my jeans! Win! 🙂
So, speaking of Papercut Patterns – I know a lot of people have voiced concerns in the past about the prices of the patterns. So, with that in mind, two things: 1. Make sure you change the currency (it’s at the top right-hand corner) to USD, or whatever works for your country. NZD is the default, and their shit’s a little more expensive! 2. Consider that the price also includes free shipping, if that helps sway ya 🙂 This top is $20.48 USD, which includes the shipping – a top from other indie companies usually runs, what, $14-$18, plus the shipping, which can easily be $5 extra. Just something to keep in mind! 🙂
Now that I’ve perfected the fit on this, I can’t wait to make a million more and then post them and force y’all to look at multiples of the same shirt.
Ha! Just kidding, I wouldn’t do that to you.
Probably not, anyway.
LLADYBIRD 
The colour is just beautiful on you, Lauren. The fit is perfect.
The top fits you perfectly and I LOVE the color. I somehow skipped over this pattern when I was looking through Papercut patterns, but I think I should revisit it. It looks so fantastic on you!
You look great! And honestly, I kinda enjoy the repeat patterns– I like to make multiples as well, and seeing how other people refine them as they go is helpful.
The color is awesome!
Love this! And the colour is great on you so no worries on that front 🙂 I also enjoy the repeat pattern posts… especially when it comes to staple items like this. I’ve been considering the pattern for awhile and it helps to see it done in different fabrics, colours, etc. I think this version officially sold me on it! Sara
Ahh I love that colour and Merino too, you really can’t get more comfy than a merino wool cardie, and pretty too. Thanks for clearing up the pricing on the pattern I never noticed the NZD I just assumed it was in us dollars and did the conversion to £ in my head, whoops. May have to go back and look again xx
I LOVE the color of this one! And, I’m glad you mentioned about the included shipping & currency difference at Papercut, because I didn’t realize that, and thought I’d be looking at like $30 for a blouse pattern. . . But $20? Okay, that I would pay. Er, did pay, since I just ordered it. You should totally get commission on this! 😉
Omg! I love the color on you and your hair is up! You look lovely! I went and bought the pattern because of your version. It just looks gorgeous! 🙂
Oooh, need, want, love this! Especially now that I’ve got a pretty good knits stash going on.
Gorgeous, in all ways. And your hair up is so perfect with this top. I definitely think you should consider wearing your hair up more — you look lovely, and it really helps to showcase all of your beautiful work!
Aw, thank you! I’m working on being more comfortable with it 🙂
The colour is fantastic! And I do not mind the repeat posts at all. I agree with Hamilton Chicklets above about the interest in seeing different versions of the same pattern. It’s inspiring!
You’re a crazy girl !!! Love your clothes 🙂
I love remakes! No need to apologize, I am addicted to them too. As Mae West said, “If you’ve found a magic that does something for you, honey, stick to it. Never change it.” If it works for me, I’m gonna keep sewing it!
Love the color!
Lovely sweater. I’ve been imagining a one just like it in my head 🙂
I really like your opening paragraph…a girl after my own heart! To me the best way to make successful garments is to sew them over and over again. The changes you made to this top is fantastic and it looks fantastic! Definitely make it again!
I gotta say, your pieces made from your TNT patterns are what really push me to make repeats! 🙂
This top looks fabulous on you! and you wear the color very well. Beautiful job, just beautiful.
Ramona
Louisiana, USA
If they were ugly patterns I wouldn’t want to see them repeated, but you always pick the ones that I am excited to see again. 🙂
So lovely!
you’re totally putting me over the top with this pattern! love this color on you, and i like the longer length you added. and good point about the price–sewaholic costs me $24 or so for a single pattern once you add shipping.
I love it! That’s a really great color on you too, wow/ I wondered what was different, and it was totally that your hair was up. lol
I don’t mind the multiples at all!! I sew a lot of multiples myself, partially to tweak the pattern or just because I like it so well to begin with. If a shape or cut works, why the hell not! Especially with different prints or colors… I even buy things I like that way sometimes. Love the shoes? Love them in 2 colors better. 😛
Haha I’m the same way with shoes… “Oh, I love these! BETTER BUY THEM IN EVERY COLOR!!” I mean, why the fuck not, right? 😀
Oh, I love the repeat posts because it is interesting to see what you do to tweak the fit. That way I enjoy looking at the make and get to learn something at the same time. This looks great on you.
Gorgeous top and the color on you is just so pretty. I can’t hold my resolve any longer, this is another pattern I will need to buy. Will borrow your idea of lengthening, much more age appropriate for me! 🙂
Great colour! Where did you get the fabric from?
It was a gift from Katie (the magic behind Papercut Patterns), it’s merino wool from NZ. Hoping we can get some good merino US sources up in here asap because this stuff is sooo amazing!
Please post when you find one, so far I found one…..that sells with a minimum of 120 pounds of the same fabric (!!)
Very cute, hope it cools down so you get lots of wear.
It has been cooling down a little (for me, anyway, i think anything below 80* is cold ;)), so I was able to wear it the past weekend. With jeans, even!
Lovely. I’m with you on doing a piece that you like until you’ve adjusted it well enough that you love it. And I, for one, love seeing multiples of the same pattern. It’s good to see how your tweaks change it and how the different fabric/color etc can change the look of a garment.
I found your blog about a month ago–I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your posts.You’re inspiring me to cut into my beloved fabrics insterad of just laying them out and petting them and putting them away 🙂
Oh yay, that makes me happy! Now go forth and slice into those beautiful fabrics! 😀
Keep sewing them if you love the pattern! I have made so many Briars that I look like a stalker! haha But I wear them all the time, so it’s part of my everyday wardrobe.
I love all your stalker Briars… it’s like me and those Thurlows, haha.
I have never seen this pattern, so happy to see many more! I love love it. I will have to purchase it, despite the price.
Love it! I keep advocating the merits of Papercut patterns, too. Since they are flippin awesome people! I’ve had my eye on this one for a while…so great for chillier weather! I love the way you lengthened it here, and I totally love seeing the duplicates…it’s hard not to make them with awesome patterns 🙂
For real! Papercut is so awesome, want every single one of those patterns (and workin’ on it ;)).
I love the color you picked! I have some Jersey in my stash that is the exact same color…which I cannot decide what to do with. I have definitely held off on buying any Papercut patters because of the price, although I have been eying this top and the Peter and the Wolf pants forever!
I love this! The colour is gorgeous! And I love seeing multiples. It really shows how different the same pattern can look in different fabrics. You’re right about the Papercut prices. I just ordered for the first time from Papercut, and it cost less than $25 CAD for one pattern, about the same as other indie patterns, except Colette, which costs way more since their shipping to Canada is $13! And I love the packaging of papercut – so cute. I can’t wait to sew up my Midsummer dress!
I am crazy about such tops – for me you may make thousends of them and post ever day 🙂 I am going to make another one – similar – as well 🙂
I love the colour as well… and it is very feminine – you look fabulous!
Gorgeous. Just the most perfect fit and the colour is amazing on you. It does look great with your jeans. Did I say gorgeous?
PS…love the updo too!
I like that this isn’t so low-cut. I avoid wrap tops because the are always too low-cut for my comfort. I’m going to have to try your tightened band trick, looks like it will work out better.
I love this pattern, I have made many myself after seeing your first version. I think Paper Cut Patterns are expensive and I live in New Zealand! This is the only pattern of theirs I have bought due to cost even with free shipping (I do love it and appreciate the work gone in to it). Most indy patterns I buy are pdf’s as this brings the price right down for me, with no extra shipping cost.
I personally abhor PDF patterns (for myself, if you wanna tape and cut… go ahead! I ain’t got time for that, though ;)), so I will gladly pay extra to have a printed pattern shipped to me 🙂
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one! Color is perfect on you – grab more at once! I think many of us shy away from tops like this because we just don’t want to hassle with gaping/ill fitting wrap fronts…your instructions on tightening up the band are great! Makes SO much sense!
Another terrific job!
Great top, great color, adorable updo! I bet this pattern could be easily modified into a cute, cozy wrap dress, too (just attach a skirt).
OH GOD why did you suggest that! 😉 Now I’m eyeballing the Miette wrap skirt and thinking…
Ha! Do it! 😀
AND the pattern has to ship to the other side of the world! We’re pretty far away down here 🙂 Love the top, great colour. I use so much merino, must be all the sheep here!
I think repeats are cool! Sometimes you just see different possibilities on the patterns. Your blog totally sold me on Papercut Patterns. I’ve only made one so far (the Milano Cape), but I’m loving it. And since I live in Europe, they’re not any more expensive than the indie patterns I order from US that come with postage. I do prefer PDF patterns for this reason…
I’d love to get my hands on some merino! My parents bought me gloves made from merino wool from their trip to New Zealand (well around the world, but the gloves were from New Zealand) and I love them! They’re starting to get old and worn because I use them so much, but I keep patching them, because they just feel so wonderful 🙂 I’m so envious of your new Coppelia…
Sig. I LOVE merino. And I Iive in New Zealand. So you’d think I’d have a wardrobe bursting with the stuff, but nope. I have yet to see it for less than NZ$30-40 per metre (so US$25-32). If anyone knows a source for merino that doesn’t cost a bomb I’d love to know, because my next option is a sheep in my back garden and I think the Council (and the neighbours) would take a dim view of that.
Try clothing manufacturers’ outlet shops or sales… LWR closed down in Chch recently and I got heaps of it for $5/m. Then I saw rolls of it in Fabric Vision for at least $20/m the next week!
(The same rolls, I mean. Sweet sweet profit)
If you are near Auckland try Designer Textiles in otara – or if you are further south – Levana in Levin – not quite the bargin $5/m but usually a bit less than $30/m.
For those in the USA http://www.thefabricstoreusa.com/ opening soon I believe and selling NZ merino….
I am SO ready for them to open so I can overindulge in Merino, ha!
I’m in Hamilton 🙂 I made a special trip up to Otara once, but it was shut – despite my having checked their opening hours beforehand. Sigh. But I might give it another shot!
go ahead and make a million of them. i will come back to look every time 🙂
Gorge!! This is super flattering on your figure. With that cute bun in your hair, you could almost be a ballerina… a sexy, sweary ballerina 😉
Keeping my fingers crossed that sometime soon we’ll see a Coppelia-Miette Franken-dress…
Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog, BTW 🙂 xx
Lovely top, perfect fit. Something else I noticed is how with your hair up your lovely jaw line and graceful neck show so well. Lucky girl !
I’ve loved this pattern since it was released, but decided it wasn’t for me because of the cropped length. After seeing this version I might have to try it out!
Ummm, seriously…You just look really good in that color! Also, now that I just scrolled through all 4 of your versions of that top I am probably going to have to get that pattern! And thanks for pointing out the free shipping…bc I was totally that person who was like, uh, what, I’m too cheap to pay that! But thinking about it it’s actually a reasonable deal. And I have really, really wanted a wrap top but hadn’t found a pattern that really worked. Also, I agree that you look really nice with hair up (not that you aren’t lovely the rest of the time!).
I misread that as, “I enjoy twerking patterns…” and did a double take and giggle. You’ve sold me on this pattern. Thanks for remaking it and detailing the tweaks.
haha!
Really love this colour on you girl, it’s so gorgeous! Quite tempted to make this as looks a really nice cosy top to wear instead of Mike’s t-shirts all the time 😉
Beautiful cardi! The colour looks wonderful on you. I have actually heard that coral is the most universally flattering colour and that more people should wear it.
Girl I’m sure you can rock any color, but in all seriousness the coral does look nice on you. I just made my first Coppelia and although I love it, you answered all of my ‘can I do this without fucking it up?’ questions for my next one!!!
First of all, “your hair looks Fab Fab Fabulous up!!” What a totally cute and versatile top.
Great colour! I think it really suits you, but then I am a little obsessed with red at the moment! I’ve never heard of Papercut Patterns, but I think I need to hunt them down now! Nothing wrong with making the same patterns over and over again (I’ve made far too many Annas and Tovas…) – it’s way too much effort to trace new patterns every time you want to sew something…!
That colour looks great on you! If say you decided you only needed one jersey wrap top pattern (I know, why would you do that?!), would you go for the Coppélia, or the Pavlova?
Funny you ask, because I was JUST thinking that earlier this morning (and I’m wearing my Pavlova today, actually, haha!). I think it really depends on the look you’re going for, and how much fabric you are using. Coppélia has more seams, so it does take longer to sew but it also uses less fabric (and you can piece or colorblock if your yardage is super tiny). It also has the knit bands, which I prefer over hemming (which is how you finish the Pavlova). They also wrap differently – the Coppélia has long ties that are separate from the actual shirt, that you thread through a hole and everything, and the Pavlova has the sort of ties that are basically an extension of the wraps. Coppélia is a little more form-fitting, due to the raglan sleeves and seaming, Pavlova is a much more forgiving fit with kimono sleeves. Pavlova is easier to get a good fit straight from the envelope due to the way the pattern is drafted, Coppélia may need additional tweaking, but there are plenty of seams to play with in that regard.
I’m sorry. You asked a simple question and I wrote an entire novel 🙂 But, short answer – Coppélia, because I like the fit better, I like the raglan sleeves, and I can fudge my yardage since there are small pieces.
No, thank you for such a comprehensive answer, it’s really helpful. Now, whichever I choose, I know what I’m getting into!
Love the top and your style…i have some gifted merino in my stash, but am a bit of a newbie to the whole sewing thing….so have a “really are you that dumb” type of question…..how do I treat the edges – leave them to do what they will (like jersey), french seam type approach, or just zigzag (no serger) the little buggers cos they’ll fray like a bitch….can’t work out the logic/stupidity of it so any help much appreciated!
That’s not a dumb question! I’ve never come across a knit that frays like crazy – so if yours does fray, definitely zig-zag over those edges. If they just curl up like jersey likes to do, then you can just leave them as they will. I wouldn’t bother french seaming; I think that would be too bulky and might not stretch as much as you need it to 🙂
Thank you – you are a gem!!!
Beautiful colour and i love the extra length you’ve given it.
Sooper cute! Love that coral colour on you. xxx
Hi! I regularly lurk your blog without commenting as I’m usually trying to read posts on my phone with my baby on the other arm (not great for typing!). Just had to comment though to say I LOVE this top, and the colour is great on you. I’m currently making a Cake Pavlova top, but I’m thinking this is actually a lot more flattering with the skinny sleeves and lower crossover. Hmmm… think I’m going to have to seriously consider buying this pattern now!
Ooo – just spotted your comment above on Pavlova vs Coppelia too. That’s really helpful info. Thanks!
I really really really like that pattern and to think that it is made of yummy NZ Merino even better – it will be nice a warm for fall and winter. I love the colour!
I think this colour is great on you! And if you find a pattern you like (and you’ve already refined to fit you), I think you should make a bajillion of them!
The color of this wool is the shiz! I absolutely love it. My fave of this pattern that you’ve made and it looks oh-so comfortable, too!
Gorgeous. I love the colour of that merino so much and the silhouette (complete with hair up!) Is super chic and elegant, a little Audrey-esque even.
I bought the Coppelia pattern after seeing your lovely version during MMM and just sewed it up. I found that it was a bit big (I sewed up the xxs, but the neckband sticks out a bit, the sleeves are pretty big, and the front is a bit big too (my bust is about 28″ so no surprise there)) and I was wondering if you had any tips for getting a tighter fit? This is my first time doing a wrap anything and my first time with raglan sleeves so I am clueless 😛
It’s designed to be a little loose-fitting – especially under the arms – so that’s why you’re getting a bigger fit than what I have 🙂 I just took mine in at the side seams – from the waist all the way up to the end of the sleeve – until I was happy with the fit. Obviously if you’ve already attached your ribbing/bands, you’ll need to remove those for a clean finish, but yeah, it’s not too hard to take it in 🙂 The neckband is one of those things that can vary based on your fabric – something with more stretch (like my merino I used) needs to be cut shorter so the neckline fits better and eases in and doesn’t stick out. It’s kind of one of those things you have to experiment with – just the nature of knits! – but one thing I’ve found really helpful is to attach the neckline starting at the center, and go down each side, stretching the band slightly (not stretching the shirt portion at all). From there, you can just cut the excess off at the bottom, so it’s a little easier 🙂 Hope this helps 🙂
I took off the neckband and did as you suggested (I ended up taking off about 3 inches on both sides) and the neck lays much flatter now! I think the next time I make this I will try taking in the sleeves and front a bit too (because it looks like I could squeeze some fake muscle man muscles into all the extra space on my upper arms :P)
Thanks so much for your help!