The Ballard Top Pattern by Straight Stitch Designs

Howdy and welcome to my stop on the Ballard Top Pattern Tour!

I “met” my friend Kimberly of Straight Stitch Designs in the Pattern Workshop* Facebook Group. As soon as I saw her there, it seemed I saw her everywhere! We found ourselves in the same tester groups and on the same pattern fan pages so it has been fun work alongside each other, long-distance-like. When she posted her first pattern tester call for the Ravenna, I was completely bummed because I was loaded down with other projects and couldn’t take advantage of earning this great pattern through testing it. It didn’t stop me from grabbing my own copy once it was published though!

Isn’t it beautiful?! It has a high low hem, exposed zipper back and optional ruffle along the back neckline. I can’t wait to make my own version. BUT – That’s not why we’re here! So let me get on to the Ballard Top!

The Ballard Top (available exclusively through IndieSew for it’s first two weeks of release), is Straight Stitch Designs’ second pattern release, a tunic-length top designed for knits. Kimberly’s style has been describe as classic with a twist – and the Ballard is definitely that because…wait for it…here’s the back!

The front is modest, comfy and easy to wear, but the back criss crosses in such a way so it opens up for a little sassy detail! So no worries about bending down to pick up kids or toys or schlepping groceries from the cart to the car…but no worries about looking like “frumpy mom” either! Gotta love that!

The Ballard Top goes together in no time! After printing out the pattern and taping it together, I easily graded between the nested sizes to get the right fit according to my measurements. I got this knit from F&M Fabrics, of course (online at thefabricmarket.com). The entire top can be made on your home sewing machine with a ball point/stretch needle and a narrow zigzag (or stretch straight stitch if your machine has one). No serger needed! Although you could certainly use one just as easily.

I’m really excited for what Kimberly has up next – I got a sneak peak of the next pattern and she’s definitely a new designer you’ll want to follow! Also, check out the other tester versions of The Ballard Top in the rest of the blog tour.

 

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