Posted on by PetiteSewSop

“Giorgio’s Top” by Silhouette Patterns does it again!

Behold my recent PatternReview 2024 Pantone Color of the Year contest entry:

Front and Back
“Giorgio’s Top” 312 by Silhouette Patterns
The shoulder and sleeve seams often yield fun and unique twists and turns from the print you’re sewing with.

Here is an excerpt of my PatternReview contest entry notes:

When I saw the 2024 Pantone Color of the Year contest come up on Pattern Review I was inspired to make something from this peachy rayon knit print fabric from my stash. The solid peach background has just the right amount of pink and orange to compliment the complexion and seems to fit the Pantone “Peach Fuzz” description well, “ a “peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange.” It is “poetic and romantic, a clean peach tone with a vintage vibe” which “reflects the past yet has been refashioned with a contemporary ambiance.” The print pattern on the fabric also has a vintage feeling and a bit of a contemporary vibe which I like. The design challenge for me personally was how to use the larger scale print on my 5’3 frame without overwhelming me proportionally. Choosing “Giorgio’s Top” by Silhouette Patterns with its Princess Seams really helped break up the print a bit and the kimono sleeve shoulder seams yielded surprising twists and swirl effects as a result. I will definitely get a lot of use from this versatile and comfortable knit top for years to come. It seems to work well for both casual and dressier occasions and will pair well with other items in my wardrobe. 

The original fabric. The scale of the chrysanthemum blooms measure approximately 10” in diameter.

When I first saw the pattern envelope the model in the photo was wearing the short sleeve view which didn’t really appeal to me. Then I attended the Minneapolis Sewing Expo and the pattern maker, Peggy Sagers, was wearing an an alternative version featuring the 3/4 length view of this same pattern, much more attractive! It just goes to show that judging a pattern by the envelope photo alone can often be deceptive when it comes to how to most effectively make it your own. This is why I like pattern envelopes that feature more than one view.

Short sleeve version: http://www.silhouettepatterns.com

When composing today’s post I started to count the number of times I’ve made this particular pattern and I’m estimating it must be more than ten. Here are photos of some of them:

Note the design possibilities of having so many seams. Some planned, some fun surprises.
A stripe-like print cut on the bias.
I made this one for St. Patrick’s Day. Love how fun it is to make this top with stripes!
Note the chevron effect on the sleeves! I chose to hand-baste the seams first for this über-stretchy modal fabric.
Wore this one for my yoga class this morning!
I posted this version a while back in connection with my capsule wardrobe challenge.

The above versions of this pattern are some of my favorites and I wear them often. I’ve also discovered that this top design works well for my yoga classes too. Very comfortable and flexible for most any position called for.

In conclusion, the benefit of having a “TNT” (tried ‘n true) pattern such as “Giorgio’s Top” is that it is a quick make and a joy to sew. With the right fabric choice, (4-way stretch knits) I’m confident it will most likely turn out well every time.

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