I don’t know about you, but my social media feed is having a whimsical moment. I’m talking about adorable sweet treats, playful décor, and, most of all, whimsical fashion. While I’m not trying to look like a magical fairy queen in the office, I do love this shift towards color and comfort. One of the recommended whimsical sewing patterns I see repeatedly is the Sagebrush Top by Friday Pattern Company. I decided to revisit this pattern and I’m so glad I did! Using the Emerald Green 1/4 inch Check Gingham fabric from Minerva has been the key to unlocking a pattern I thought just wasn’t for me.
I made my first Sagebrush when it was originally released in 2020 (I had oodles of free time for some reason 😉). While it was cute, I didn’t fall in love like many people did. Adding a ruffle to the largest part of my chest seemed odd, the puffy sleeves felt stiff and, overall, it just didn’t feel like ME. What a difference a change in fabric can make! My original Sagebrush was made with a softened wax print. This time, I used a gingham from Minerva and I’m in LOVE! Everything I disliked about the pattern magically makes sense! The stiff ruffle now lays gently across the top of my bust line. The bulky sleeves seem smaller and more romantic. Not only does my new Sagebrush feel good to wear; it feels like me! Fabric is truly magical.
The Minerva Core Range 1/4 inch Check Gingham fabric comes in 25 colors. I used Emerald Green, a bold, true green that comes close to bottle green without going too dark. This lightweight fabric is a shorter length, coming in around 44 inches. Keep that in mind when ordering – you’d hate to run out of fabric midway through a project! The fabric is a polyester/cotton blend with zero stretch. Laundering and sewing was a breeze and the opaque fabric feels great in these scorching months.
As I’ve already sewn the Sagebrush Top before, I’m not going to repeat myself by giving a full-scaled review. Friday Pattern Company patterns are always well-designed, easy to follow, and fun to sew. The Sagebrush is no exception. I lengthened my top by two inches and narrowed my sleeve elastic by three sizes. Other than that, I made no alterations to the pattern. The success of this project is making me think that maybe I should revisit other sewing “fails”. Something else might rise like a phoenix from the ashes of my sewing purgatory!
