Dear readers,
I am so excited to introduce you to my newest pattern, the Jourdan Top.
This design started with an idea I kept coming back to: a top with the sides left open below the waist. I actually began sketching something along these lines even before the Camille Top, but I was never fully convinced. As I refined the idea, my copy of Plus Size Patternmaking by Gabby Brown and Leila Kelleher arrived, and it felt like the perfect opportunity to develop a brand new top block for my 46-60 size range. I could not be more pleased with the result. Testing mostly involved adapting the location of the bust apex, which is to be expected, and the new block performed beautifully. I hope to write a dedicated review of the book soon.
Jourdan is a semi-fitted, sleeveless top defined by adjustable side ties. It features a high, gently boat-shaped neckline and armholes finished with binding. A center front seam works together with French darts to shape the bust, keeping the lines clean without compromising on fit. The center back seam rises to an opening at the neck, closed with a thread loop and button. In place of a side seam, an inset side panel joins the front and back at each side, creating graphic straight angles at the armholes.
Self-fabric ties draw the waist in to your preference while the sides below stay open for ease and a soft drape. Front and back are finished with a double-turned hem, and the top hits just above the hip.
I took some of the photos of the top untied so you can assess the fit. It made me think that Jourdan also makes a great relaxed top if you omit the ties entirely or if you include loops to be able to thread or remove them (as one of my testers suggested 😊).
Fabric suggestions
Jourdan is the ultimate fabric remnant buster! The cover samples is made from linen. For this pattern, I recommend light to mid-weight woven fabrics with a little body and a soft drape, such as linen, linen blends, cotton poplin, chambray, Tencel, or viscose. Softer fabrics let the top drape more fluidly when tied.
I am 5'3" / 1m60 and wear the white, blue and stripe linen samples in size 34 with no alterations. Lilli is 5'5" / 1m65, she wears a floral cotton version in size 50 at the shoulders progressively graded to 52 at the hips.
Pauline is 5'7" / 1m70 and she wears a denim version in size 44 with no shaping at the waist. For her version we added some extra topstitching and it looks extra cute!
Sizing and samples
Jourdan is available in two size ranges: 34-46, drafted for a B/C cup and a height of 5'5" / 1m65, and 46-60, drafted for a DD cup on the brand new block.
What's included
Just like all my patterns, Jourdan comes with everything you need to create a high-quality, professional-looking garment:
- Layered PDFs: Print-at-home (A4 and US Letter), A0, and Projector formats
- Cutter's Must
- Cutting layouts for each size and fabric width
- Order of operations
- Step-by-step illustrated instructions in English and French
- Seam allowances included and indicated at every step
You may have spotted something new in that list: Jourdan is my first pattern to include individual cutting layouts for each size and fabric width. Instead of a generic diagram covering a whole size range, you get a layout matched to your exact size and your fabric, so you know precisely how much yardage you need and how to place your pieces before you cut.
Launch sale
To celebrate the release, the Jourdan Top is 15% off for one week with the code JUSTJOURDAN at checkout. Newsletter subscribers get an additional 10% off their entire order, so if you are not subscribed yet, now is the perfect time.
I cannot wait to see your Jourdans! If you share your make on social media, tag it with #JPJourdanTop, #JustPatterns, and #MadeWithJustPatterns so I can admire your creations.
Happy sewing,
Delphine