Guys, I’ve been holding out on you – there were Me-Made May photos you never saw! But this top was too cute to sit in my closet unworn all month. Meet the Cashmerette Webster Top and Dress!
Let’s start here: It’s a woven, and I find it as comfortable as a knit!
Design-wise, it’s a loose woven tank meant for drapey, fine fabrics. I sewed mine in a rayon challis, which (as always with rayon challis) was a bit of a b*tch to sew, but a dream to wear. The tester version was finished with a neck facing and bias at the armscyes, but the final version is finished with an all-in-one facing. I think that’s a great choice! I used very fine knit interfacing for mine, following a recommendation from my Fabricland clerk, and it works perfectly to stabilise without affecting drape.
The hem has a nice high-low shape, which offers my ideal coverage in front and back. There is also a dress version, which has curved panels that extend the tank into a knee-length dress. The bust is shaped with darts, and the pattern has cup-sizes. Here I sewed a 16E/F, which is my go-to size in Cashmerette… even though the size chart would put me in 16C/D. You can see the armscyes are just a smidge low, which may be in part from sewing a cup size up.
Speaking of bosoms… the neckline. It’s perfect on me for casual summer days… but when I wear it to work, I need a camisole underneath. (There’s a reason almost all these pictures are shot from below, not above!) I find that when I sit, the neckline does some kind of riding up/gaping sideways thing, and I don’t sew or wear enough wovens to know why. Is the back pulling, is the bust riding up, or something else?
I could raise the neckline, of course, but I hate messing with facings… and the neckline needs to be finished with a facing because it’s got a party in the back!
Hello, sassy back view! These crossover straps are popular in RTW, but it was my first time sewing them. Getting them pinned and sewn in place perfectly was more time consuming than my normal projects, but in that good way where it’s done just as you get bored! I think it has great impact, and helps to make the top feel modern and fun.
Check out the early spring leaves in the background – I took these pics in April when it was no more than 10c!
So there you have it – another great pattern for the curvy ladies amongst us! Cashmerette has done a lot of classic basics, so I like that this one is a bit more trendy. I could definitely see sewing more for myself this summer!
Crafting A Rainbow 
So I sometimes have that sit-down gape thing happening. I think that a small amount of it is unavoidable because of the way my shoulders hunch and the fact that I have a large bust. I have found, though, that it also often means that the shoulder and neckline area is too large. The shoulders do seem to be cut very wide to me (but then I have narrow shoulders). that said, this top looks great and you did a wonderful job sewing that slippy challis!
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets that neckline gaping! I think you are right and the shoulders could all be a bit trimmer on me – although I don’t want to lose any of the horizontal ease at the bust! I’ll try shortening things or maybe going down a size at the shoulders next time?
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I don’t think you need to lose any horizontal ease, but I agree that wide set straps/shoulders might be the issue. Try taking a horizontal wedge out of the neckline, about midway between the bust and the shoulders, with maybe an inch out at the neckline, tapering to nothing at the armscye?
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THanks! I’ll give it a try!
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Your Webster turned out really cute! It’s interesting about the gaping neckline thing. I wonder if it’s height-related, to a certain extent. The neckline sits much higher on me.
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After I saw yours yesterday, I thought the same thing! If I get around to tracing the paper version once it arrives, I think I’ll shorten above the bustline by 3/4″ or so, and see if that helps with both the armscye and the gaping neckline!
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Nice work. I’m contemplating this pattern; hoping it won’t be too billowy for my hourglass shape. Seems like a great summer top.
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I haven’t seen it on any true hourglass figures yet, so it’s hard to answer than… but it does have cup sizes, bust darts, sway back built-in, AND a curvy side seam, so although it’s loose there is secretly quite a lot of shaping built in!
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Which came first? Webster or your perfectly matching necklace? 🙂
Great new top. Love that print.
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Hahaha – the necklace! As I put on my Webster, I was thinking “I have no jewellery for this!” but then, aha! I necklace I hadn’t worn much before became the perfect match! 😉
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Cute, cute, cute!
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! 😉
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Your top looks great ! I have several Cashmerette patterns in my stash waiting to jump in . I love the all in o e facing idea. I have some concerns about if it would gap inder my arms . Thanks for all your tips
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I think the right cup size shouldn’t gape under your arms. I find gaping (for me, at least) comes when the pattern is drafted for a smaller bust!
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I love your Webster top! I’m excited to make one. I’m planning on putting the pdf together this weekend. 😀 There are two things that fix neckline gaping for me: narrow should adjustment and hollow chest adjustment. I always just start off with the narrow shoulder and see if that fixes it and then I will try a hollow chest adjustment.
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Thanks Andie! i’ve never done a narrow shoulder adjustment properly, although sometimes I shave some width off at the outer shoulder on the fly… I’ll have to look up how to do it for real! 😉
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https://inhousepatterns.com/blogs/news/the-broad-and-narrow-back-adjustment
https://inhousepatterns.com/blogs/news/the-shoulder-width-adjustment
Maybe these will help. They are wonderful tutorials. Alexandra Morgan is an amazing resource I just became familiar with.
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Love your top Gillian! My Webster pattern is on it’s way and after seeing so many lovely ones online including yours I’m feeling the anticipation 🙂 I’ve bookmarked this page in case I run into the same issues (or not) – sometimes I cut a different size in the front than the back (larger in the back) which helps with my forward/narrow shoulders. I’m tall like Meg (5’8″) so it will be interesting to see if I have similar issues to you too or not. Great advice re the knit interfacing on rayon challis – I never would have thought of that!
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Ahhh, to be tall! 😉 I hope you like the pattern – I think you will!
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Cute! I’d buy it, but I’ve honestly got too many patterns as it is. 😳 Love the little strappy detail in the back though, going to have to try it, since I’m a sucker for a cute back detail.
So I’m curious, I *thought* I had figured out how to keep challis from shrinking every time it goes through the laundry, but I was wrong. I prewash on warm, dry on high heat, and then steam the shit out of it when I press before sewing, and it still shrinks! (I wash on cold, and usually hang to dry so I don’t have to iron.) Is it a quality issue, or what? (I’m not a handwash kind of gal–even bras go through the machine!)
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Oh man! I’ve not had the problem of things continuing to shrink – the only thing I can think of is to make sure the dryer gets it bone dry the first time, and maybe give it two prewashes?
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I love everything about this top!! The fabric, the fit, and that sassy back view!!
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Thank you! I like how the straps give a hint of trendiness, but it’s not a complicated lattice of straps that would be a pain to sew! Minimal effort, maximum payoff!
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How did you come to settle on the E/F as your go to Cashmerette size? I’ve tried several combinations on the Springfield. Hoping to figure out my “magic” size for Cashmerette wovens! My next attempt is to include a rounded upper back adjustment and attempt to fix the gaping neckline.
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Good question! I think I switched from c/d to e/f on the knit patterns because I would get some pulling on the smaller cup size versions… now that’s always what I sew! I hope you can figure out your perfect size and adjustments- I find her fit is really consistent from pattern to pattern, so once you work your fit out, you’ll be golden!
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That is gorgeous and a great fit! I know exactly which interfacing you mean, and it is perfect for super-light stuff. 😄 You obviously got a good clerk!
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A woven?! And you love it?! Whoa. Lol!
You look terrific in this! Well done!
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Wow! A woven that’s comfortable is an achievement:). It looks great on you!
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This is really lovely. Well worth the slippery sewing. I love the fabric and your necklace is the perfect choice. I get the gaping thing going on a lot too. I think mine is all bust related so have tried going down a size in the shoulders. I was thinking that I might have a narrow(er) upper chest compared to the size I normally cut and of course, boobage. Sewing really does make you think about your body in 3-D. 🙂 Xx
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