Pattern Grading: LOL Swing Top

I’ve been hard at work grading and sewing a 2T sample for my LOL Swing Top.  Well, as hard as I can work in stolen moments while the girls are occupied or asleep.

It needs a tiny bit of tweaking; more in the construction than the pattern itself.  The way I put on the bias tape with the gathers means that the length of the bias tape impacts the drape at the neckline and the back.  Close, but not quite right.   I’ll make one more of each size to get that right before I begin testing.  While I get it ready for testing, I’m gathering names for pattern testers in the form here.  If you’re interested in testing this and future patterns, sign on up!

I used a Lissette lawn from Jo-Ann and I like this fabric almost as much as the Liberty of London tana lawn I used for the original.  I chose a bright yellow button from my button jar as a fun pop of contrast at the shoulder.

You can see in the back that there’s no gathering under her shoulder blades.  It should be gathered here, so I need to shorten the length of the bias tape.

Arden is wearing the commercial top that I modeled this after.  It’s a Cherokee top I picked up on clearance from Target.

Aren’t they cute together?  They’re starting to play together more as Arden gains patience and Hadley is capable of more dexterity.