I was given the chance to test the new Amare Top/Dress from Sofilantjes this past week. It’s a princess seam top or dress with an option of a bow front or tie back. The pieces and bow options allow this top to have endless looks from the same pattern. I chose a top with the bow in front. It was a quick sew once I adjusted for Girly’s leanness. The pattern gives clear instructions on how to mash up 2 bodice sizes for a custom fut but I found that her tall shoulders only needed a wee bit of extra length in the straps to fit wonderfully.
The pattern gives you button or snap options and since I swear I’m allergic to button holes, I chose the snap version. I had some of this lovely black and white quilting cotton laying around in my tiny summer vacation fabric stash so that’s what I used for both the side and center panels. You can get a lovely color blocking thing going by making them different.
Overall, I thought it was a pleasant sew. It came together flawlessly and the instructions are illustrated nicely with some color photographs to clarify specific steps in the process.
Girly’s comments: “It’s Cuuuute, Mom. You know I don’t ‘do cute’ but I think kindergarten requires cute sometimes.” So I think that’s a positive from the tiny fashion critic??? **Mind you, she also brought me a cherry tomato the other week and told me that she thought they tasted “woody” so we have a very opinionated child with a vocabulary too big for her own good. Whatevs, I have a cousin who would ADORE this style (CUUUUTEPRINCESSSSSSS is her middle name); I think I’ll make some more for Em… 😉
Sofilantje is having a sale today and tomorrow only (7-31 to 8-1). The pattern is $5 (normally $8.95).