Merchant & Mills Fielder Dress and Top

So excited to finish this top, I wore it the very next day.  This combines my favorite elements of casual but with a touch of smarts.  I made a toile in a 10 because the finished garment measurements made it seem like it would be enormous, but I couldn't move my arms so I ended up with usual rtw size of UK 12, which fits great.

I really like the shoulder shaping and bust darts, they fall in just the right places.  I made sure to taper off with a small stitch and tie the loose thread ends ( as learnt through the foldline facebook group).

I did add an extra two inches to the length of the front and back and next time will make a longer sleeve version.  The M&M ribbing is gorgeous and makes the garment, BUT, I comfortably used just two pieces when it is suggested three.  This did add to the cost, so check before you buy.  I'm already planning the next top with the extra piece of ribbing.....

I’d had this pattern for a while but was waiting to come across some appropriate linen ( as per the majority of the Fielder Top makes) to make up the longer sleeve version.

This, of course, is not a linen!

It’s made up in a medium weight stretch crepe. It feels like a ponte type fabric.

Knowing that the pattern runs quite generous, I sized down to a UK size 10. It fits perfectly.

I stuck with the original neck line although a crew neck neckline is available as an add-on.

The body length is unchanged but I shortened the arms.

After applying the bottom ribbing, I took it off and took it in by 2 cm to give this look. It just stopped it looking too boxy in this fabric. I also narrowed the hem band so it was the same width as the neck band.

It was incredibly quick to sew.

The bust darts fell in exactly the right place. There are more details on my blog

A loose fit, raglan 3/4 sleeved top/dress, the Fielder is a wardrobe basic and as such, I think is made or broken by your fabric choice. It has a nice dart detail on the shoulder, which gives that area nice shaping, but also means you should check your width there if you are tempted to size down. As you can see, the bottom ribbing creates a loose fit rather than drawing the top into your  hips.

For full details, you can check out my blog post here.

This is my second Merchant & Mills project, and I find their patterns concise in size. I made mine in a light as feathers cheap cotton lawn to both trying out the pattern, and to have a light dress in the heat of the summer. Pattern and instructions is as always on M & M patterns clear and accurate. i forgot to mark the notches for the sleeve darts and missed them. The shoulder dart and the neck ribbing is what I found most challenging in the make.
The side seame pockets is wery we’ll placed. I made a short sleeved dress and cut of 21,5 cm of the sleve length and added a 1 cm ribbing same as neckline . Will definitely make this again in a lovely washed linnen to use outside the house.
Note on necline: If cut to use without ribbing The necline needs to be adjusted to be more narrow.

I love the way this pattern makes a dress from a casual sweatshirt style, with the raglan sleeves and cuff ribbing, and I'm pleased with the finished dress.
Pattern: I personally felt the instructions were slightly brief, and if I had tried to make it a couple of years ago, I might have found it quite tricky. I stay stitched around the neck front and back before I started, to stop the neck stretching when I put the ribbing on, and I do think this is worth doing. I also thought it was not quite clear in the part about sewing seam tape in at the shoulders - the whole of the seam tape needs to be kept in the seam allowance.
Fabric: I used a piece of linen from my stash which was a total bargain from Abakhan, and I'm not sure if it has any viscose or cotton in it too. The ribbing came from Backstitch and is lovely quality.
Size: I sized down, as I have found Merchant & Mills can be on the large size, but wished I hadn't! I also found it too long: I had taken 1" off the length before the photo was taken, and I've since taken another couple of inches off.
Next time (and the next one is being planned already):
- make the size corresponding to my bust measurements
- take a bit more care to sew a smooth line at the shoulder darts
- shorten by 3"