The Selfish Seamstress loves a good sleeveless turtleneck. Is it just me or is a sleeveless turtleneck the ultimate sexy-but-elegant-and-still-casual garment? And especially a black sleeveless turtleneck. I’ve always got one in my wardrobe somewhere, and I don’t think I’ve been without one since college. I love the Burda 10.2005 cowl sweater I made recently, but I I decided I wanted one with more cowling around the neck and less spread around the shoulders, so I whipped up this quick one:
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[Ok, those of you have been following along know that I put myself on a S.W.A.G. diet and swore no new sewing for myself until all the S.W.A.G. projects were done. Well, I guess that lasted all of about a week. But really, if it weren’t for S.W.A.G. this wouldn’t have even happened. Basically, I sewed myself the teal cowl, which led me to decide that sewing some cowls for my sisters would be a good idea. And then I sewed the green one and I liked it so much I decided that I should make a sleeveless one for myself from the remnants, but after I drafted the pattern I found I didn’t have enough fabric to make it out of the green sweater knit, so I used some leftover black double knit from the English Tutor dress, and…. well, at least I busted through some remnants and reduced the stash right? Oh, just let me rationalize. It took less than an hour to make anyway.]
The Minimalist Cowl pattern is available for free PDF download in size XS/S. The top is about as easy and basic as you can get with just 3 pattern pieces. Instant sexy for you.
The Selfish Seamstress 
21 comments
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November 26, 2009 at 10:07 am
kiikikutoo
Hi there!
You’re sewing really cool stuff :)
A sewing blog to share: kiikikutoo.wordpress.com
All the best!
-Kirsi
November 26, 2009 at 10:09 am
rita
Could you share a good reference for pattern grading? I’m interested in pattern drafting/making just as much as sewing. Btw, love everything that you’ve made – elegant and classy.
November 27, 2009 at 9:46 am
selfishseamstress
Hi Rita:
My method for grading a single size pattern is to base the changes in dimension on the differences between sizes on a multi-size sloper. (That is to say, if the bodice front of the sloper grows 1 cm in the bust between sizes 34 and 36, that’s how much i’ll increase the bust on the bodice front on my pattern.) I don’t do much grading of single size patterns though. On a multi-size pattern it’s much easier– I’ll do an entry on it soon. Here’s a Threads article that talks about some other methods:
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4368/making-sense-of-pattern-grading
The drafting reference I use is Helen Armstrong’s “Patternmaking for Fashion Design.” It’s meant more as a comprehensive text for fashion design students than for the home sewer, but I like it a lot.
November 26, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Sabine
A very nice top and very elegant!
November 26, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Amanda S.
Great little top! I just downloaded your pattern – have never printed a pattern off the net before. How cool!
November 27, 2009 at 9:31 am
Trudy
Here’s a reference for pattern drafting: A book: Building Patterns by Suzy Furrer. She has a school for pattern drafting and design in San Francisco: The school: Apparel Arts. http://www.apparel-arts.com/
November 27, 2009 at 9:40 am
senaSews
Super cool dress and a great wardrobe staple!
November 27, 2009 at 12:05 pm
mollymolly
looks great, I’m not usually for cowl necks but i might try this one
November 28, 2009 at 4:35 am
Ayleen
Hi, I love this Turtle neck!!! You look wonderfull!!!
Always very nice to have a look at your blog!!!
greets from Germany
November 28, 2009 at 9:21 am
Karin
Great top. I agree that a turtle neck like this (although the English name for it suggests otherwise ;-)) is very elegant and it looks great on you.
November 30, 2009 at 7:21 pm
amber
I’m really looking forward to your entry on how you grade patterns. Granted, it will still probably be over my head, but I’m interested to read it nonetheless.
I think I might actually like the sleeveless version of this top even more than the l/s version. So chic!
December 5, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Mary_lou86
I love this! I made one, too and the pattern was so easy to follow. You can see mine on burdastyle here http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/minimalist-cowl-in-red. Thank you not-so-selfish seamstress!
December 6, 2009 at 7:52 am
selfishseamstress
Great job on it! But really… there’s no need for name calling ;)
December 7, 2009 at 9:57 am
Mary_lou86
Forgive me, I do not mean to ruin your reputation….
December 12, 2009 at 12:56 pm
fangarooni
thank you so much for this pattern! i had never used knits before because i thought i needed a serger… but then you said you didnt use one, and i finally got over my hesitation and sewed something from knits (this lovely cowl) thanks to you!!!
December 12, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Easy Peasy « Fangaroni Sews
[…] blog by the Selfish Seamstress, who is a really talented and funny lady. She was writing about how she made a cowl sleeveless top in under an hour and even provided the pattern she designed for it! She used a knit fabric, and I have never made […]
February 26, 2010 at 10:57 am
Kerry
Hello Oh Selfish One,
I made this pattern today in about 2 hours – and the fit was perfect, not a single alteration needed. That has never, ever happened with a knit top pattern for me. I’ve got some vintage size 8s that are too wide – this was perfect. I used a black interlock knit that I got as a 1 yard remnant – had to get creative with folding it to accommodate the pattern pieces (my cut was 1 yard in width, not length). It’s gorgeous and I now have something to wear with my gold curtain pants. I may make this again with sleeves. Your drafting for petite sizes is absolutely spot on.
September 3, 2010 at 9:57 am
Reethi
This was such great inspiration, thanks! I downloaded it yesterday, but since I was too lazy to print & stick together, I just eyeballed how you’ve put it together, and used a basic sleeveless tank as a basis of my own. I’m really pleased with the way it turned out!
January 20, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Sweater Swap « The Adventures of a Homemade Wife
[…] Yesterday, I found this pattern. […]
February 3, 2011 at 12:12 am
Linda Wah
Great pattern. Simple, but nice design
July 18, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Bathtub Dreamer » Quick Mod Skirt
[…] the top is the free Minimalist Cowl pattern from The Selfish Seamstress, which I made a while ago but haven’t photographed yet. The fabric is a bit stiff/heavy for […]