I’ve lost count of how many Issie tops I’ve made over the past couple of years. I felt the itch to make one recently for the pattern’s namesake, my Issie. She is growing out of lots of her handmade clothes so that was encouragement enough for me to make her a new top.

I found this lovely soft pink French Terry from Spotlight recently and found a perfect soft ribbing to match from Lincraft. I find it hard to find good sources of ribbing at times, so when I find nice colours, I grab them! Lincraft have a few nice pastel colours at the moment. I also often find thrifted pieces for op shops I visit! The French terry is a great choice for this pattern and is my favourite substrate when it comes to stretch fabrics. Depending on quality, it generally doesn’t ‘pill’ which is a plus for clothing longevity.

I chose the double ruffle for this Issie top. It’s always a winner and elevates the top and gives it a feminine touch. Isabella chooses fuss free clothes to wear these days but she still gave a thumbs up to her new top. I find I have to consult my kids these days about fabric choice and pattern design before I launch into a project for them to make sure they will wear it when it’s finished.

I want to make myself one just like this! You can find the Issie pattern in English and Dutch in the sewpony shop.