View the Fantail Shirt & Sweatshirt pattern here
How to create a bias neckline (instead of using the neck facing)
FANTAIL SHIRT - View A
The shirt is designed for mid weight woven fabrics (cotton, linen, rayon)
Scroll down to view Sweatshirt (View B) Tester feedback
Review by: Karina - Studio of Sewing
Size tested: M
Tester skill: Advanced
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 3
Tester difficulty rating: 3 (Confident Beginner)
Overall comments:
Pattern easy to assemble, quick to cut out & sew up. Unique design with elastic detail in front. Sizing was great.
Did you make any alterations? No
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Review by: Karen Downs
Size tested: XS
Tester skill: Intermediate / Advanced
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 2.5
Tester difficulty rating: 3-4/10 (Confident Beginner/Easy intermediate)
Overall comments:
Love, love, love that I learnt how to ‘stitch in the ditch’ with your online tutorial. In all my years of sewing I have never come across that! Loved also learning to hem with bias binding – again something I have never done. This gave a beautiful finish.
A great little pattern with nice details of front gather and back drop-hem. Makes me want to go and buy an overlocker now to get that totally professional finish!
Is the pattern sizing what you expected?
I think the fit is quite a standard XS. I can often be more of a 6 than 8/XS, but really depends on the make/style.
Did you make any alterations?
I did take the sleeves up by 3cm and the bodice up by 4cm (which was possibly just more of a preference as to where it sat at the front). The side seams I took in by 1cm, as being petite I can feel overwhelmed at times by too much fabric. I’m confident that someone slightly taller wouldn’t need to make any of these adjustments.
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Review by: Tracey Norton
Size tested: 2XL
Tester skill: Confident Beginner
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 3.5
Tester difficulty rating: 4/10 Easy intermediate
Overall comments:
I love the design of this top and can see myself making it again and again in a variety of materials and mixing up colours and patterns. I really like how it sits at the front, the gather is unusual but sits nicely. I also like the shape and length at the back. I do tend to wear it with another layer underneath as I am use to wearing longer tops in the front. I would recommend this pattern to a confident beginner.
Did you make any alterations? No
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Review by: Amanda Muir
Size tested: M
Tester skill: Confident Beginner
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 3
Tester difficulty rating: Easy Intermediate 4/10
Overall comments:
It was pretty straight-forward. I had never used bias binding before so this was a first for me, but I managed to follow the instructions. (There is no looking back once you use bias binding!). This is my first time with a raglan sleeve too.
Did you make any alterations?
I didn’t put the elastic in the sleeves. When I tried it on before doing the sleeves I fell in love with it with a long sleeve and so just hemmed them. Maybe this could be an option.
Is the pattern sizing what you expected?
I was worried that it might be too tight under the arms but it is actually perfect.
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Review by: Lynda Palmano
Size tested: M
Tester skill: Advanced
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 2.5 hrs
Tester difficulty rating: Confident Beginner 3/10
Did you make any alterations? No
Overall comments:
I liked the design and the style. It is very comfortable to wear. I was worried that the sleeve would be too long as I am only 5’1” but they were perfect. It was mostly straight forward. I found the sleeve casing with the elastic a little difficult to get under my machine because of the size of the sleeve and elastic. It was a bit fiddly but I do like to the look of the sleeve as it is with the elastic.
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Review by: Jodie Hickman
Size tested: S-M
Tester skill: Intermediate
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 3
Tester difficulty rating: Confident Beginner 3/10
Did you make any alterations?
You will notice the shirt is longer on me. I added two inches to front and back. I wanted the back side to cover my butt. I will probably not add this much next time, but since it is long sleeve, I wanted to be able to wear with leggings. I am going to make the sleeveless pattern shorter to wear with shorts that are high waisted. I did not add length to sleeves because I wanted to push up to make ¾ length.
Overall comments:
I made the size M and would make the S next time. The pattern was easy to make and I love the look with the wide elastic. It makes it unique.
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FANTAIL SWEATSHIRT - View B
The sweatshirt differs from the shirt with a ribbed rear hem band, sleeves and neck band.
The sweatshirt is designed for mid weight knit fabrics (cotton jersey, poly knit, wools & acrylics).
Review by: Paula Oram
Size tested: S
Tester skill: Confident Beginner / Intermediate
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 2.5-3 hours
Tester difficulty rating: Confident beginner 3/10
Overall comments:
The pattern is quite full (plenty of room) although I love the style and am really looking forward to making more!
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Review by: Laura Southward
Size tested: XS
Tester skill: Confident Beginner / Intermediate
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 2.5
Tester difficulty rating: Easy Intermediate 4/10
Overall comments:
I love the front detail and the fact that you can dress it up or down depending on the fabric you use. I liked the short front and long back as it allows for a waist while still being a boxy funky style!
Did you make any alterations?
Yes - I lifted the front by 4cm to emphasize the A-symetrical hemline. This does mean that I need to wear something underneath - but I quite like the layered look and the emphasis it give the gathered feature.
I also took up the length of the sleeves (I need to do this for every long sleeve pattern as I have short arms).
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Review by: Kim Kennedy
Size tested: M
Tester skill: Advanced
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 3
Tester difficulty rating: Easy Intermediate 4/10
Did you make any alterations? No
Overall comments:
When I saw that the Fantail Sweatshirt was quite high in the front, I was a little bit concerned on how it would look. I love the back of the sweatshirt with the fantail but not totally happy with the (height of the) front. So, I may look at bringing the front down a bit to cover my middle a bit more. I realise this will mean I will have to bring down the back as well but I am going to give it try as I love the design and want to make more of this pattern.
Overall, the Fantail sweatshirt is a fresh take on your typical raglan sweatshirt. The fantail back and gathered front make for interesting features. It's an easy make and comes together quickly, especially the elastic insertion in the front as the instructions are well written. Its a great design.
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Review by: Maria McGregor
Size tested: XL
Tester skill: Confident beginner
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 3
Tester difficulty rating: Easy Intermediate 4/10
Overall comments:
Neat design, the rounded back sits well. Easy to make, the front elastic design sits nicely at the front. I love the raglan sleeve design and the sweatshirt looks professional. I would personally like the front to be slightly longer as am conscious of my middle!
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Review by: Bronwyn Southall
Size tested: XL
Tester skill: Confident beginner
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 3 approx
Tester difficulty rating:Confident Beginner 3/10
Overall comments:
A nice, easy to sew top that sits nicely and looks great on. I like that you can have contrasting sleeves and bands that emphasize the raglan sleeve which looks great too.
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Review by: Naomi Whitehead
Size tested: S
Tester skill: Intermediate
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 2
Tester difficulty rating: Confident Beginner/ Easy Intermediate 3-4/10
Did you make any adjustments?
Yes - I lengthened the front hem 5cm and then found the hemline a very loose fit & didn’t really like the way it hung….so I actually made the elastic longer & along the full length of the front panel which I prefer.
Overall comments:
Great pattern, loved trying out different colour combinations. Very straightforward with excellent instructions that were easy to follow especially with the accompanying photos.
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Review by: Jane Guilder
Size tested: M
Tester skill: Advanced
Hours to make (excluding pattern compilation): 2
Tester difficulty rating: Confident Beginner/ Easy Intermediate 3-4/10
Did you make any adjustments? No
The sizing on this top matches the measurements given.
Overall comments?
I loved the construction process of this top. I was able to just overlock most of the seams. For those developing skills in their sewing, this top can include: beginner overlocking skills with seams and sewing on neckbands and wrist bands. And also how to create elastic casings. This top is super comfortable to wear. Love it!
