I am still on my quest to fill my closet with short sleeve button ups and the Rosie Shirt by Bella Loves Patterns is my latest make. It’s a bit more feminine/drapey than some of the other patterns on my list (ex – Gilbert, Genra) – which I love! The construction was a bit trickier, specifically for the collar, but I’m super happy with the finished result.
Choosing fabric + sizing
This bright orange viscose from Lady McElroy had been in my stash for a while now waiting for the perfect pattern. It has such a beautiful drape to it, so I knew it would be perfect for this pattern. I wanted something with less structure so that the top would be a little bit more flowy and romantic than your classic button up.
For sizing, I went with size 8. My measurements put me closer to size 10, but since the top has a fair amount of ease, I figured an 8 would be fine. It ended up being perfect and I will do a size 8 if I make it again.
Making the Rosie Shirt
I had really mixed feelings about the actual sewing process of this top. There were points while I was sewing that I told myself I would never make the pattern again. The main difficulties I had were in sewing the collar. The collar construction is slightly different than that of the Gilbert top, but you get almost the same result. Personally, I found the Gilbert collar construction to be MUCH simpler. The biggest thing that helped me through this process was to read the collar instructions all the way through twice so that I could make sure I understood what was coming next. It ended up turning out okay, but was definitely not easy in the moment.
Aside from the collar, there are bits of the pattern that make it really simple – no sleeves to attach, no sleeve plackets, no button plackets – so overall it wasn’t so bad.
Final thoughts
While I had some difficulty sewing the collar, I’m still super pleased with the results. I love the drape and the loose fit of this top. I really want another similar top in my closet, but I think to make the collar construction easier on myself I may try to hack together the Gilbert + the Rosie.
