Buy the Esme Top sewing pattern from Jennifer Lauren Handmade. Esme sports a gentle, 50s-inspired batwing sleeve and your choice of a shawl collar or V-neckline. A quick and satisfying make, it's the perfect palette cleanser between more involved projects.

The shawl collar variation looks great with a pair of denim slacks or cropped pencil jeans for a retro Teddy Girl vibe. Alternatively, tuck a longline, V-necked Esme into your favourite high-waisted skirt for the perfect casual Marilyn look.

Made with comfy stretch knits, the grown-on sleeve can be worn short or extended (using the included long sleeve pattern piece) and Esme is perfect for colour and pattern blocking! Both the long and short sleeves include cuffed hemlines that are great for using up odd bits of knit scraps you have tucked away in your sewing room.

This sewing pattern is available to buy in the following formats:

– PDF (available to download immediately after purchase). What is a PDF?

– PDF pattern + Printed A0 copy shop (We print out the A0 pattern sheets, but you’ll need to download the digital instructions, as we don’t print these. The PDF files will be emailed immediately after purchase, and the A0 pattern sheets will be dispatched next working day). What is Copy Shop?

Suggested fabrics: Medium weight knit fabric with good stretch across the grain. Knits should have 40% stretch with good recovery.

The long-sleeved Esme works well in floppier/drapier knits with less structure. In this case, if using the shawl collar, you may wish to interface the collar to keep it upright and looking crisp during wear.

All variations (bindings, shawl collar, long sleeve piece) can be made with the same fabric as the body or a contrasting fabric for colour and pattern blocking potential.

Fabric requirements: Extra may be required for pattern matching, directional prints or length adjustments.

Short sleeve, all lengths, V-neck: 150 cm (60") wide fabric: Sizes 6-14, 1 m (1.09 yd) // Sizes 16-24, 1.75 m (1.91 yd) // Sizes 26-34, 1.75 m (1.91 yd).

Short sleeve, all lengths, shawl collar: 150 cm (60") wide fabric: Sizes 6-14, 1.25 m (1.36 yd) // Sizes 16-24, 2 m (2.18 yd) // Sizes 26-34, 2 m (2.18 yd).

Long sleeve, all lengths, V-neck: 150 cm (60") wide fabric: Sizes 6-14, 1.25 m (1.36 yd) // Sizes 16-24, 1.75 m (1.91 yd) // Sizes 26-34, 2 m (2.18 yd).

Long sleeve, all lengths, shawl collar: 150 cm (60") wide fabric: Sizes 6-14, 1.5 m (1.64 yd) // Sizes 16-24, 2 m (2.18 yd) // Sizes 26-34, 2.25 m (2.46 yd).

Sizing: UK 6 – 24 with A/B and C/D cups or UK 16 – 34 with C/D and E/F cups. Please check the size charts and finished garment measurements.

Note: There is a crossover of 2 cups (C/D) and 5 sizes (16 - 24) between the Original and Curve size ranges. The Original and Curve patterns are based on two different blocks, and because of this, the shape, ease and proportions of the crossover patterns vary depending on the block used. Please check both size charts if you fall into this range.

To determine your cup size, wear supportive undergarments, then keeping your tape measure parallel to the floor (make sure it is not dipping at the back), measure both your full bust (the widest part of your bust, all the way around) and your high bust (the upper part of your bust around and under the arm pits). Use the difference between these measurements to determine your approximate cup size: A cup = 1 cm (3/8″), B cup = 3 cm (1 1/4″), C cup = 5 cm (2″), D cup = 7.5 cm (3″), E cup = 10 cm (4″), F cup = 12.5 cm (4 7/8″). Then, to determine your bodice size, find your full bust measurement (or closest to) along your corresponding cup row on the size chart.

Esme is drafted for an average height of 170 cm (5'7").

Notions: Matching thread; ball-point or stretch needle // Optional: Knit interfacing if making the shawl collar using a floppier knit.

PDF pattern includes: Instructions; A4/US letter print-at-home pattern (49 pages for sizes 6-24, 64 pages for sizes 16-34); A0 copy shop pattern (3 sheets for sizes 6-24, 4 sheets for sizes 16-34). This pattern has layers so you can select your size(s) before printing.

If you’re looking for more maker inspiration, check out the latest sewing pattern reviews from the sewing community. We also have a sewing blog to keep you up to date with all the news from the world of sewing.

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