Madrid Top Cool and Breezy

Summer has (finally)  Arrived in Southern Ontario!

Enter a new Madrid top cool and breezy. It’s day 11 of the 12-day Coffee + Thread Madrid Dress Tour! Have you been following as one spectacular version after another is shared?

I was a tester for this pattern before it was released.  Designed by Olga, of Coffee + Thread, I particularly like the fit, with waist darts front and back, and small back shoulder darts.  My shoulders are becoming more rounded as I age, and on a non-stretchy fabric, those darts result in a smooth fit. The zipper at the side seam makes getting in and out of my top easy with no contortions.

These are photos of my previous version. You can read that post by clicking here.

And here are some photos of my latest version:

Here is the description from Coffee + Thread’s website:

The Madrid is a Bohemian inspired faux wrap dress or tunic with a tiered skirt. Three length options and sleeve variations let you create a garment that’s effortlessly cool and easy to style. It is equally suitable in the office or a beach party. Comes in sizes 2-20. There is an invisible zipper in the side seam for easy dressing. The pattern is designed for woven fabric with drape.

Computer generated, tiled pattern that can be printed on 8.5″ x 11″ | A4 printer paper

A choice of two files to print at a shop

Individual sizes can be chosen for printing

A detailed, step-by-step tutorial with clear diagrams to illustrate each step.

It was tricky getting good photos of myself with a “clicker”, my cotton bra clung to the fabric as I moved about, so I used my dress-form for some other photos.

Madrid Top Sewing Notes

I made size 12 to fit these measurements: upper bust 37″, full bust 39″, waist 31″, hips 41″ and height 5ft 10″.  I added 1 1/2 inches in the body length and drew a new front facing pattern to match.  I also did a “round shoulder adjustment” of 1/2″ in the back and adjusted the shoulder darts.

Instead of an invisible zipper, I opted to use a decorative external zipper.  After basting the side-seam closed, I pinned the zipper to the outside (with the slider at the hem end when closed, just in case) and zig-zagged the zipper in place along each edge.

For the hem, I chose to use my serger set for a 3-thread rolled edge with a 35 weight cotton thread in the upper looper and regular serger thread in the needle and lower looper.  I LOVE how it turned out!

This has been fun, thank you, Claudia, for organizing this and inviting me to participate!