PATTERN AND INSTRUCTIONS: The Gardner Top
Meet the Gardner Top! Named after the fabulous Ava Gardner, this dazzling yoke top can be dressed up or down depending on your mood. Go with a lace yoke for more coverage, or make it in a sheer tulle or fishnet if you're feeling a little scandalous. The clean-finish collar (no facings! no bias binding!) offers a polished look. It pairs perfectly with the Lucille Trousers (Patreon, March 2021), or add a circle skirt for some old school charm. Don’t forget to watch this month’s video to get tips on our unique, clean finish method for the collar! You'll be earning your merit badge in collars, so I include lots of tips for getting that crisp finish.
Wondering about fabrics and supplies? Check out the written instructions at the bottom of this post for links and recommendations. You'll also find the tiled file (for printing at home on A4 or letter size sheets and taping together) and the A0 file (for printing at a copy shop like pdfplotting.com).
We hope you love the #gardnertop!
xoxo,
Gertie
Comments (67)
Hi there, is this going to be extended to the bigger sizes please? I would love one but I'm a size 30...
Seconding this!
Hi there charm sisters! I'm sewing the original charm scout skirt but couldn't find a chat specifically for that one here in the patreon. A beginner here finished my pattern, win! Now I am little confused by the diagram on cutting out the fabric from my pattern pieces. Two questions: 1. Should the fabric be folded with the right sides together exposing the wrong sides out and pinning the pattern pieces there? 2. It says for the skirt back (pattern piece number 2) according to the diagram/key it should be the "wrong side of the pattern piece". Does that mean that I flip the pattern backwards and lay it on the fabric? Thanks for any tips 🙏
Has anyone tried to add long sleeves to this? Perhaps drop sleeves would have to be added a la 1850s? I would love to do this top as performance wear, but we need to have at least 3/4 sleeves.
You probably could lengthen the sleeves; depending on the type of movement needed for your performance, an underarm gusset may give you more range of motion.
Where on earth did you find the black net with pearls? I'm in love with that fabric!
I’m only new, can anyone let me know if this can be paired with the bottom of any of the other charm dresses, to make this into a dress?
The "L series" are the ones made to be paired together, so no on this one. You can always modify it by hand to add a skirt though (shorten top to waist length; match waist width to skirt)
Is this pattern also for plus size ?
O ok, gotcha, thanks so much!
Could we get pattern for the skirt please?
Hi Betsey! The skirt is already available in the Stanwyck Skirt pattern, and the embellished versions are included in one of the Patreon expansion patterns :)
I do love the Gardner Top. I would very much appreciate just one more knit pattern. One for gloves. Dress gloves, with an option for embroidery, After a nice pair of gloves, I am really done with knits.
Stunning!! Love the black version.
Love this top! I'll be making a few of these!
Printing out the pattern now!
Love it so much!
Lovely top!
Another amazing pattern, well done Gertie! 💕
YES I LOVE IT!! gender euphoria here i come
How cute! Can't wait to make one!! ❤️
I absolutely love this black lace is my thing 🖤🖤🖤
I have some lace from my Aunt’s wedding dress that I’ve been saving for something like this!
I am so excited! This top is GORGEOUS and I have recently collected a bunch of different stable laces- can't wait to sew a bunch of these! Now I just have to figure out stable knits and get some yardage...
Love it! It combines my two favorite qualities in a shirt, a high collar and showing off my chest tattoo! Can’t wait to make one!
Love this is so cute!
Aaahhh!! It's fabulous. I have fishnet and a few pieces of lace in my stash. 😍 I'm so excited!! Thank you 💕
Pretty 😍
This is just what I needed today! Thank you so much!
This is SENSATIONAL!!
Love this!!!
In love with this top!!! So gorgeous
I have my fabric already picked out and the printer is busy
Wow!!! The top is gorgeous!!! All the ones they made are beautiful, my favorite is the black one
In love! ❤😍
I am taking a in-depth pattern drafting course and this weeks lesson was all about collars! Perfect timing for me. Very hopeful I already have fabric for this in my stash and glad it’s a manageable pattern to print at home. Moving this to the top of my sewing list! I love it!
This top is gorgeous! 💗💗💗💗💗 Thank you for another beautiful pattern Gertie
I cannot wait to make this!!!! It is gorgeous!!! Thank you Gertie!!!
Ladies, you are just spoiling us!💕💕💕💕💕💕
I love it !!
So cute! As a portrait photographer, that close up of Melisha is 🔥🔥🔥!
I'm dying
Oh goodness Melissa! Don't die! Make this top, that should revive you!
I am IN LOVE!
Absolutely wonderfully perfect for summer! So excited to pair it!
Wow this is beautiful!😍😍😍
Omg 😱😱😱😱😱 it’s perfect
Love it !! Thank you Gertie 🤩🤩🤩
Very Nice!
This looks lovely 😍
YESSS so cute
Perfect for Zoom calls.
I love it! And I think I have just what I need already in my stash
Oh!!!!! I love this so much!!!
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
So cute!!!
No way!!! The most beautiful top ever!!!! I’ve been admiring the hand knitted tops of the 40’s. but I can’t knit and now, I done have to wahooo!!!
Beautiful ❤️❤️
So adorable !
I am so in love with this s top!!!
This is amazing!!!
That’s adorable. I was watching the Presley shirt video when this came through.
Wooooowza!
OMG this is so cute! Love this! 💙💙💙
😍😍😍
Gahhhh!! Love love LOVE!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
So cute!! ❤️❤️