When one of my sweet sewing friends invited me to sew up a new design she was releasing, I had a slight hesitancy and said it depended on the style. “You don’t trust me,” she said, and sent over her one of her test photos. I got trust issues, it’s true, but I should have known better and that she’d have my best interest at heart. And she did haha. Meet Zircon!
Zircon is the second release in the Gemstone Collection that was envisioned by Mallory Latini for Eunoia Designs. It has a unique design with a gathered button placket, multiple sleeve lengths, top, tunic, and mini dress lengths. It’s a relatively easy sew. The most “advanced” technique is gathering, but it’s not much. I guess technically buttonholes, too, but those are not required to be functional. The instructions are computer illustrated, and the tutorial’s got some common grading tips to help you achieve the very best fit. Whether you’re an A0/copy shop sewist, projector, or still printing at home, all files are included!
My favorite thing about this has to be the gathered placket front. It’s such a cute feature and the fit is gorgeous. I also love that the top length has that peplum vibe goin, which if you know me by now, that’s my favorite top style. I could wear this with jeans, shorts, or even leggings and it would still be cute.
I used Killeen Pointelle from Amelia Lane Designs for this one. The fabric worked beautifully with this pattern. I sewed the short sleeve, top length with 1.5″ subtracted from the skirt for my height. My placket is not functional, I skipped buttonholes and just sewed the buttons through both plackets. I wouldn’t ever unbutton it lower than it is here, and it pulls off and on like a regular shirt, so I didn’t find them necessary. If you would like to make them functional, totally up to you! You could even use snaps in place of buttons. The placket is especially helpful to nursing mamas, and Mallory has a heart for including a nursing-friendly option in all of her patterns.
So happy she invited me to sew this and can’t wait to find time (and the perfect fabric) to make the dress version. Also looking forward to the next Gemstone release. Make sure to grab your copy of Zircon. It’ll be on sale until Sunday, 4/25!
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