5 out of 4 Journey Top & Dress

If you read my last blog post, you know that I spent my birthday doing some selfish sewing. The Ocean Round is currently open at Zenith & Quasar and I was sent two prints to sew up. When the Ocean round was initially announced and the prints previewed, I asked Lilly to order 3 yards of the Electric Jellyfish and I'd pay for them in advance so that I could make a dress with it. Well, the printer failed to print my three yards. For now I have one and decided to make a new workout top.

Since I have been working from home full time during the pandemic, I am making a point to go for a walk everyday at lunch, and then again when I get off work. Most of my workout tanks have a high neckline and I'm getting quite the tan line from them. I need some workout tops that show a bit more skin. I am wearing Purple Cactus Flower Tactel pants in these photos and now think I need leggings to match my new top.

As I looked through my pattern vault, my eyes came upon the 5 out of 4 Journey Tank & Dress. I bought this pattern years ago and have never made it. I told myself at the beginning of the year that I needed to make an effort to sew up all those patterns that I have bought and hoarded over the years. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally make the Journey Tank.

I absolutely love how my Journey Tank came out! One little thing that I am not 100% happy with is the front rouching. I don't think I got mine rouched as much as I was supposed to. On my next one, I plan to mark the center front with chalk to make my life a little easier. I also need to find out what length the 1/4" elastic is intended to be. I couldn't find it in the pattern  - I probably overlooked it. I used a piece that was 6" that was precut for ear loops for masks. I'm thinking I probably need the rouched section to be 4.5 inches.

I made a tiny change to the pattern. When  I was cutting the skirt portion, I decided to use the full width of my yard of fabric for the hemline. I know I have a lot of booty and wanted to make sure it had plenty of room. So most of the extra width went to the back skirt, and about 2" extra went to the front. I gathered both skirts in the middle section before adding them to the bodice. Plus, I wanted as many Jellyfish as I could get on my outfit. I'm slightly Jellyfish obsessed.

The bodice is fully lined with black supplex and I used the black supplex for the bands. I also attempted to make my own foam cups for the bodice. I go through so many foam cups making items for summer wear that I thought it might be cheaper if I bought bra foam and made my own. Well, the process to make them is fairly simple. However, getting them the right shape is not! The first ones I made were not usable - they came  out too pointy. These came out too flat, but were at least usable. I'm hoping to get a perfect pattern for them drafted soon. I'm itching to start making some bras and bralettes.

The Journey Top & Dress has a few different options for the ties. I thought I would do the double twist. I think that strap on the left got twisted in the process. I might have to get my seam ripper out to fix it. I might just do simple crossed straps on my next one.

Here's a look at all the designs available in the Ocean Round. I love them all. All prints are available on Athletic Brushed Poly, Yoga Swim Spandex, and Stretch Woven Board short. The preorder closes on  May 15th!




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