Friday Pattern Co.: Square Neck Top Review

I first ran into Friday Pattern Co. at a Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco about two years ago. I can’t remember who I met that day, but I remember they were incredibly kind about me being a new sewist who had no idea which pattern to pick. They helped me pick out the Grace Top with the advice to pick patterns I thought I would love to wear - it makes sewing more exciting!

When I finally opened the pattern a year later, I discovered one pattern size was missing, and unfortunately it was the one I needed. I emailed them and right away they shipped me a new one at no cost. So let’s just say that before I even started sewing, I was blown away by their customer service.

In excitement, I bought the Square Neck Top pattern to work on as soon as I finished my Grace Top.

I started making the Grace Top in 2019 and never finished, stopped entirely by my lack of an iron and my realization that I had made the hole for my head too small (obviously fixable, but I was quick to give up).

Last week, I was eager to finish another project I’m working on but was stopped by my lack of an invisible zipper foot. Determined to make something anyway, I dug up my Square Neck Top pattern and some fabric I got from a thrift store. Wow, y’all, I am in love.

First of all, the pattern was easy enough for me to sew, which is obviously a huge bonus for a beginner like myself. I’m not used to sewing knits, so I took my time and went as slow as possible when stitching. The great thing about this top is that there are a lot of straight lines - super easy!

It was also my first time sewing darts. The instructions that come with the pattern are super easy to follow and explain most technical terms, but I did take a glance at some sewing reference books I own to make sure I was 100% confident before starting the darts. They were super easy and came out very flattering!

And something really great about buying from Friday Pattern Co. is that you’re not only supporting a small business run by a woman of color, but they donate 5% of their proceeds to various nonprofits. It’s nice to feel like you’re making a difference in the world just by choosing their patterns.

I did, however, run into two problems:

One, I couldn’t figure out how to alter the bust properly. I was between XL and XXL in Friday Pattern Co.’s sizes and just traced off the XXL without altering it. The bust ended up way too huge and the neckline slides halfway down my bra after a couple of steps.

I now realize I should have tracked the XL and graded out to the XXL for hip and waist measurements, but I was so nervous about messing with the darts that I didn’t even try. Next time, because there absolutely will be a next time, I’ll make the bust smaller.

Two, the fabric I picked was really floppy. I don’t know how to describe it but it’s just very thin and doesn’t have much structure. I only have black interfacing, which does show through the white fabric in the right lighting. I was excited to use fabric I bought at the thrift store because I love buying used stuff, but this fabric was just a miss for me.

Obviously the two problems I encountered are not the fault of the pattern, but issues I ran into due to my lack of experience. I highly recommend this pattern for any beginners who are ready to make something to wear! There’s nothing more thrilling than finishing a project and being able to walk out the door in it.

Learn from my mistakes, fellow beginners - pick interfacing that matches your fabric, and pick a fabric that won’t drive you up a wall!

I love Friday Pattern Co. so much that I’m going to attempt a Wilder Gown this weekend and try to fix my Grace Top next week. I can’t wait to try as many of their patterns as I can. Stay tuned.